Swedish traveller with Plasmodium knowlesi malaria after visiting Malaysian Borneo

Plasmodium knowlesi occurs in nature in long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis and Macaca nemestrina, respectively), that are commonly found in forested areas of south-east Asia [1]. Until a few years ago, infection with P. knowlesi was regarded as a rare disease, occurring only sporadically in humans [2]. The recent findings of a large number of infected patients in Malaysia [3–5], especially in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo and other reports of human cases acquired in Thailand [6], Myanmar [7], the Philippines [8] and Singapore [9], have changed the perception of P. knowlesi. This parasite is clearly the fifth species of Plasmodium, causing malaria in humans in south-east Asia [10]. It has the shortest erythrocytic cycle among the primate malarias, only 24 hours [1], and high parasitaemias with fatal outcome in humans can occur [4]. Under the microscope, it is not possible to distinguish between P. knowlesi and P. malariae due to their similar morphological characteristics [1, 3, 10].

In October 2006, a 35-year-old Swedish man presented to hospital in Stockholm with a two-day history of fever, sweats, headache and fatigue. He had a temperature of 40°C, but was otherwise in good general condition with a normal respiratory rate and blood pressure. Laboratory investigations revealed normal haemoglobin concentration (154 g/L), leucopaenia (2.2 × 10⁹/L), moderate thrombocytopenia (58 × 10⁹/L) and an elevated C-reactive protein concentration of 109 mg/L (normal < 10 mg/L). Plasma creatinine was normal, while plasma bilirubin (31 μmol/L) was just above the upper limit of the normal range and alanine transaminase (1.68 μcat/L) was slightly increased (normal < 1.20 μcat/L).

The patient had recently returned from a two-week holiday in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. He had trekked in the jungle of the Bario Highlands during the last seven days of his holiday, at altitudes between 800 and 1,400 m. He had not taken any anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis. His symptoms started 11 days after leaving the Bario Highlands. There was a strong suspicion of malaria, and although a rapid diagnostic test (Now^® Malaria Test, Binax Inc., Maine, USA) was negative, oral mefloquine therapy was started while waiting for the results of the blood film examination. Malaria parasites were detected by microscopy in 0.1% of erythrocytes. The Plasmodium species could not be identified conclusively, but Plasmodium malariae was suspected, since late trophozoites were observed and the infected red blood cells were not enlarged (Figure 1). The patient improved rapidly following mefloquine treatment and was discharged afebrile after two days. The lowest recorded haemoglobin and platelet levels were 95 g/L and 34 × 10⁹/L, respectively. Two blood cultures were negative and a pulmonary x-ray was normal.

Due to the uncertain identification by microscopy, PCR assays for P. falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and P. malariae were performed in Sweden. These assays were negative, but microscopy results that were suggestive of P. malariae and the patient's travel history led to the suspicion of a P. knowlesi infection. A frozen blood sample, collected when the patient was admitted to hospital, was sent to the Malaria Research Centre at University Malaysia Sarawak for further analysis. The infection was identified as a single P. knowlesi infection following DNA extraction and examination by PCR assays for P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi as described previously [3]. PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of the A-type small subunit ribosomal (SSU r) RNA gene was also undertaken, followed by phylogenetic analysis as described earlier [3]. The SSU rRNA gene sequence of the malaria parasite from the Swedish patient was phylogenetically indistinguishable from those of other P. knowlesi isolates (Figure 2).

The nested PCR assay and molecular characterization confirmed that the patient was infected with P. knowlesi. Since the incubation period of P. knowlesi in the liver is 9 to 12 days [2], this indicates that he most probably acquired his infection while jungle trekking in the Bario Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Plasmodium knowlesi parasites morphologically resemble those of P. malariae [1, 2, 10] and PCR assays can correctly differentiate between the two species [3]. However, PCR assays are not a rapid method of detection and are not a viable option for routine diagnosis. Rapid diagnostic tests are becoming an increasingly popular method for diagnosis of malaria [11], particularly by doctors on call and medical laboratory technologists in non-malaria endemic countries, who are not experienced in identifying malaria parasites by microscopy. It is possible that the low parasitaemia may have been a contributing factor to the inability of the rapid diagnostic test to detect knowlesi malaria in this Swedish patient, since these tests are not as sensitive as microscopy [12]. In a recent study of monoclonal antibodies against Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase that have been developed for use in a rapid diagnostic test, it was shown that certain antibodies that were thought to be specific for P. falciparum and P. vivax, also bind to P. knowlesi [13]. However, it remains to be determined whether this, and commercially available rapid diagnostic tests, are able to detect P. knowlesi infections by examining a larger number of patient samples.

Early identification and adequate anti-malarial treatment of suspected cases are essential since P. knowlesi has a 24-hr erythrocytic cycle, and high parasitaemias with fatal outcome in humans can occur [4]. Human P. knowlesi infections resolve rapidly following treatment with chloroquine [3] and the current report indicates that mefloquine is also an effective anti-malarial for knowlesi malaria. However, in severely ill knowlesi malaria patients with high parasitaemias, management and treatment as for severe falciparum malaria has been recommended due to the rapid rate at which P. knowlesi can multiply [4].

Previous reports of human knowlesi malaria infections were of people that have either lived or worked in the forest and forest fringe areas of south-east Asia [10]. There has been a recent report of a Finnish traveller, who returned from Peninsular Malaysia with knowlesi malaria [14]. Taken together with this report of P. knowlesi infection in a Swedish traveller returning from Malaysian Borneo, this indicates that knowlesi malaria infections in travellers are probably not rare events, particularly since south-east Asia has become a popular tourist destination.

In conclusion, this report shows that P. knowlesi can infect short-term visitors to areas in south-east Asia, where knowlesi transmission occurs, and mefloquine was an effective anti-malarial. The P. knowlesi infection in the Swedish traveller was not detected by a rapid diagnostic test and evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests with further samples are necessary since early identification and appropriate anti-malarial treatment of suspected cases are essential, due to the rapid growth and potentially pathogenic nature of knowlesi malaria. Physicians should, therefore, be aware that knowlesi infection is an important differential diagnosis in febrile travellers with a recent travel history to forested areas in Southeast Asia, including short-term travellers, who tested negative with rapid diagnostic tests.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report.