Pseudo Eosinophilia: A Role for Automation in Plasmodium Vivax Detection

Shaimaa Abdelmalik Pessar

Abstract

A 52-year-old male, Sudanese, diagnosed to have vivax malaria while being investigated for anemia and fever of 3 months duration. Automated eosinophil count turned to be erroneously elevated discordant with manual count which attributed to presence of Plasmodia and its byproducts in circulation suggesting a role for automated complete blood count (CBC) in malaria diagnosis. Because general screening tests like CBC are always undertaken for patients who present with fever. Hematologists should be aware that samples containing malaria may give erroneously high eosinophil counts, thus blood films should be reviewed carefully and the White Blood Cell (WBC) differential count should be confirmed microscopically.

Relevant Publications in Journal of Immunology and Microbiology