Page 60 - IMR ANNUAL REPORT 2021: INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

IMR ANNUAL REPORT 2021 47

Photo of microscopic Mycobacterium
tuberculosis under scanning electron
microscope observation. The
presence of a biofilm indicates the
pathogenicity of the species

Photo of microscopic Mycobacterium tuberculosis under scanning electron microscope observation. The
Laboratory Diagnostics/Services
presence of a biofilm indicates the pathogenicity of the species.
Acarology Unit Diagnostic Tests

Laboratory Diagnostics/Services Diagnostic Test
No.
Department
RESEARCH CENTRE (IDRC) INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Perak State Health
Acarology Unit Diagnostic Tests Identification and confirmation of acari-infested
1
Department acarine in rodent
Penang State Health Identification and control of scabies infection at Pusat
2 Department Pemulihan Akhlak Paya Terubong, Penang.

Department
Diagnostic Test
Hilir Perak District Identification and confirmation of acari-infested
3
Identification and confirmation of acari-infested
1. Perak State Health ent acarine in rodents at Malaysia border
Health Departm
Department acarine in rodent
Pathology Department, Identification and confirmation of scabies (Sarcoptes
4 Miri Hospital, Sarawak scabiei) on patient’s skin scraping sample
Identification and control of scabies infection at Pusat
2. Penang State Health
Department Pemulihan Akhlak Paya Terubong, Penang.
Batang Padang District Identification and control of scabies infection in Pusat
5 3. Hilir Perak District Health Jagaan HK Anbu Illam, Bidor, Perak.
Identification and confirmation of acari-infested
Health Department
Department acarine in rodents at Malaysia border
4. Pathology Department, Miri Identification and confirmation of scabies (Sarcoptes
Medical Entomology Unit Diagnostic Tests for Malaria and Filaria
Hospital, Sarawak
scabiei) on patient’s skin scraping sample
5. atang Padang District Identification and control of scabies infection in Pusat
B
Year
Test
No. Health Department Jagaan HK Anbu Illam, Bidor, Perak. Remarks
Disease
2020 2021
Molecular (Detection of
malaria parasite species The number of
(Plasmodium falciparum, 46 102 samples received
1 Malaria samples samples were below average
P. vivax, P. malariae, P.
ovale and P. knowlesi) in due to COVID-19
pandemic
Anopheles mosquitoes)
Active filariasis
Molecular (Detection of screening activities
2 filarial parasite (Brugia Filaria - conducted by
malayi and B. bancrofti) District Health
in mosquitoes) Office
Total tests 46 442 61

Diagnostic services in forensic entomology provided by the Medical Entomology
Unit include estimating the minimum post-mortem interval using arthropods
samples collected from forensic cases and insects’ identification. The process
consists of mounting procedures, molecular analysis and colonization of
immature stages until adulthood. In 2021, we received 106 cases compared to 92
cases in 2020.