RESEARCH Open Access New type of SSUrDNA seq v

Plasmodium ovale was the last described malaria parasites of humans [1]. However, relatively little attention had been paid to it since that time, because of its commonness, mild symptoms, usually low parasitaemia and same treatment method with P. vivax [2]. With the application of molecular methods in malaria diagnosis, more understand-ing of it had been achieved. Based on DNA polymorphisms in small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, P. ovale parasites were defined into two types, a classic type and a variant type [3-8]. Lately, they were further confirmed based on the characterization of cysteine protease gene, ookinete surface protein gene and cytochrome b gene. Recently, these two types were certified to occur globally and so were formally named Plasmodium ovale curtis