Diagnostic methods for Plasmodium knowlesi: performance, limitations and recommendations

Malaria is a life-threatening disease which causes an economic and public health burden in endemic regions. Plasmodium knowlesi is a zoonotic malaria caused by the bite of P. knowlesi-infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease poses risks of complications owing to the short replication cycle of the parasite. Sensitive and specific diagnostic methods are needed to detect the presence of P. knowlesi infection in knowlesi-endemic regions. This paper reviews and compares the performance of various diagnostic techniques as well as highlights the limitations and challenges of the current diagnostic tools for P. knowlesi. Recommendations for further improvement of the P. knowlesi diagnostic tools are also included.