Plasmodium ovale

Plasmodium ovale is one of several species of Plasmodium parasites, which are parasitic protozoa causing Malaria in humans. The four Plasmodium parasites causing Malaria are- Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium vivax.

Key Points

• Plasmodium ovale is one of the four species of malaria parasites.
• The species was 1^st discovered in the year 1914.
• These are primarily found across islands of the western Pacific, sub-Saharan African region, Philippines and New Guinea.
• The prevalence of Plasmodium ovale is low as compared to other parasites of malaria.
• After the parasite enters the human body, the symptoms appear in 10 to 12 days.
• Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum parasites are responsible for most malarial infections across the world.

Plasmodium ovale found in Kerala

• Recently, Plasmodium ovale has been reported in Kerala. This rare Malaria genus was detected in a soldier who had returned from Sudan.
• The disease caused by the parasite is not fatal and the spread can be avoided with timely and proper treatment as well as preventive measures.

World Malaria Report 2020

The World Malaria Report 2020 released on November 30 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) covered 87 countries and territories and reported data on Malaria. As per the report, there were approximately 229 million cases of malaria in the year 2019 as compared to 238 million cases in 2000. The cases from Plasmodium vivax have reduced to 3% in 2019.

Malaria case incidence which means the cases per 1000 population at risk has reduced to 57 in 2019 globally from 80 in the year 2000.

Deaths due to malaria have also reduced in the year 2019 to 409, 000 as compared to 736,000 deaths in 2000.

Around 2.7 billion rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria were sold by manufacturers globally between 2010 and 2019.