Fig. 3

Malaria prevalence among subclinical malaria suspects (n = 324) as detected by Light Microscopy (LM) or PCR-based protocols targeting ribosomal (18S rRNA) and non-ribosomal (NR) sequences of P. vivax and P. falciparum. The results were expressed as (A) frequency of positives according to the amplified parasite target region (18SrRNA and/or NR targets) or PCR assay (nested-PCR vs. R-qPCR or NR-cPCR vs. NR-qPCR); Different letters (a, b) indicate differences between proportions (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact approach for post hoc analysis of a Chi squared test); (B) Heat map representation of species-specific positivity as detected by each PCR protocols: blue—negative; red—P. vivax; yellow—P. falciparum; and orange—mixed P. vivax/P. falciparum infection. Each column represents an assay and subjects were represented in rows