摘要：Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) detecting histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and HRP3 are widely used throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to diagnose
Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, multiple SSA countries have reported
pfhrp2 and
pfhrp3 (
pfhrp2/3) gene deletions. Blood samples (n = 1109) collected from patients with
P. falciparum infection from six health facilities throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2017 to January 2018 were evaluated for
pfhrp2/3 deletions. Samples were assayed for HRP2, pan-
Plasmodium LDH (pLDH) and aldolase (pAldolase) antigens by bead-based multiplex antigen assay. Samples with low HRP2 concentration compared to pLDH and pAldolase antigens were selected for further
pfhrp2/3 genotyping PCRs. The majority of blood samples (93.3%, 1035/1109) had high concentrations of the HRP2 antigen. Single deletions of
pfhrp2 were identified in 0.27% (3/1109) of screened samples, with one sample from each of the Kapolowe, Mikalayi, and Rutshuru study sites. A
pfhrp3 single deletion (0.09%, 1/1109) was found in the Kapolowe site. Dual
pfhrp2 and
pfhrp3 deletions were not observed. Due to, the low numbers of
pfhrp2 deletions and the sporadic locations of these deletions, the use of HRP2-based RDTs appears to still be appropriate for these locations in DRC.
