Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2008.1620.1624Iqbal Yasinzai*Mohammad KakarsulemankhelJuma Khan 1220081112This study was conducted to investigate the incidence
of malarial infections in human population in 37 localities of district
Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan. Malarial parasites were identified in the
blood slides of suspected patients of the disease from July, 2004 to June,
2006 and encompassed 7748 subjects. Out of 7748 suspected cases of malaria,
3240 (41.8%) were found to be positive for malarial parasite in blood
smear slides. Out of positive cases, 1681 (51.8%) were identified as Plasmodium
vivax infection and 1559 (48.1%) cases with P. falciparum.
However, seasonal variation was also noted with the highest (85.4%: 141/165)
infection of P. vivax in March and lowest (18.6%: 59/316) in October
while infection of P. falciparum was highest (81.3%: 257/316) in
October and lowest (14.5%: 24/165) in March. Infection with P. vivax
in male was 75.7% (125/165) in March and in female 26.3% (58/220)
in May whereas infection of P. falciparum in male was 61.5% (245/398)
in July and in female was 20.5% (65/316) in October. These results are
compared with those of other studies done in Pakistan. Cases of P.
malariae and P. ovale were not found in the present study.
In conclusion it can be pointed out that the high incidence rate of P.
vivax (51.8%:1681/3240) in Zhob district poses a significant health
hazard because it may also lead to cerebral malaria as it was suggested
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