Brazilian test detects malaria in the blood of asymptomatic people

Blood establishments offering blood and its derivatives to the SUS (Unified Health System) have received a test known as Kit Nat Plus, developed by Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz. From September 2022 until today, he has identified genetic material of Plasmodium (the protozoan that causes malaria) in six bags donated by completely asymptomatic individuals.

What you need to know:

This is the first test capable of detecting malaria in blood donated by people without symptoms on a large scale and in an affordable way. It is no coincidence that his research won the Oswaldo Cruz Prize during the International Symposium on Immunobiologicals promoted by the institution itself.

the malaria test

Kit Nat Plus detects fragments of DNA from the plasmodium itself, which are the trace of its presence in the blood.

For starters, it increases the safety of many people who need to receive blood components in a transfusion. For example: cancer patients, transplant recipients, those with bleeding disorders and most of those undergoing surgery.

Kit Nat Plus allows blood establishments linked to the SUS outside the North to take on people who, until then, had been prevented from giving blood for a period of one year after traveling somewhere in the endemic area.

With blood banks always in short supply, the test offers invaluable help. After all, thanks to him, the banks never let go of the – already very scarce – donors. Now it is possible to know who carries the malaria plasmodium. And that waiting period to donate after visiting an endemic area has become just a month.

The test trajectory

The first test came when the Ministry of Health challenged Fiocruz, in 2004, to develop a test that could detect the genetic material of HIV and the hepatitis C virus in donated blood, which at the time were the largest worry.

At that time, only serological testing was done. So, there was always the risk of such an immunological window, when there would be no antibodies to see for testing. And it was a challenge because it had to be accessible on the public network.

When it was launched in 2013, Kit Nat was the first in the world to distinguish what a donor had. That same year, Kit Nat incorporated detection of two more viruses, HPV and Hepatitis B.

So, in 2015, researchers started thinking about a second generation, the “Plus,” powered by an updated robotic platform and more modern ways to extract DNA from any intruders.

Together the discussion on what could be the fifth disease to be detected was born. Finally, scientists thought of malaria because of its importance in Brazil. To give you an idea, according to the Ministry of Health, 21,273 cases were registered in the first two months of 2023 alone, which represents an increase of more than 12% compared to the same period in 2022.

malaria

In Brazil, those who think that malaria is a problem only for those who live in the Amazon region are mistaken. In fact, 99% of cases are found there, in the north of the country. But many Brazilians travel all over the country.

Whether people visit the region – to visit the forest or on business – there is always the risk of being bitten by the Anopheles mosquito one evening. This is because the insect, transmitter of plasmodium, loves the freshness of day and night.

Therefore, in any corner of the country, you can meet someone who has malaria, and sometimes you don’t even suspect it. This has been a big problem for blood banks.

The fever caused by the disease is about 100 degrees and comes and goes every two, three, or four days. And this can last up to three years, if the person does not die of the infection sooner.

After being injected into the body by the mosquito, the plasmodium takes no more than half an hour to reach the liver, where it multiplies to the point that its copies cause liver cells to burst. Released into the bloodstream, it begins to attack red blood cells.

By breaking them down, too, it releases toxins that cause your body temperature to skyrocket. Then it invades more red blood cells. And the worst: it is as if the immune system gets confused, being able to attack the same organs of the body.

However, the classic symptoms — as well as fever, chills, sweats, and cyclical migraines — can take a week or two to manifest. In some cases, up to two months.

With information from Bio-Manguinhos and Fiocruz

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Source: Olhar Digital