Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum isolates lacking the histidine rich protein 2 gene among symptomatic malaria patients in Kwilu Provinee of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background:Malaria rapid diagnostic tests have become a primary and critical tool for malaria diagnosis in malariaendemic countries where Plasmodium falciparum Histidine Rich Protein 2-based rapid diagnostic tests(PflHRP2-based RDTs)are widely used.However,in the last decade,the accuracy of PflHRP2-based RDTs has been challenged by the emerge nee of P.falciparum strains harbouring deletions of the P.falciparum histidine rich protein 2(pflnrp2)gene,resulting in false-negative results.In the Democratic Republic of Congo(D.R.Congo),little is known about the prevalence of the pfhrp2 gene deletion among P.falciparum isolates infecting symptomatic patients,especially in low to moderate transmission areas where pfhrp2 deletion parasites are assumed to emerge and spread.Here we determine the local prevalence and factors associated with pfhrp2 gene deletions among symptomatic malaria patients in the Kwilu Province of the D.R.Congo.