The first case of Plasmodium malariae infection imported from Nigeria to Korea

There have been several reports of malaria in Korea; however, there have been no reports of Plasmodium malariae infection since 1962. P. malariae infection is most common in sub-Saharan Africa and is described as an infrequent infection with a relatively mild clinical course, low mortality, and high sensitivity to chloroquine. Here we report a case of P. malariae infection, in a previously healthy man, that was imported from Nigeria to Korea. The patient was diagnosed using a malaria smear and nested polymerase chain reaction, and was first treated with atovaquone/proguanil in Korea.