Case Report: Imported Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria in a French Tourist Returning from ThailandArchived
The authors describe a case of imported Plasmodium knowlesi infection in a French tourist acquired in Thailand. The patient had spent a three month beach holiday on the west coast of Thailand including a one month stay on the Island of Ko Payam.
Berry A, Iriart X, Wilhelm N, Valentin A, Cassaing S, Witkowski B, Benoit-Vical F, Menard S, Olagnier D, Fillaux J, Sire S, Coustumier AL, Magnaval JF. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Apr;84(4):535-8.
Description: The authors describe a case of imported Plasmodium knowlesi infection in a French tourist acquired in Thailand. The patient had spent a three month beach holiday on the west coast of Thailand including a one month stay on the Island of Ko Payam. The patient was treated with a 500 mg dose of chloroquine for 5 days.
Public Health Significance: This is the first case of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria imported from Thailand into a Western country. Usually infection with P. knowlesi is acquired during stays in forest areas, since it is primarily a simian malaria parasite. In the displayed case the infection was contracted while staying in seaside resorts. The emergence of cases transmitted in highly touristic areas needs to be monitored closely. Plasmodium knowlesi infection must be considered in patients with malaria returning from Southeast Asia even if they did not travel to forest areas. Another recent article (Barber BE, Emerg Inf Dis Vol. 17,. 5, May 2011) mentioned that P. knowlesi is the most common cause of childhood malaria in Kudat, Malaysia. Although infection is generally uncomplicated, anaemia is common and thrombocytopenia universal.