Pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions threaten the use of Plasmodium falciparum malaria rapid diagnostic tests globally. In South Sudan, deletion frequencies were 15.6% for pfhrp2, 20.0% for pfhrp3, and 7.5% for double deletions. Deletions were approximately twice as prevalent in monoclonal infections than in polyclonal infections.
Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; RDT; South Sudan; diagnosis; histidine-rich protein; malaria; molecular epidemiology; parasites; surveillance; vector-borne infections.