Background and Objective: Malaria is one of the most important health problems in tropical countries. The main purpose of this study was to compare microscopically and PCR-RFLP methods for diagnosis of plasmodium parasites in dubious patients.
Materials and Methods: We collected 102 blood samples which 77 of them are from patients referred to Bandar Abbas hospital and 25 of them are from healthy persons which used as control group. Slide thick and thin smears were prepared and observed by microscope. Blood DNA was extract and PCR reaction was performed.
Results: By using microscope methods, 35 % of samples were positive hence 75.2 % of them were PCR positive. In this study none of the samples which were reported positive by using microscope methods, were negative in PCR. For differentiation of plasmodium parasites RFLP was used which there were 12.96% P. malariae, 14.8% p. falciparum, 20.7% p.vivax, and 42.69% mix of plasmodium spp were observed.
Conclusion: PCR method is more sensitive than microscopically methods for malaria parasites detection.