Reactivation of latent Plasmodium ovale infection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.470Keywords:
Malaria, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, RecurrenceAbstract
Malaria remains the most significant parasitic disease in tropical and subtropical regions. With increasing travel and migration, malaria must be considered in cases of fever in returning travelers. Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale can persist in the liver as dormant hypnozoites, reactivating years later if untreated.
We report a case of a 41-year-old Portuguese military patient who developed P. ovale malaria two years after a mission in the Central African Republic, with no other exposure risks. He was successfully treated with artemether-lumefantrine combined with primaquine.
Diagnosing recurrent malaria in travelers returning to non-endemic areas can be a clinical challenge. Latent infections, capable of reactivation long after exposure, complicate both diagnosis and public health efforts. These cases may contribute to transmission and hinder global malaria control and eradication strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Rafaela Ribeiro, Ana Carolina Lemos, Maria Inês Risto, Nuno Moreira Santos, Andreia Vilas-Boas
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
