| Summary: | Nowadays, <i>Plasmodium ovale</i> is divided into two non-recombinant sympatric species: <i>Plasmodium ovale wallikeri</i> and <i>Plasmodium ovale curtisi</i>. In this mini review, we summarize the available knowledge on the clinical/biological aspects of <i>P. ovale</i> spp. malaria and current techniques for the diagnosis/characterisation of <i>P. ovale curtisi</i> and <i>P. ovale wallikeri</i>. <i>P. ovale wallikeri</i> infections are characterized by a deeper thrombocytopenia and shorter latency compared to <i>P. ovale curtisi</i> infections, indicating that <i>P. ovale wallikeri</i> is more pathogenic than <i>P. ovale curtisi</i>. Rapid diagnosis for effective management is difficult for <i>P. ovale</i> spp., since specific rapid diagnostic tests are not available and microscopic diagnosis, which is recognized as the gold standard, requires expert microscopists to differentiate <i>P. ovale</i> spp. from other <i>Plasmodium</i> species. Neglect in addressing these issues in the prevalence of <i>P. ovale</i> spp. represents the existing gap in the fight against malaria.
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