Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 11 2 2017 06 13 172 181 EN Gholmreza Hassanpour Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Mohebali Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hojjat Zeraati Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ahmad Raeisi Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hossein Keshavarz Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 01 22 2017 01 22 Background: The ob­jective of this study was to find an appropriate approach to asymptomatic malaria in elimination setting through a systematic review. Methods: A broad search was conducted to find articles with the words ‘malaria’ in their titles and ‘asymptomatic’ or ‘submicroscopic’ in their texts, irrespective of the type of study conducted. The Cochrane, Medline/PubMed, and Scopus databases, as well as Google Scholar were systematically searched for English articles and reports and Iran’s databases- IranMedex, SID and Magiran were searched for Persian reports and articles, with no time limitation. The study was qualitatively summarized if it contained precise information on the role of asymptomatic malaria in the elimination phase. Results: Six articles were selected from the initial 2645 articles. The results all re-emphasize the significance of asymptomatic malaria in the elimination phase, and empha­size the significance of diagnostic tests of higher sensitivity to locate these patients and perform interventions to re­duce the asymptomatic parasitic reservoirs particularly in regions of low transmission. However, we may infer from the results that the current evidence cannot yet specify an accurate strategy on the role of asymptomatic malaria in the elimination phase. Conclusion: To eliminate malaria, alongside vector control, and treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic pa­tients, active and inactive methods of case detection need to be employed. The precise monitoring of asymptomatic individuals and submicroscopic cases of malaria through molecular assays and valid serological methods, especially in regions where seasonal and low transmission exists can be very helpful at this phase. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/600 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/600/343