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Jia L, Chen X, Feng Z, Tang S, Feng D. Factors affecting delays in seeking treatment among malaria patients during the pre-certification phase in China. Malar J 2024; 23:73. [PMID: 38468296 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04892-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delays in malaria treatment can not only lead to severe and even life-threatening complications, but also foster transmission, putting more people at risk of infection. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing treatment delays among malaria patients and their health-seeking behaviour. METHODS The medical records of 494 patients diagnosed with malaria from 6 different malaria-endemic provinces in China were analysed. A bivariate and multivariable regression model was used to investigate the association between delays in seeking treatment and various factors. A Sankey diagram was used to visualize the trajectories of malaria patients seeking medical care. Total treatment delays were categorized as patient delays and doctor delays. RESULTS The incidence of total delays in seeking malaria treatment was 81.6%, of which 28.4% were delayed by patients alone and 34.8% by doctors alone. The median time from the onset of symptoms to the initial healthcare consultation was 1 day. The median time from the initial healthcare consultation to the conclusive diagnosis was 2 day. After being subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis, living in central China was less likely to experience patient delays (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.24-0.78). The factors significantly associated with the lower likelihood of doctor delays included: age between 30 to 49 (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.81), being single/divorce/separated (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.95), first visiting a county-level health institution (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.14-0.45), first visiting a prefectural health institution (OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.03-0.12) and first visiting a provincial health institution (OR = 0.05, 95%CI 0.02-0.12). Conversely, individuals with mixed infections (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.02-4.08) and those experiencing periodic symptoms (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.00-2.92) might face increased doctor delays. Furthermore, higher financial burden and complications were found to be associated with patient delays. Doctor delays, in addition to incurring these two consequences, were associated with longer hospital stays. CONCLUSION There was a substantial delay in access to health care for malaria patients before China was certified malaria free. Region, marital status, periodic symptoms and the level of health institutions were factors contributing to delays in treatment-seeking among malaria patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianyu Jia
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhanchun Feng
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shangfeng Tang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Da Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Calderaro A, Piccolo G, Chezzi C. The Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria: A Focus on the Diagnostic Assays in Non-Endemic Areas. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:695. [PMID: 38255768 PMCID: PMC10815132 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Even if malaria is rare in Europe, it is a medical emergency and programs for its control should ensure both an early diagnosis and a prompt treatment within 24-48 h from the onset of the symptoms. The increasing number of imported malaria cases as well as the risk of the reintroduction of autochthonous cases encouraged laboratories in non-endemic countries to adopt diagnostic methods/algorithms. Microscopy remains the gold standard, but with limitations. Rapid diagnostic tests have greatly expanded the ability to diagnose malaria for rapid results due to simplicity and low cost, but they lack sensitivity and specificity. PCR-based assays provide more relevant information but need well-trained technicians. As reported in the World Health Organization Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, the development of point-of-care testing is important for the improvement of diagnosis with beneficial consequences for prompt/accurate treatment and for preventing the spread of the disease. Despite their limitations, diagnostic methods contribute to the decline of malaria mortality. Recently, evidence suggested that artificial intelligence could be utilized for assisting pathologists in malaria diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Calderaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Viale A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (G.P.); (C.C.)
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Hadebe MT, Malgwi SA, Okpeku M. Revolutionizing Malaria Vector Control: The Importance of Accurate Species Identification through Enhanced Molecular Capacity. Microorganisms 2023; 12:82. [PMID: 38257909 PMCID: PMC10818655 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Many factors, such as the resistance to pesticides and a lack of knowledge of the morphology and molecular structure of malaria vectors, have made it more challenging to eradicate malaria in numerous malaria-endemic areas of the globe. The primary goal of this review is to discuss malaria vector control methods and the significance of identifying species in vector control initiatives. This was accomplished by reviewing methods of molecular identification of malaria vectors and genetic marker classification in relation to their use for species identification. Due to its specificity and consistency, molecular identification is preferred over morphological identification of malaria vectors. Enhanced molecular capacity for species identification will improve mosquito characterization, leading to accurate control strategies/treatment targeting specific mosquito species, and thus will contribute to malaria eradication. It is crucial for disease epidemiology and surveillance to accurately identify the Plasmodium spp. that are causing malaria in patients. The capacity for disease surveillance will be significantly increased by the development of more accurate, precise, automated, and high-throughput diagnostic techniques. In conclusion, although morphological identification is quick and achievable at a reduced cost, molecular identification is preferred for specificity and sensitivity. To achieve the targeted malaria elimination goal, proper identification of vectors using accurate techniques for effective control measures should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Moses Okpeku
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
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Zhang X, Jiang J, Sui Y, Yan H, Xia J, Liu Y, Sun L, Wang X, Marfurt J, Lu S, Li S, Ruan W, Wang D. Evaluation of performance for malaria diagnosis in health facilities by five provincial reference laboratories of China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1243642. [PMID: 37841716 PMCID: PMC10569120 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories review and assess malaria cases diagnosed in health facilities for supporting the malaria elimination efforts and preventing re-transmission of imported malaria. The study aimed to evaluate the detection capability of malaria diagnosis in China from 2014 to 2021. Methods Data on malaria cases reported in the provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Guangxi, and Zhejiang from 2014 to 2021 were collected and analyzed. Results In total, 5,770 malaria cases were reported from 2014 to 2021, and 99.05% (5,715/5,770) were submitted to the provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories. The median time between malaria cases being reported and the samples being received by reference laboratories was 6 days (Interquartile range, IQR:3-12 days) from 2017 to 2021. Diagnosis of 5,680 samples in the laboratory were confirmed by provincial reference laboratories, including 3,970 cases of Plasmodium falciparum, 414 of P. vivax, 1,055 of P. ovale, 158 of P. malariae, 1 of P. knowlesi, and 82 of mixed infections. Plasmodium species of 5,141 confirmed cases were consistent with the initial diagnosis, with a species accuracy rate of 90.53% (5,141/5,679). The accuracy of P. falciparum diagnosis in health facilities was higher than that of non-falciparum species. The inconsistency between microscopy and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) results of confirmatory diagnosis was mainly in malaria-positive versus malaria-negative cases, as well as in mixed versus single infection cases. Conclusion The provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories have played an important role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Plasmodium diagnosis in health facilities. However, the results of this study imply that capacity training for the identification of Plasmodium species in health facilities is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Jiang
- Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, China
| | - Yuan Sui
- Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Hui Yan
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lingcong Sun
- Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jutta Marfurt
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Shenning Lu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Shizhu Li
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Ruan
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Duoquan Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
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5
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Balerdi-Sarasola L, Parolo C, Fleitas P, Cruz A, Subirà C, Rodríguez-Valero N, Almuedo-Riera A, Letona L, Álvarez-Martínez MJ, Valls ME, Vera I, Mayor A, Muñoz J, Camprubí-Ferrer D. Host biomarkers for early identification of severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 54:102608. [PMID: 37348666 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe imported P. falciparum malaria is a source of morbi-mortality in non-endemic regions. WHO criteria don't accurately classify patients at risk of complications. There is a need to evaluate new tools such as biomarkers to better identify patients with severe imported malaria. METHODS A case-control study was conducted in Barcelona, from January 2011-January 2021. Adult patients with microbiologically confirmed P. falciparum malaria were classified according to WHO criteria. Patients with imported non-malarial fevers were included as controls. In each group, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) and platelets were measured and their concentrations were compared between groups. New groups were made with a modified WHO severity classification and biomarkers' performance was evaluated using multiple imputation models. RESULTS 131 participants were included: 52 severe malaria, 30 uncomplicated malaria and 49 non-malarial fever cases. All biomarkers except sTREM-1 showed significant differences between groups. Using the modified WHO severity classification, Ang-2 and CRP presented the best AUROC; 0.79 (95%CI 0.64-0.94) and 0.80(95%CI 0.67-0.93). A model combining CRP and Ang-2 showed the best AUROC, of 0.84(95%CI 0.68-0.99), with the highest sensitivity and specificity: 84.6%(95%CI 58.9-98.1) and 77.4% (95%CI 65.9-87.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of Ang-2 and CRP may be a reliable tool for the early identification of severe imported malaria. The use of a rapid prognostic test including the mentioned biomarkers could optimize imported malaria management, with the potential to decrease the rate of complications and hospitalizations in patients with imported malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Parolo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - P Fleitas
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Cruz
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Subirà
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - A Almuedo-Riera
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Letona
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M J Álvarez-Martínez
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Eugenia Valls
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Vera
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Mayor
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Muñoz
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Camprubí-Ferrer
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Wang X, Xu W, Luo F, Lin K, Zhang T, Yao L, Zhang X, Zhang J, Auburn S, Wang D, Ruan W. Increasing incidence of Plasmodium ovale and persistent reporting of Plasmodium vivax in imported malaria cases: an analysis of 9-year surveillance data in four areas of China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1203095. [PMID: 37448654 PMCID: PMC10338171 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1203095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed at exploring the epidemiological pattern of imported malaria in China before malaria elimination in 2021, to provide evidence-based data for preventing malaria re-establishment in China. Methods Nine-year surveillance data on imported malaria in four provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) (Anhui, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Zhejiang) between 2011 and 2019 were thoroughly collected and analyzed. Results A quite stable trend in imported malaria cases between 2011 and 2019 was observed. In total, 6,064 imported patients were included. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently reported species (4,575, 75.6%). Cases of malaria were most frequently imported from Western Africa (54.4%). We identified an increasing trend in P. ovale and a persistence of P. vivax infections among the cases of malaria imported from Western Africa. Most patients (97.5%) were 20-50 years old. Among imported malaria infections, the main purposes for traveling abroad were labor export (4,914/6,064, 81.0%) and business trips (649, 10.7%). Most patients (2,008/6,064, 33.1%) first visited county-level medical institutions when they sought medical help in China. More patients were diagnosed within 3 days after visiting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) or entry-exit quarantine facilities (EQFs) (1,147/1609, 71.3%) than after visiting medical institutions (2,182/3993, 54.6%). Conclusion Imported malaria still poses a threat to the malaria-free status of China. County-level institutions are the primary targets in China to improve the sensitivity of the surveillance system and prevent the re-establishment of malaria. Health education should focus on exported labors, especially to Western and Central Africa. Increasing trend in P. ovale and persistence of P. vivax infections indicated their underestimations in Western Africa. Efficient diagnostic tools and sensitive monitoring systems are required to identify Plasmodium species in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Luo
- Department of Endemic and Parasitic Diseases, Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China
| | - Kangming Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangxi Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Anhui Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, China
| | - Linong Yao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sarah Auburn
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Duoquan Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Ruan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
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Thellier M, Houzé S, Pradine B, Piarroux R, Musset L, Kendjo E. Assessment of electronic surveillance and knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) survey toward imported malaria surveillance system acceptance in France. JAMIA Open 2022; 5:ooac012. [PMID: 35571356 PMCID: PMC9097633 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective An electronic surveillance system was released to monitor morbidity and mortality
incidence of imported malaria cases, investigate autochthonous cases, and assess
chemosensitivity of Plasmodium isolates among travelers to and from
endemic areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of an electronic
surveillance system for imported malaria in France. Materials and Methods Three main indicators were used to assess the online malaria web-based surveillance
system: (1) the quality of the surveillance system; (2) the capacity of the online
system to early warning in case of particular events of public health; (3) the
knowledge, attitude, and practice of online electronic system by practitioners of
malaria network in France. Results Overall, the median time onset a case is reported to the system decrease by 99%,
ranging from 227 days (144–309) to 2 days (1–6) in 2006 and 2020, respectively. Conclusion The online malaria surveillance system in France has demonstrated its effectiveness and
can therefore be extended to carry out numerous investigations linked to research on
malaria. We describe the surveillance activities of the imported malaria surveillance in travelers
from and to endemic areas in France caused by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Furthermore, we evaluate how the participants to the network navigate, appreciate, and
report their diagnosed cases to the French National Reference Center for malaria. The main
findings are the stability of the network from 1996 through 2020; the reduction of the
time between the diagnosis and the declaration of the case in the database. This study
provides the effectiveness and ability of this surveillance system to carry out numerous
investigations linked to research on malaria and the willingness of their members to
participate in the surveillance of imported malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Thellier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de parasitologie, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- AP-HP, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France
- Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Pradine
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Renaud Piarroux
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France
| | - Lise Musset
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance of Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance, Centre National de Référence du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, France
| | - Eric Kendjo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de parasitologie, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France
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Serrano D, Santos-Reis A, Silva C, Dias A, Dias B, Toscano C, Conceição C, Baptista-Fernandes T, Nogueira F. Imported Malaria in Portugal: Prevalence of Polymorphisms in the Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance Genes pfmdr1 and pfk13. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102045. [PMID: 34683365 PMCID: PMC8538333 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the ‘big three’ killer infectious diseases, alongside tuberculosis and HIV. In non-endemic areas, malaria may occur in travelers who have recently been to or visited endemic regions. The number of imported malaria cases in Portugal has increased in recent years, mostly due to the close relationship with the community of Portuguese language countries. Samples were collected from malaria-infected patients attending Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO) or the outpatient clinic of Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT-NOVA) between March 2014 and May 2021. Molecular characterization of Plasmodium falciparum pfk13 and pfmdr1 genes was performed. We analyzed 232 imported malaria cases. The majority (68.53%) of the patients came from Angola and only three patients travelled to a non-African country; one to Brazil and two to Indonesia. P. falciparum was diagnosed in 81.47% of the cases, P. malariae in 7.33%, P. ovale 6.47% and 1.72% carried P. vivax. No mutations were detected in pfk13. Regarding pfmdr1, the wild-type haplotype (N86/Y184/D1246) was also the most prevalent (64.71%) and N86/184F/D1246 was detected in 26.47% of the cases. The typical imported malaria case was middle-aged male, traveling from Angola, infected with P. falciparum carrying wild type pfmdr1 and pfk13. Our study highlights the need for constant surveillance of malaria parasites imported into Portugal as an important pillar of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Serrano
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Ana Santos-Reis
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Clemente Silva
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Ana Dias
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Clínica e Biologia Molecular, Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO), Rua da Junqueira 126, 1349-019 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.D.); (C.T.); (T.B.-F.)
| | - Brigite Dias
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Cristina Toscano
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Clínica e Biologia Molecular, Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO), Rua da Junqueira 126, 1349-019 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.D.); (C.T.); (T.B.-F.)
| | - Cláudia Conceição
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Teresa Baptista-Fernandes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Clínica e Biologia Molecular, Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO), Rua da Junqueira 126, 1349-019 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.D.); (C.T.); (T.B.-F.)
| | - Fatima Nogueira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT-NOVA), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (D.S.); (A.S.-R.); (C.S.); (B.D.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-213652600
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9
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Nolder D, Stewart L, Tucker J, Ibrahim A, Gray A, Corrah T, Gallagher C, John L, O'Brien E, Aggarwal D, Benavente ED, van Schalkwyk D, Henriques G, Sepúlveda N, Campino S, Chiodini P, Sutherland C, Beshir KB. Failure of rapid diagnostic tests in Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases among travelers to the UK and Ireland: Identification and characterisation of the parasites. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 108:137-144. [PMID: 33991679 PMCID: PMC8295040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our objective was to systematically investigate false-negative histidine-rich protein 2 rapid diagnostic tests (HRP2-RDT) in imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases from travelers to the UK and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). METHODS Five imported malaria cases in travellers returning to the UK and RoI from East Africa were reported to the PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory as negative according to histidine-rich protein (HRP2)-RDT. The cases were systematically investigated using microscopic, RDT, molecular, genomic, and in in vitro approaches. RESULTS In each case, HRP2-RDT was negative, whereas microscopy confirmed the presence of P. falciparum. Further analysis revealed that the genes encoding HRP2 and HRP3 were deleted in three of the five cases. Whole-genome sequencing in one of these isolates confirmed deletions in P. falciparum chromosomes 8 and 13. Our study produced evidence that the fourth case, which had high parasitemia at clinical presentation, was a rare example of antigen saturation ('prozone-like effect'), leading to a false negative in the HRP2-RDT, while the fifth case was due to low parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS False-negative HRP2-RDT results with P. falciparum are concerning. Our findings emphasise the necessity of supporting the interpretation of RDT results with microscopy, in conjunction with clinical observations, and sets out a systematic approach to identifying parasites carrying pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Nolder
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Lindsay Stewart
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Julie Tucker
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Amy Ibrahim
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Adam Gray
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Northwick Park Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London HA1 3UJ, UK
| | - Tumena Corrah
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Northwick Park Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London HA1 3UJ, UK
| | - Carmel Gallagher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Northwick Park Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London HA1 3UJ, UK
| | - Laurence John
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Northwick Park Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London HA1 3UJ, UK
| | - Edel O'Brien
- Haematology Lab, University Hospital Limerick, Ireland
| | - Dinesh Aggarwal
- Department of Clinical Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Donelly van Schalkwyk
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Gisela Henriques
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Nuno Sepúlveda
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; CEAUL - Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Campino
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Peter Chiodini
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Department of Clinical Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Colin Sutherland
- PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Khalid B Beshir
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
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10
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Al Khaja KAJ, Sequeira RP. Drug treatment and prevention of malaria in pregnancy: a critical review of the guidelines. Malar J 2021; 20:62. [PMID: 33485330 PMCID: PMC7825227 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03565-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in pregnancy can result in adverse maternal and fetal sequelae. This review evaluated the adherence of the national guidelines drawn from World Health Organization (WHO) regions, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific, to the WHO recommendations on drug treatment and prevention of chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in pregnant women. Methods Thirty-five updated national guidelines and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), available in English language, were reviewed. The primary outcome measures were the first-line anti-malarial treatment protocols adopted by national guidelines for uncomplicated and complicated falciparum malaria infections in early (first) and late (second and third) trimesters of pregnancy. The strategy of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) was also addressed. Results This review evaluated the treatment and prevention of falciparum malaria in pregnancy in 35 national guidelines/PMI-Malaria Operational Plans (MOP) reports out of 95 malaria-endemic countries. Of the 35 national guidelines, 10 (28.6%) recommend oral quinine plus clindamycin as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester. As the first-line option, artemether–lumefantrine, an artemisinin-based combination therapy, is adopted by 26 (74.3%) of the guidelines for treating uncomplicated or complicated malaria in the second and third trimesters. Intravenous artesunate is approved by 18 (51.4%) and 31 (88.6%) guidelines for treating complicated malaria during early and late pregnancy, respectively. Of the 23 national guidelines that recommend IPTp-SP strategy, 8 (34.8%) are not explicit about directly observed therapy requirements, and three-quarters, 17 (73.9%), do not specify contra-indication of SP in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. Most of the guidelines (18/23; 78.3%) state the recommended folic acid dose. Conclusion Several national guidelines and PMI reports require update revisions to harmonize with international guidelines and emergent trends in managing falciparum malaria in pregnancy. National guidelines and those of donor agencies should comply with those of WHO guideline recommendations although local conditions and delayed guideline updates may call for deviations from WHO evidence-based guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid A J Al Khaja
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 22979, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
| | - Reginald P Sequeira
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 22979, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
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11
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Lingscheid T, Kurth F, Stegemann MS, Clerinx J, Calleri G, Rothe C, Angheben A, Gobbi F, Bisoffi Z, Hamer DH, Libman M, Hatz C, Zoller T. Outpatient treatment of imported uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: results from a survey among TropNet and GeoSentinel experts for tropical medicine. J Travel Med 2020; 27:5842102. [PMID: 32442249 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum malaria (P.f. malaria) is frequently imported to non-endemic countries. Recommendations on outpatient treatment differ largely due to differences in country-level guidelines and even between tropical medicine referral centres within the same country. METHODS This survey among experts from TropNet or GeoSentinel referral centres for tropical medicine outside malaria endemic areas investigated common practices in P.f. malaria management, selection criteria for outpatient management and diagnostic procedures as a first step for developing a future common and evidence-based approach. RESULTS A total of 44 referral centres participated. Most of the centres are located in Europe (n = 37). Overall, 27 centres (61%) treat uncomplicated P.f. malaria patients as outpatients, of which eight centres (18%) reported treating ≥75% of patients on an outpatient basis. Seventeen centres (39%) reported treating patients only as inpatients. No single criterion stands out for the decision regarding outpatient treatment, but three groups of factors were identified: (i) clinical criteria including laboratory parameters, clinical condition and tolerance of oral medication; (ii) factors such as patient compliance, reachability by phone and support at home and (iii) patient origin and place of residence as a proxy for possible underlying semi-immunity. The threshold parasitaemia for outpatient treatment varied from 0.1 to 5% with a median of 2%. A median of 0.5% of outpatients were admitted during follow-up. During the last 10 years, 33 complications were reported by nine of the 27 centres and three deaths by one centre. CONCLUSION This study gives insight into the heterogeneous management of P.f. malaria patients outside endemic regions. Although there is no consensus among experts, the majority of centres includes outpatient treatment in their clinical routine. However, the lack of evidence-based criteria and established safety for this approach shows the need for prospective studies to define and evaluate criteria and practices for safe outpatient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman Lingscheid
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Kurth
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Medicine I, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Miriam S Stegemann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Clerinx
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guido Calleri
- Travel Medicine Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital-ASLTO2, Turin, Italy
| | - Camilla Rothe
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Angheben
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Zeno Bisoffi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Davidson H Hamer
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health and Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Libman
- J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Christoph Hatz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Zoller
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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12
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A Deep Learning Approach for Segmentation of Red Blood Cell Images and Malaria Detection. ENTROPY 2020; 22:e22060657. [PMID: 33286429 PMCID: PMC7517192 DOI: 10.3390/e22060657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an endemic life-threating disease caused by the unicellular protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Confirming the presence of parasites early in all malaria cases ensures species-specific antimalarial treatment, reducing the mortality rate, and points to other illnesses in negative cases. However, the gold standard remains the light microscopy of May-Grünwald–Giemsa (MGG)-stained thin and thick peripheral blood (PB) films. This is a time-consuming procedure, dependent on a pathologist’s skills, meaning that healthcare providers may encounter difficulty in diagnosing malaria in places where it is not endemic. This work presents a novel three-stage pipeline to (1) segment erythrocytes, (2) crop and mask them, and (3) classify them into malaria infected or not. The first and third steps involved the design, training, validation and testing of a Segmentation Neural Network and a Convolutional Neural Network from scratch using a Graphic Processing Unit. Segmentation achieved a global accuracy of 93.72% over the test set and the specificity for malaria detection in red blood cells (RBCs) was 87.04%. This work shows the potential that deep learning has in the digital pathology field and opens the way for future improvements, as well as for broadening the use of the created networks.
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13
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El-Sayed A, Kamel M. Climatic changes and their role in emergence and re-emergence of diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:22336-22352. [PMID: 32347486 PMCID: PMC7187803 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08896-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Global warming and the associated climate changes are predictable. They are enhanced by burning of fossil fuels and the emission of huge amounts of CO2 gas which resulted in greenhouse effect. It is expected that the average global temperature will increase with 2-5 °C in the next decades. As a result, the earth will exhibit marked climatic changes characterized by extremer weather events in the coming decades, such as the increase in temperature, rainfall, summertime, droughts, more frequent and stronger tornadoes and hurricanes. Epidemiological disease cycle includes host, pathogen and in certain cases intermediate host/vector. A complex mixture of various environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity) determines the suitable habitat/ecological niche for every vector host. The availability of suitable vectors is a precondition for the emergence of vector-borne pathogens. Climate changes and global warming will have catastrophic effects on human, animal and environmental ecosystems. Pathogens, especially neglected tropical disease agents, are expected to emerge and re-emerge in several countries including Europe and North America. The lives of millions of people especially in developing countries will be at risk in direct and indirect ways. In the present review, the role of climate changes in the spread of infectious agents and their vectors is discussed. Examples of the major emerging viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr El-Sayed
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Kamel
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
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14
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Amoura A, Moktefi A, Halfon M, Karras A, Rafat C, Gibier JB, Gleeson PJ, Servais A, Argy N, Maillé P, Belenfant X, Gueutin V, Delpierre A, Tricot L, El Karoui K, Jourde-Chiche N, Houze S, Sahali D, Audard V. Malaria, Collapsing Glomerulopathy, and Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2020; 15:964-972. [PMID: 32444394 PMCID: PMC7341769 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.00590120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Malaria, a potentially life-threatening disease, is the most prevalent endemic infectious disease worldwide. In the modern era, the spectrum of glomerular involvement observed in patients after malarial infections remains poorly described. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We therefore performed a retrospective multicenter study to assess the clinical, biologic, pathologic, and therapeutic characteristics of patients with glomerular disease demonstrated by kidney biopsy in France within 3 months of an acute malaria episode. RESULTS We identified 23 patients (12 men), all but 1 of African ancestry and including 10 patients with concomitant HIV infection. All of the imported cases were in French citizens living in France who had recently traveled back to France from an endemic area and developed malaria after their return to France. Eleven patients had to be admitted to an intensive care unit at presentation. Plasmodium falciparum was detected in 22 patients, and Plasmodium malariae was detected in 1 patient. Kidney biopsy was performed after the successful treatment of malaria, a mean of 24 days after initial presentation. At this time, all patients displayed AKI, requiring KRT in 12 patients. Nephrotic syndrome was diagnosed in 17 patients. Pathologic findings included FSGS in 21 patients and minimal change nephrotic syndrome in 2 patients. Among patients with FSGS, 18 had collapsing glomerulopathy (including 9 patients with HIV-associated nephropathy). In four patients, immunohistochemistry with an antibody targeting P. falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 demonstrated the presence of the malaria antigen in tubular cells but not in podocytes or parietal epithelial cells. An analysis of the apoL1 risk genotype showed that high-risk variants were present in all seven patients tested. After a mean follow-up of 23 months, eight patients required KRT (kidney transplantation in two patients), and mean eGFR for the other patients was 51 ml/min per 1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS In patients of African ancestry, imported Plasmodium infection may be a new causal factor for secondary FSGS, particularly for collapsing glomerulopathy variants in an APOL1 high-risk variant background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Amoura
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Service de Néphrologie et Transplantation, Centre de Référence Maladie Rare Syndrome Néphrotique Idiopathique, Créteil, France.,Université Paris Est Créteil, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Equipe 21, Créteil, France
| | - Anissa Moktefi
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Equipe 21, Créteil, France.,Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
| | - Matthieu Halfon
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, Service de Néphrologie, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Karras
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Néphrologie, Paris, France.,Faculté de Médecine Paris-Descartes, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Cédric Rafat
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Universitaire Tenon, Urgences Néphrologiques et Transplantation Rénale, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Gibier
- University of Lille, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Institut de Pathologie, Centre de Biologie Pathologie, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1172, Lille, France
| | - Patrick J Gleeson
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1149, Immunoreceptors and Renal Immunopathology Laboratory, Université Diderot, Paris, France.,Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Division of Nephrology, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Aude Servais
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Service de Néphrologie et Transplantation, Centre de Référence Maladie Rare Syndrome Néphrotique Idiopathique, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Argy
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France.,Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Université de Paris, Faculté de Pharmacie, Mère et enfant en milieu tropical Unité Mixte de Recherche 261, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Maillé
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Département de Pathologie, Créteil, France
| | - Xavier Belenfant
- Groupe Hospitalier Grand Paris Nord Est, Hôpital André Grégoire, Service de Néphrologie-Dialyse, Montreuil, France
| | - Victor Gueutin
- Association pour l'Utilisation du Rein Artificiel, Service de Néphrologie-Dialyse, Association pour l'Utilisation du Rein Artificiel Paris Plaisance, Paris, France
| | - Alexia Delpierre
- Hôpital Duchenne, Service de Néphrologie et Médecine Interne, Boulogne sur Mer, France
| | - Leila Tricot
- Hôpital Foch, Service de Néphrologie, Transplantation Rénale et Dialyse, Suresnes, France
| | - Khalil El Karoui
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Service de Néphrologie et Transplantation, Centre de Référence Maladie Rare Syndrome Néphrotique Idiopathique, Créteil, France.,Université Paris Est Créteil, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Equipe 21, Créteil, France
| | - Noémie Jourde-Chiche
- Aix Marseille University, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, Centre de recherche en CardioVasculaire et Nutrition, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Conception, Centre de Néphrologie et Transplantation Rénale, Marseille, France
| | - Sandrine Houze
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Paris, France.,Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Université de Paris, Faculté de Pharmacie, Mère et enfant en milieu tropical Unité Mixte de Recherche 261, Paris, France
| | - Dil Sahali
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Service de Néphrologie et Transplantation, Centre de Référence Maladie Rare Syndrome Néphrotique Idiopathique, Créteil, France.,Université Paris Est Créteil, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Equipe 21, Créteil, France
| | - Vincent Audard
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Service de Néphrologie et Transplantation, Centre de Référence Maladie Rare Syndrome Néphrotique Idiopathique, Créteil, France .,Université Paris Est Créteil, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Equipe 21, Créteil, France
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15
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Imported Malaria in Countries where Malaria Is Not Endemic: a Comparison of Semi-immune and Nonimmune Travelers. Clin Microbiol Rev 2020; 33:33/2/e00104-19. [PMID: 32161068 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00104-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuous increase in long-distance travel and recent large migratory movements have changed the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in countries where malaria is not endemic (here termed non-malaria-endemic countries). While malaria was primarily imported to nonendemic countries by returning travelers, the proportion of immigrants from malaria-endemic regions and travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) in malaria-endemic countries has continued to increase. VFRs and immigrants from malaria-endemic countries now make up the majority of malaria patients in many nonendemic countries. Importantly, this group is characterized by various degrees of semi-immunity to malaria, resulting from repeated exposure to infection and a gradual decline of protection as a result of prolonged residence in non-malaria-endemic regions. Most studies indicate an effect of naturally acquired immunity in VFRs, leading to differences in the parasitological features, clinical manifestation, and odds for severe malaria and clinical complications between immune VFRs and nonimmune returning travelers. There are no valid data indicating evidence for differing algorithms for chemoprophylaxis or antimalarial treatment in semi-immune versus nonimmune malaria patients. So far, no robust biomarkers exist that properly reflect anti-parasite or clinical immunity. Until they are found, researchers should rigorously stratify their study results using surrogate markers, such as duration of time spent outside a malaria-endemic country.
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16
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Ramírez Cuentas JH, Urtasun Erburu A, Roselló Guijarro M, Garrido Jareño M, Peman García J, Otero Reigada MDC. Descriptive study of malaria cases in the paediatric population in a reference hospital in Valencia, Spain, between 1993 and 2015. ANALES DE PEDIATRÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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17
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Pull L, Lupoglazoff JM, Beardmore M, Michel JF, Buffet P, Bouchaud O, Siriez JY. Artenimol-piperaquine in children with uncomplicated imported falciparum malaria: experience from a prospective cohort. Malar J 2019; 18:419. [PMID: 31843017 PMCID: PMC6915931 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3047-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although malaria remains one of the major public health threats in inter-tropical areas, there is limited understanding of imported malaria in children by paediatricians and emergency practitioners in non-endemic countries, often resulting in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. Moreover, classical treatments (atovaquone-proguanil, quinine, mefloquine) are limited either by lengthy treatment courses or by side effects. Since 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of oral artemisinin-based combination therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria worldwide. The benefits of artenimol–piperaquine in children have been validated in endemic countries but experience remains limited in cases of imported malaria. Methods This prospective observational study in routine paediatric care took place at the Emergency Department, Robert-Debré Hospital (Paris, France) from September 2012 to December 2014. Tolerance and efficacy of artenimol–piperaquine in children presenting with the following inclusion criteria were assessed: P. falciparum positive on thin or thick blood smear; and the absence of WHO-defined features of severity. Results Among 83 children included in this study, treatment with artenimol–piperaquine was successful in 82 children (98.8%). None of the adverse events were severe and all were considered mild with no significant clinical impact. This also applied to cardiological adverse events despite a significant increase of the mean post-treatment QTc interval. Conclusion Artenimol–piperaquine displays a satisfying efficacy and tolerance profile as a first-line treatment for children with imported uncomplicated falciparum malaria and only necessitates three once-daily oral intakes of the medication. Comparative studies versus artemether-lumefantrine or atovaquone-proguanil would be useful to confirm the results of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Pull
- Service D'Accueil Des Urgences Pédiatriques, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Lupoglazoff
- Service D'Accueil Des Urgences Pédiatriques, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-François Michel
- Service D'Accueil Des Urgences Pédiatriques, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Buffet
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Bouchaud
- Hôpital Avicenne, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 13, 93000, Bobigny, France
| | - Jean-Yves Siriez
- Service D'Accueil Des Urgences Pédiatriques, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France.
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Epelboin L, Rapp C, Faucher JF, Méchaï F, Bottieau E, Matheron S, Malvy D, Caumes E. Management and treatment of uncomplicated imported malaria in adults. Update of the French malaria clinical guidelines. Med Mal Infect 2019; 50:194-212. [PMID: 31493957 DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2019.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L Epelboin
- Unité des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, centre hospitalier Andrée Rosemon, avenue des Flamboyants, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana.
| | - C Rapp
- Hôpital Américain de Paris, 63, boulevard Victor Hugo, 92200 Neuilly, France; Hôpital d'instruction des armées Bégin, 69, avenue de Paris, 94163 Saint-Mandé, France
| | - J F Faucher
- Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales and UMR 1094, CHU Dupuytren 2, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - F Méchaï
- Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, hôpital Avicenne, 93000 Bobigny, France
| | - E Bottieau
- Institute of tropical medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - S Matheron
- Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU Bichat - Claude Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
| | - D Malvy
- Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux France
| | - E Caumes
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 43-87, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
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Reuken PA, Baier M, Hagel S, Eisermann P, Stallmach A, Rödel J. Diagnosis of malaria in a traveler 9 months after returning from West Africa by illumigene® LAMP assay: A case report. Acta Microbiol Immunol Hung 2019; 66:301-306. [PMID: 31137943 DOI: 10.1556/030.66.2019.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid molecular technique that has been introduced into malaria diagnosis. The test is easy to perform and offers high sensitivity. We report a 53-year-old male patient who was hospitalized with fever attacks, chills, and headache caused 9 months after returning from Africa. During his stay in Africa, he used malaria chemoprophylaxis. Microscopy of thin and thick blood films and rapid diagnostic antigen testing remained negative for three times. The EDTA blood samples were tested using the Meridian illumigene® malaria LAMP assay that gave a positive result for Plasmodium spp. Diagnosis of malaria was subsequently specified as P. ovale infection by real-time PCR. Ovale malaria often manifests with delay and low parasitemia. The patient was treated with atovaquone-proguanil, followed by primaquine for prophylaxis of relapse. This case illustrates the usefulness of the illumigene® malaria LAMP assay for initial screening of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp A. Reuken
- 1 Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Baier
- 2 Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Hagel
- 3 Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Philip Eisermann
- 4 National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Stallmach
- 1 Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Rödel
- 2 Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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Ramírez Cuentas JH, Urtasun Erburu A, Roselló Guijarro M, Garrido Jareño M, Peman García J, Otero Reigada MDC. [Descriptive study of malaria cases in the paediatric population in a reference hospital in Valencia, Spain, between 1993 and 2015]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2019; 92:21-27. [PMID: 31129028 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria is considered to be the fourth leading cause of infant mortality after pneumonia, complications related to premature birth, and perinatal asphyxia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective and descriptive study of cases of malaria confirmed and treated by the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit (age lower than 15 years) at the La Fe Hospital, Valencia, over the period 1993 to 2015. RESULTS A total of 54 cases of paediatric malaria were diagnosed in the period 1993-2015, with 51.8% of these occurring in males, and 46.2% of patients were aged below 5 years. The majority of children came from Equatorial Guinea (68.5%). Only 5.6% had received antimalarial prophylaxis. Plasmodium falciparum was found to be the causal species in 81.4% of cases. Seven patients (13%) presented with complicated malaria. The most widely used treatment was quinine, either alone or in combination with other drugs. Atovaquone/proguanil was used from 2010 onwards and was indicated in 20.3% of the patients. The combination of artesunate/piperaquine/dihydroartemisinin began to be used in 2013. No deaths or relevant side effects were reported, and the clinical response was favourable in all children (100%). CONCLUSIONS Malaria is still a prevalent disease in this population, a consequence of immigration, and tourism to endemic countries. Malaria should be considered as a likely diagnosis in a febrile child who comes from, or has travelled to, an endemic region in the past year.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Helmut Ramírez Cuentas
- Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Quirón, Valencia, España; Servicio de Pediatría, Centro de Salud de Gandía, Gandía, Valencia, España.
| | | | | | - Marta Garrido Jareño
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España
| | - Javier Peman García
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España
| | - María Del Carmen Otero Reigada
- Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Quirón, Valencia, España; Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas Pediátricas, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España
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Loomans L, Conesa Botella A, D'hondt A, Verschueren J, Van den Bossche D, Van Esbroeck M, Jacobs J. Accuracy of malaria diagnosis by clinical laboratories in Belgium. Malar J 2019; 18:104. [PMID: 30922316 PMCID: PMC6437969 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Belgian Reference Laboratory for Plasmodium offers a free-of-charge reference testing of malaria-positive or doubtful samples to clinical laboratories. METHODS The final malaria diagnosis from the Reference Laboratory (microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and Plasmodium species-specific PCR) were compared with the final diagnosis from peripheral Belgian laboratories. The Reference Laboratory reports were analysed for all samples submitted between 2013 and 2017. Criteria assessed included the diagnosis of malaria, Plasmodium species identification including mixed infections, and in case of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite density and the presence of sexual and asexual stages. RESULTS A total of 947 non-duplicate samples were included. Reference testing confirmed 96.3% (893/927) and 90.0% (18/20) samples submitted as positive and negative, respectively, the two missed diagnoses were samples with Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae. Submitting laboratories had correctly identified P. falciparum in 95.1% (508/534) samples with P. falciparum single infection. They had correctly diagnosed the species in 62.9% (95/151) single non-falciparum samples and had reported 'non-falciparum' in another 26 (17.2%) samples; most errors occurred among P. malariae (n = 8/21, 38.1%) and P. ovale (n = 14/51, 27.5%). Only one of the 21 mixed Plasmodium species infections had been diagnosed as such by the submitting laboratories; in three of them, P. falciparum had been overlooked. Taken single and mixed infections together, P. falciparum was diagnosed in 98.6% (546/554) samples. Among 471 single P. falciparum samples available for comparison, laboratories had correctly reported parasite densities above 2% in 87.5% (70/80) samples; they had incorrectly reported parasite densities > 2% in an extra 52 (8.9%) samples. Laboratories had correctly reported P. falciparum schizonts and gametocytes in 25.6% (11/43) and 56.7% (17/30) samples, respectively. CONCLUSION Diagnostic laboratories in a malaria non-endemic setting provided excellent diagnosis of malaria and P. falciparum, reasonably good diagnosis of non-falciparum infections and acceptable calculation of P. falciparum parasite density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Loomans
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anali Conesa Botella
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Agnes D'hondt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jacob Verschueren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Marjan Van Esbroeck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
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Corpolongo A, Pisapia R, Oliva A, Giancola ML, Mencarini P, Bevilacqua N, Ghirga P, Mariano A, Vulcano A, Paglia MG, Nicastri E. Five cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria treated with artemisinin derivatives: the advantages of a unified approach to treatment. Infection 2019; 47:655-659. [PMID: 30809760 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-019-01286-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In endemic countries with a high level of chloroquine resistance, Plasmodium vivax malaria is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In these areas, the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine combination resulted in clinical response, a more rapid clearance of parasitaemia, compared to chloroquine therapies, and reduction of recrudescence or reinfection. METHODS We describe five cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria in returning travelers treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. RESULTS All patients showed the early parasite clearance and no side effects. Our preliminary results suggest that the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine combination is effective and safe even in imported cases. CONCLUSIONS A unified treatment policy using the artemisinin combination therapy should be adopted even in non-endemic countries and larger studies are underway to support this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Corpolongo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Pisapia
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Oliva
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Giancola
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Mencarini
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Nazario Bevilacqua
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Ghirga
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Mariano
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Vulcano
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Paglia
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy
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Dhiman S. Are malaria elimination efforts on right track? An analysis of gains achieved and challenges ahead. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:14. [PMID: 30760324 PMCID: PMC6375178 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0524-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality each year. In the past few years, the global malaria cases have been declining and many endemic countries are heading towards malaria elimination. Nevertheless, reducing the number of cases seems to be easy than sustained elimination. Therefore to achieve the objective of complete elimination and maintaining the elimination status, it is necessary to assess the gains made during the recent years. Main text With inclining global support and World Health Organisation (WHO) efforts, the control programmes have been implemented effectively in many endemic countries. Given the aroused interest and investments into malaria elimination programmes at global level, the ambitious goal of elimination appears feasible. Sustainable interventions have played a pivotal role in malaria contraction, however drug and insecticide resistance, social, demographic, cultural and behavioural beliefs and practices, and unreformed health infrastructure could drift back the progress attained so far. Ignoring such impeding factors coupled with certain region specific factors may jeopardise our ability to abide righteous track to achieve global elimination of malaria parasite. Although support beyond the territories is important, but well managed integrated vector management approach at regional and country level using scrupulously selected area specific interventions targeting both vector and parasite along with the community involvement is necessary. A brief incline in malaria during 2016 has raised fresh perturbation on whether elimination could be achieved on time or not. Conclusions The intervention tools available currently can most likely reduce transmission but clearing of malaria epicentres from where the disease can flare up any time, is not possible without involving local population. Nevertheless maintaining zero malaria transmission and checks on malaria import in declared malaria free countries, and further speeding up of interventions to stop transmission in elimination countries is most desirable. Strong collaboration backed by adequate political and financial support among the countries with a common objective to eliminate malaria must be on top priority. The present review attempts to assess the progress gained in malaria elimination during the past few years and highlights some issues that could be important in successful malaria elimination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40249-019-0524-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Dhiman
- Vector Management Division, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474002, India.
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24
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Medizinische Maßnahmen bei immigrierenden Kindern und Jugendlichen – Aktualisierung vom 28.02.2018. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00112-018-0497-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Vernelen K, Barbé B, Gillet P, Van Esbroeck M, China B, Jacobs J. Photo-based External Quality Assessment of Malaria rapid diagnostic tests in a non-endemic setting. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201622. [PMID: 30169508 PMCID: PMC6118386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In non-endemic settings, expertise in malaria microscopy is limited and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are an adjunct to malaria diagnosis. Aim We performed an External Quality Assessment (EQA) on reading and interpretation of malaria RDTs in a non-endemic setting. Methods Participants were medical laboratories in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg using malaria RDTs; they received (i) 10 high-resolution photographs presenting test line combinations of RDTs with interpretations listed in a multiple choice format and (ii) a questionnaire about their practices of malaria diagnosis. Results Among 135 subscribing laboratories, 134 (99.3%) used 139 RDT products (11 different products from 8 brands). After exclusion of the results of one laboratory, analysis was done for 133 laboratories using 137 RDT products. Scores of 10/10, 9/10 and 8/10 were achieved for 58.4%, 13.1% and 8.0% of 137 RDT products respectively. For three-band P. falciparum–pan-Plasmodium RDTs (113 (82.5%) products, 6 brands), most frequent errors were (1) disregarding faint test lines (18.6%), (2) reporting invalid instead of P. falciparum (16.8%) and (3) reporting “Plasmodium spp., no further differentiation possible” without mentioning the presence or absence of P. falciparum (11.5%). For four-band RDTs (21 (15.3%) products, 1 brand), errors were (4) disregarding faint P. vivax test lines (47.6%) and (5) reporting “Plasmodium spp., no further differentiation possible” without mentioning the presence of P. falciparum and P. vivax (28.6%). Instructions for use (IFU) of only 4 out of 10 RDT products mentioned to interpret faint-intensity test lines as positive (conducive to errors 1 and 4) and IFU of 2 products displayed incorrect information (conducive to errors 2 and 5). Outside of office hours, 36.1% of participants relied on RDTs as the initial diagnostic test; 13.9% did not perform microscopic confirmation. Conclusion Reading and interpretation of malaria RDTs was satisfactory, but errors were embedded in the instructions for use of the products. Relying on RDTs alone for malaria diagnosis (about one third of participants) is not a recommended practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Vernelen
- Quality of Medical Laboratories, Institute of Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Bernard China
- Quality of Medical Laboratories, Institute of Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Leuven, Belgium
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Martín-Díaz A, Rubio JM, Herrero-Martínez JM, Lizasoain M, Ruiz-Giardin JM, Jaqueti J, Cuadros J, Rojo-Marcos G, Martín-Rabadán P, Calderón M, Campelo C, Velasco M, Pérez-Ayala A. Study of the diagnostic accuracy of microbiological techniques in the diagnosis of malaria in the immigrant population in Madrid. Malar J 2018; 17:314. [PMID: 30157862 PMCID: PMC6116490 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2459-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is currently the most important human parasitic disease in the world responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Appropriate diagnostic methods are essential for early detection. Microscopy examination remains the gold standard, although molecular techniques have higher sensitivity and are very useful in cases of low parasitaemia and mixed infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new commercial molecular diagnostic technique. Methods A prospective, observational, multicentre study was performed between January 2015 and April 2017. All participants were immigrants from malaria-endemic areas, who were divided into two groups: asymptomatic group and symptomatic. Samples from both groups were evaluated by a rapid diagnostic test (ImmunoQuick® Malaria + 4 RDT), microscopy examination, and two commercial molecular malaria tests (FTD Malaria and FTD Malaria Differentiation), then compared against an in-house reference PCR technique. Results In all, 250 patients were included: 164 (65.6%) in the asymptomatic group, and 86 (34.4%) in the symptomatic group. There were seven cases of asymptomatic parasitaemia (prevalence = 2.8%) that were detected only by molecular methods. In the symptomatic group, there were seven cases of submicroscopic malaria. The main species detected was Plasmodium falciparum (96.6%). The commercial molecular technique had higher sensitivity than the other methods (S = 96%) and a high rate of concordance with the in-house reference PCR technique (Kappa score = 0.93). Conclusions The molecular techniques, although slower than microscopy, have adequate diagnostic accuracy and are very useful for the detection of P. falciparum in cases with low parasitaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Martín-Díaz
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida de Córdoba, s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Miguel Rubio
- Malaria & Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Parasitology Department, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Manolo Lizasoain
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Juan Cuadros
- University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - María Velasco
- University Hospital Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Pérez-Ayala
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida de Córdoba, s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain.
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Bruneel F, Raffetin A, Roujansky A, Corne P, Tridon C, Llitjos JF, Mourvillier B, Laurent V, Jauréguiberry S. Prise en charge du paludisme grave d’importation de l’adulte. MEDECINE INTENSIVE REANIMATION 2018. [DOI: 10.3166/rea-2018-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
En France, le paludisme grave d’importation concerne environ 12 à 14 % des accès palustres et implique très majoritairement Plasmodium falciparum. À partir de la définition du paludisme grave de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé utilisée en zone d’endémie palustre, la définition française du paludisme grave d’importation de l’adulte a été adaptée aux données et au contexte européens. La prise en charge du paludisme grave est une urgence diagnostique et thérapeutique qui doit être réalisée initialement en réanimation. Le traitement curatif du paludisme grave d’importation repose maintenant sur l’artésunate intraveineux (IV) qui doit être disponible dans chaque hôpital susceptible de recevoir ces patients. Dès lors, la quinine IV devient un traitement de seconde ligne réservé à quelques circonstances. La prise en charge symptomatique des défaillances d’organes est primordiale, notamment au cours des formes les plus sévères. Enfin, aucun traitement adjuvant n’a prouvé, à ce jour, son efficacité en pratique clinique.
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Ballard SB, Salinger A, Arguin PM, Desai M, Tan KR. Updated CDC Recommendations for Using Artemether-Lumefantrine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Pregnant Women in the United States. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2018; 67:424-431. [PMID: 29649190 PMCID: PMC5898222 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6714a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for maternal and fetal complications. In the United States, treatment options for uncomplicated, chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria in pregnant women are limited to mefloquine or quinine plus clindamycin (1). However, limited availability of quinine and increasing resistance to mefloquine restrict these options. Strong evidence now demonstrates that artemether-lumefantrine (AL) (Coartem) is effective and safe in the treatment of malaria in pregnancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as AL, for treatment of uncomplicated malaria during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and is currently considering whether to add ACTs, including AL, as an option for malaria treatment during the first trimester (2,3). This policy note reviews the evidence and updates CDC recommendations to include AL as a treatment option for uncomplicated malaria during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and during the first trimester of pregnancy when other treatment options are unavailable. These updated recommendations reflect current evidence and are consistent with WHO treatment guidelines.
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Nakamura-Uchiyama F, Katanami Y, Kikuchi T, Takaya S, Kutsuna S, Kobayashi T, Mizuno Y, Hasegawa T, Koga M, Yoshimura Y, Hasegawa C, Kato Y, Kimura M, Maruyama H. Retrospective observational study of the use of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of malaria in Japan. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 22:40-45. [PMID: 29454051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases, Japan, introduced artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in late 2002, mainly for treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Because AL was on the market in Japan in March 2017, the effectiveness and safety of AL were analyzed to help medical personnel use AL optimally. METHODS Case report forms submitted by the attending physicians were analyzed. When necessary, direct contact with the attending physicians was made to obtain detailed information. RESULTS Effectiveness analysis was performed for 62 cases and safety analysis was performed for 66 cases. In P. falciparum malaria, the overall cure rate was 91.1% (51/56), of which the cure rates for Japanese and non-Japanese patients were 82.1% (23/28) and 100% (28/28), respectively. The successfully treated cases included severe P. falciparum malaria, with parasite densities exceeding 500,000/μL. Adverse events were reported in 14 patients, including delayed hemolytic anemia which occurred in the top four highest parasitemic cases. CONCLUSIONS AL treatment failure in P. falciparum malaria may not be rare among non-immune individuals, including Japanese. The possibility of delayed hemolytic anemia, which occurs preferentially in high parasitemic cases, should be considered following AL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fukumi Nakamura-Uchiyama
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Corporation Ebara Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Katanami
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kikuchi
- Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saho Takaya
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kutsuna
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taiichiro Kobayashi
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Mizuno
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Hasegawa
- Department of Infectious Disease, Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Michiko Koga
- Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yoshimura
- Department of Infectious Disease, Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Chihiro Hasegawa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nagoya City East Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kato
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikio Kimura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Yamanote Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Maruyama
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
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Malaria in Italy - Migrants Are Not the Cause. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:351-354. [PMID: 29402564 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Revised: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recently, five cases of malaria were reported in Italy. These people had not travelled abroad, prompting some media and political organizations to fuel a climate of fear by connecting the cases with migrants coming into the country. Here, we discuss scientific data highlighting the limited risk of malaria reintroduction in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Fink
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mortimer Market Centre, London, UK
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robert Serafino Wani
- Department of Infection, Barts Health NHS Trust, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Victoria Johnston
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mortimer Market Centre, London, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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32
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Singh S, Singh SK, Tentu AK, Kumar A, Shahbabu B, Singh V, Singh N. Artesunate-Induced Severe Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Complicated Malaria. Indian J Crit Care Med 2018; 22:753-756. [PMID: 30405291 PMCID: PMC6201652 DOI: 10.4103/ijccm.ijccm_298_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a very rare cause of anemia in a case of malaria and drug-induced AIHA is even rarer. A 50-year old patient with a history of fever for 8 days was diagnosed with a case of complicated malaria with mixed infection having initial parasite index of 45%. He showed good response on initial therapy with artesunate (parasite count reduced to <1%) but his haemoglobin (Hb) continued to drop from 12 g% to 4.9 g% over a course of 11 days. Direct coombs test was positive with reduced haptoglobin and increased lactate dehydrogenase suggesting AIHA. The patient was put on steroids and transfused with saline washed O-negative blood. He gradually recovered over 8 weeks with Hb level rising up to 12 g%. This is a rare case of AIHA following treatment of severe malaria with parenteral artesunate suggesting of the drug immune-related mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarvinder Singh
- Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | | | - Ajai Kumar Tentu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Military Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Anshu Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Military Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Bhaskar Shahbabu
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Military Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Vani Singh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Nidhi Singh
- Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
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33
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Rainova IG, Harizanov RN, Kaftandjiev IT, Mikov OD, Tsvetkova ND. Imported malaria in Bulgaria, status and prognosis after eradication in 1965. J Infect Public Health 2017; 11:534-539. [PMID: 29126828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This retrospective analysis assessed all recorded malaria cases in Bulgaria after 1965, when the country was certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), and evaluated the readiness of the public health system to interrupt an outbreak of local transmission in case of infection importation. METHODS The cases were analyzed according to causative species; geographic origin of the imported case; and the citizenship, age, and gender of the infected individuals. RESULTS In the 50-year study period (1966-2015), there were a total of 3011 cases of malaria imported to Bulgaria from different regions of the world. The majority of the cases originating in Africa were caused by Plasmodium falciparum (65.5%), while most of these originating in Asia were caused by P. vivax (80.9%). The potential season for malaria transmission in Bulgaria is from April to October, and 58.5% of the malaria cases were imported during that time of the year. CONCLUSIONS The increasing movement of people to and from areas endemic for malaria requires the health authorities of countries with appropriate conditions for reintroduction to conduct enhanced measures for surveillance and control of this potentially deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iskra G Rainova
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504 Sofia, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., Bulgaria
| | - Rumen N Harizanov
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504 Sofia, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., Bulgaria.
| | - Iskren T Kaftandjiev
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504 Sofia, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., Bulgaria
| | - Ognyan D Mikov
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504 Sofia, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., Bulgaria
| | - Nina D Tsvetkova
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504 Sofia, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., Bulgaria
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34
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De Koninck AS, Cnops L, Hofmans M, Jacobs J, Van den Bossche D, Philippé J. Diagnostic performance of the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based illumigene ® malaria assay in a non-endemic region. Malar J 2017; 16:418. [PMID: 29041927 PMCID: PMC5645927 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2065-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Light microscopy and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests are the primary diagnostic tools for detecting malaria, although being labour-intensive and frequently challenged by lack of personnel’s experience and low levels of parasite density. The latter being especially important in non-endemic settings. Novel molecular techniques aim to overcome this drawback. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the illumigene malaria assay® (Meridian Bioscience) compared to microscopy, RDT and real-time PCR. This loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test for the direct detection of Plasmodium spp. DNA in human venous whole blood samples. Methods The illumigene assay was assessed on a retrospective panel of stored blood samples (n = 103) from returned travellers and external quality control samples (n = 12). Additionally the assay was prospectively assessed on 30 fresh routine samples with a request for malaria diagnosis. The illumigene assay was compared to microscopy, RDT and Plasmodium species specific real-time PCR. Results In the retrospective evaluation, the illumigene assay showed 100% agreement with the real-time PCR, RDT and microscopy yielding a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% CI 95.1–100% and 89.7–100%, respectively). Seven samples from patients recently treated for Plasmodium falciparum infection that were RDT positive and microscopy negative yielded positive test results. The performance of the illumigene assay equals that of microscopy combined with RDT in the prospective panel with three false negative RDT results and one false negative microscopy result. Excellent concordance with PCR was observed. The limit of detection of the assay approached 0.5 parasites/µL for both P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Conclusion In non-endemic regions where the diagnostic process for malaria infections is questioned by lack of experience and low levels of parasite densities, the illumigene assay can be of value. Due to its high sensitivity, the LAMP assay may be considered as primary diagnostic test. The results of this study indicate that negative screen results do not need further confirmation. However, before implementation, this approach needs to be confirmed in larger, prospective studies. A shortcoming of this assay is that no species identification nor determination of parasite density are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie De Koninck
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital (GUH), De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieselotte Cnops
- Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mattias Hofmans
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital (GUH), De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dorien Van den Bossche
- Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Philippé
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital (GUH), De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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Tatem AJ, Jia P, Ordanovich D, Falkner M, Huang Z, Howes R, Hay SI, Gething PW, Smith DL. The geography of imported malaria to non-endemic countries: a meta-analysis of nationally reported statistics. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017; 17:98-107. [PMID: 27777030 PMCID: PMC5392593 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30326-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria remains a problem for many countries classified as malaria free through cases imported from endemic regions. Imported cases to non-endemic countries often result in delays in diagnosis, are expensive to treat, and can sometimes cause secondary local transmission. The movement of malaria in endemic countries has also contributed to the spread of drug resistance and threatens long-term eradication goals. Here we focused on quantifying the international movements of malaria to improve our understanding of these phenomena and facilitate the design of mitigation strategies. METHODS In this meta-analysis, we studied the database of publicly available nationally reported statistics on imported malaria in the past 10 years, covering more than 50 000 individual cases. We obtained data from 40 non-endemic countries and recorded the geographical variations. FINDINGS Infection movements were strongly skewed towards a small number of high-traffic routes between 2005 and 2015, with the west Africa region accounting for 56% (13 947/24 941) of all imported cases to non-endemic countries with a reported travel destination, and France and the UK receiving the highest number of cases, with more than 4000 reported cases per year on average. Countries strongly linked by movements of imported cases are grouped by historical, language, and travel ties. There is strong spatial clustering of plasmodium species types. INTERPRETATION The architecture of the air network, historical ties, demographics of travellers, and malaria endemicity contribute to highly heterogeneous patterns of numbers, routes, and species compositions of parasites transported. With global malaria eradication on the international agenda, malaria control altering local transmission, and the threat of drug resistance, understanding these patterns and their drivers is increasing in importance. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institutes of Health, UK Medical Research Council, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Tatem
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Peng Jia
- Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Dariya Ordanovich
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Michael Falkner
- Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Zhuojie Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Rosalind Howes
- Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Centre for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Simon I Hay
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA; Oxford Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter W Gething
- Oxford Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David L Smith
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA; Oxford Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Lai S, Wardrop NA, Huang Z, Bosco C, Sun J, Bird T, Wesolowski A, Zhou S, Zhang Q, Zheng C, Li Z, Tatem AJ, Yu H. Plasmodium falciparum malaria importation from Africa to China and its mortality: an analysis of driving factors. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39524. [PMID: 28000753 PMCID: PMC5175130 DOI: 10.1038/srep39524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria importation from Africa to China is rising with increasing Chinese overseas investment and international travel. Identifying networks and drivers of this phenomenon as well as the contributors to high case-fatality rate is a growing public health concern to enable efficient response. From 2011-2015, 8653 P. falciparum cases leading to 98 deaths (11.3 per 1000 cases) were imported from 41 sub-Saharan countries into China, with most cases (91.3%) occurring in labour-related Chinese travellers. Four strongly connected groupings of origin African countries with destination Chinese provinces were identified, and the number of imported cases was significantly associated with the volume of air passengers to China (P = 0.006), parasite prevalence in Africa (P < 0.001), and the amount of official development assistance from China (P < 0.001) with investment in resource extraction having the strongest relationship with parasite importation. Risk factors for deaths from imported cases were related to the capacity of malaria diagnosis and diverse socioeconomic factors. The spatial heterogeneity uncovered, principal drivers explored, and risk factors for mortality found in the rising rates of P. falciparum malaria importation to China can serve to refine malaria elimination strategies and the management of cases, and high risk groups and regions should be targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Lai
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicola A Wardrop
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhuojie Huang
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Claudio Bosco
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Junling Sun
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Tomas Bird
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA.,Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Sheng Zhou
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Canjun Zheng
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhongjie Li
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Andrew J Tatem
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hongjie Yu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
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Portugal-Calisto D, Ferreira AR, Silva MS, Teodósio R. Post-exposure serological responses to malaria parasites in potential blood donors. Malar J 2016; 15:548. [PMID: 27829450 PMCID: PMC5103439 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria have been described around the world and highlighted in some studies. Semi-immune individuals are more likely to transmit malaria as they may be asymptomatic. Some countries allow blood donations only based on epidemiological criteria while others reinforce their criteria with serological tests. However, little is known about the longevity of anti-Plasmodium spp. antibodies and its meaning in blood donation. Therefore, this study aims to assess the longevity of different subclasses of anti-Plasmodium spp. antibodies in individuals with previous stays in endemic areas, as well as to assess how those antibodies are related to personal features and travel characteristics. Based on those results, the suitability of the Portuguese blood donors screening method was addressed, i.e. the method to search for an eventual risk of transfusion–transmitted malaria among the population studied. Results Statistical associations were found between the presence of total anti-Plasmodium spp. antibodies and some travel characteristics, namely to be born in endemic area versus non endemic and previous episodes of malaria. The intersection between seropositive results and the last year of stay in endemic areas showed a longer longevity of anti-Plasmodium spp. antibodies than previously reported. Those results represented a considerable portion of the individuals having returned from their last stay in endemic areas more than 10 years before enrolment in this study. Considering the study population as potential blood donors, serological results also indicated that if epidemiological criteria alone were applied to screen blood donors, an important percentage of seropositive individuals would be approved for blood donation. Because the nature and meaning of those antibodies in the blood donation context is still not understood, those approved individuals could represent a risk for blood transfusion safety. Conclusions The place of birth and past episodes of malaria seem to be related to the serological outcome. Epidemiological criteria to screen potential blood donors are insufficient to guarantee the safety of the blood, if applied alone. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1586-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Portugal-Calisto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Ferreira
- Instituto Português do Sangue e da Transplantação, Parque de Saúde de Lisboa, Av. do Brasil, 53-Pav. 17, 1749-005, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Sousa Silva
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal. .,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-970, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Natal, 59078-970, Brazil.
| | - Rosa Teodósio
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Aldámiz-Echevarría Lois T, López-Polín A, Norman FF, Monge-Maillo B, López-Vélez R, Perez-Molina JA. Delayed haemolysis secondary to treatment of severe malaria with intravenous artesunate: Report on the experience of a referral centre for tropical infections in Spain. Travel Med Infect Dis 2016; 15:52-56. [PMID: 27818359 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis is described as hemolytic anemia presenting days after malaria treatment in hyperparasitemic patients. Physiopathological mechanisms and clinical manifestations have not been thoroughly characterised. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalised malaria patients who received artemisinin derivatives from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. RESULTS 21 patients were included in the study: 11 travellers, 8 travellers visiting friends and relatives and 2 immigrants. Median age was 35.5 years (IQR: 25.7-44.8) and 11 were men. Eight patients received oral and 13 received intravenous (IV) artemisinin-based drugs. Follow-up after the malaria episode was available for 15 patients (12 with IV treatment). Four patients presented with delayed haemolysis 9-14 days after artesunate treatment; all had been admitted with severe malaria, were treated IV and had hyperparasitaemia (17%-33%). Other than hyperparasitaemia, no other factors were associated with artesunate haemolysis. Patients' outcomes were favourable and the only additional therapeutic measure needed was a blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS Delayed haemolysis is a frequent complication in hyperparasitemic malaria treated with IV artesunate. Follow-up is mandatory for at least 2 weeks after treatment initiation. This condition is potentially severe but does not appear to be life threatening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Aldámiz-Echevarría Lois
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Service, Gregorio Marañon Hospital, Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ana López-Polín
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo kilómetro 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Francesca F Norman
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo kilómetro 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Begoña Monge-Maillo
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo kilómetro 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rogelio López-Vélez
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo kilómetro 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jose A Perez-Molina
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo kilómetro 9,1, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
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Climate Change Is Increasing the Risk of the Reemergence of Malaria in Romania. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:8560519. [PMID: 27847824 PMCID: PMC5101366 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8560519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The climatic modifications lead to global warming; favouring the risk of the appearance and development of diseases are considered until now tropical diseases. Another important factor is the workers' immigration, the economic crisis favouring the passive transmission of new species of culicidae from different areas. Malaria is the disease with the widest distribution in the globe. Millions of people are infected every year in Africa, India, South-East Asia, Middle East, and Central and South America, with more than 41% of the global population under the risk of infestation with malaria. The increase of the number of local cases reported in 2007–2011 indicates that the conditions can favour the high local transmission in the affected areas. In the situation presented, the establishment of the level of risk concerning the reemergence of malaria in Romania becomes a priority.
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40
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Sondén K, Wyss K, Jovel I, Vieira da Silva A, Pohanka A, Asghar M, Homann MV, Gustafsson LL, Hellgren U, Färnert A. High Rate of Treatment Failures in Nonimmune Travelers Treated With Artemether-Lumefantrine for Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Sweden: Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Effectiveness and Case Series. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 64:199-206. [PMID: 27986683 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the first-line treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Since the introduction of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Sweden, treatment failures have been reported in adults. METHODS A retrospective comparative analysis of treatment regimen for P. falciparum malaria in adults in Stockholm during 2000-2015 was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of AL. Parasite genotyping and drug concentrations were investigated in the AL treatment failures. RESULTS Among the total 397 P. falciparum episodes, 310 were treated with oral regimen only (95 AL, 162 mefloquine, 36 atovaquone-proguanil [AP], and 17 others), and 87 were administered initial intravenous therapy (38 artesunate and 49 quinine) followed by oral treatments. Five late treatment failures were detected after AL and one slow response to AP. The effectiveness of AL alone was 94.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.1%-98.3%), compared with 99.5% for other oral regimens (P = .003). All AL failures occurred in European men and the effectiveness in this group was only 73.7% (95% CI, 48.8%-90.0%). Genotyping confirmed recrudescence of the initial parasite populations and drug resistance markers revealed no clinically significant resistance patterns. Lumefantrine concentrations suggested subtherapeutic concentrations in at least 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a high rate of symptomatic late treatment failures after 6-dose AL regime in nonimmune adults, especially in men. Our report warrants the need to establish optimal dosing of AL in adults and to alert clinicians about the importance of informing patients regarding the risk of parasites reappearing weeks after AL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Sondén
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet;
| | - Katja Wyss
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Solna
| | - Irina Jovel
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet
| | | | - Anton Pohanka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Muhammad Asghar
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Manijeh Vafa Homann
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Lars L Gustafsson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Urban Hellgren
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital; and.,Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Färnert
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital; and
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Bell D, Fleurent AE, Hegg MC, Boomgard JD, McConnico CC. Development of new malaria diagnostics: matching performance and need. Malar J 2016; 15:406. [PMID: 27515426 PMCID: PMC4981959 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in diagnostic technology, significant gaps remain in access to malaria diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis and misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary waste of resources, poor disease management, and contributes to a cycle of poverty in low-resourced communities. Despite much effort and investment, few new technologies have reached the field in the last 30 years aside from lateral flow assays. This suggests that much diagnostic development effort has been misdirected, and/or that there are fundamental blocks to introduction of new technologies. Malaria diagnosis is a difficult market; resources are broadly donor-dependent, health systems in endemic countries are frequently weak, and the epidemiology of malaria and priorities of malaria programmes and donors are evolving. Success in diagnostic development will require a good understanding of programme gaps, and the sustainability of markets to address them. Targeting assay development to such clearly defined market requirements will improve the outcomes of product development funding. Six market segments are identified: (1) case management in low-resourced countries, (2) parasite screening for low density infections in elimination programmes, (3) surveillance for evidence of continued transmission, (4) clinical research and therapeutic efficacy monitoring, (5) cross-checking for microscopy quality control, and (6) returned traveller markets distinguished primarily by resource availability. While each of these markets is potentially compelling from a public health standpoint, size and scale are highly variable and continue to evolve. Consequently, return on investment in research and development may be limited, highlighting the need for potentially significant donor involvement or the introduction of novel business models to overcome prohibitive economics. Given the rather specific applications, a well-defined set of stakeholders will need to be on board for the successful introduction and scaling of any new technology to these markets.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bell
- Global Good Fund/Intellectual Ventures Laboratory, 3150 139th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98005, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Caitlin C McConnico
- International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Gaborone, Botswana
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Impact of using artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria from Plasmodium falciparum in a non-endemic zone. Malar J 2016; 15:339. [PMID: 27368160 PMCID: PMC4930579 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1408-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been adopted by the World Health Organization as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In endemic regions, it has proven more effective in treating the disease, and even in reducing its transmission. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of studies carried out in non-endemic areas on imported uncomplicated malaria. METHODS This is a retrospective, observational study performed on patients diagnosed and admitted with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria between 2004 and 2015. The objective was to compare the parasite clearance period and the average hospital length of stay for patients treated with ACT vs those receiving other treatment regimens. RESULTS Eighty-five patients were included in the study. Fifty-one received ACT treatment (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine) and thirty-four patients were treated with quinine sulfate+doxycycline or atovaquone/proguanil. The parasite clearance period was shorter in the group of patients treated with ACT compared to those receiving other treatment types: 24 h (IQR 24) vs 48 h (IQR 48), p < 0.01. The average hospital stay was also shorter in the ACT group with respect to the second group: 2.67 days (IQR 1.08) vs 3.96 days (IQR 2.87), p < 0.001. A mild case of hepatitis was registered in the group treated with ACT. CONCLUSIONS ACT treatment of admitted hospital patients with imported uncomplicated malaria from P. falciparum reduced the days spent hospitalized as well as producing a more rapid parasite clearance compared to classic treatment. In spite of being treated with safe medications, one has to be alert to possible adverse effects such as hepatitis and delayed haemolytic anaemia.
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Lalloo DG, Shingadia D, Bell DJ, Beeching NJ, Whitty CJM, Chiodini PL. UK malaria treatment guidelines 2016. J Infect 2016; 72:635-649. [PMID: 26880088 PMCID: PMC7132403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
1.Malaria is the tropical disease most commonly imported into the UK, with 1300-1800 cases reported each year, and 2-11 deaths. 2. Approximately three quarters of reported malaria cases in the UK are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is capable of invading a high proportion of red blood cells and rapidly leading to severe or life-threatening multi-organ disease. 3. Most non-falciparum malaria cases are caused by Plasmodium vivax; a few cases are caused by the other species of plasmodium: Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae or Plasmodium knowlesi. 4. Mixed infections with more than one species of parasite can occur; they commonly involve P. falciparum with the attendant risks of severe malaria. 5. There are no typical clinical features of malaria; even fever is not invariably present. Malaria in children (and sometimes in adults) may present with misleading symptoms such as gastrointestinal features, sore throat or lower respiratory complaints. 6. A diagnosis of malaria must always be sought in a feverish or sick child or adult who has visited malaria-endemic areas. Specific country information on malaria can be found at http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. P. falciparum infection rarely presents more than six months after exposure but presentation of other species can occur more than a year after exposure. 7. Management of malaria depends on awareness of the diagnosis and on performing the correct diagnostic tests: the diagnosis cannot be excluded until more than one blood specimen has been examined. Other travel related infections, especially viral haemorrhagic fevers, should also be considered. 8. The optimum diagnostic procedure is examination of thick and thin blood films by an expert to detect and speciate the malarial parasites. P. falciparum and P. vivax (depending upon the product) malaria can be diagnosed almost as accurately using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) which detect plasmodial antigens. RDTs for other Plasmodium species are not as reliable. 9. Most patients treated for P. falciparum malaria should be admitted to hospital for at least 24 h as patients can deteriorate suddenly, especially early in the course of treatment. In specialised units seeing large numbers of patients, outpatient treatment may be considered if specific protocols for patient selection and follow up are in place. 10. Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria should be treated with an artemisinin combination therapy (Grade 1A). Artemether-lumefantrine (Riamet(®)) is the drug of choice (Grade 2C) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (Eurartesim(®)) is an alternative. Quinine or atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone(®)) can be used if an ACT is not available. Quinine is highly effective but poorly-tolerated in prolonged treatment and should be used in combination with an additional drug, usually oral doxycycline. 11. Severe falciparum malaria, or infections complicated by a relatively high parasite count (more than 2% of red blood cells parasitized) should be treated with intravenous therapy until the patient is well enough to continue with oral treatment. Severe malaria is a rare complication of P. vivax or P. knowlesi infection and also requires parenteral therapy. 12. The treatment of choice for severe or complicated malaria in adults and children is intravenous artesunate (Grade 1A). Intravenous artesunate is unlicensed in the EU but is available in many centres. The alternative is intravenous quinine, which should be started immediately if artesunate is not available (Grade 1A). Patients treated with intravenous quinine require careful monitoring for hypoglycemia. 13. Patients with severe or complicated malaria should be managed in a high-dependency or intensive care environment. They may require haemodynamic support and management of: acute respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute kidney injury, seizures, and severe intercurrent infections including Gram-negative bacteraemia/septicaemia. 14. Children with severe malaria should also be treated with empirical broad spectrum antibiotics until bacterial infection can be excluded (Grade 1B). 15. Haemolysis occurs in approximately 10-15% patients following intravenous artesunate treatment. Haemoglobin concentrations should be checked approximately 14 days following treatment in those treated with IV artemisinins (Grade 2C). 16. Falciparum malaria in pregnancy is more likely to be complicated: the placenta contains high levels of parasites, stillbirth or early delivery may occur and diagnosis can be difficult if parasites are concentrated in the placenta and scanty in the blood. 17. Uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the second and third trimester of pregnancy should be treated with artemether-lumefantrine (Grade 2B). Uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy should usually be treated with quinine and clindamycin but specialist advice should be sought. Severe malaria in any trimester of pregnancy should be treated as for any other patient with artesunate preferred over quinine (Grade 1C). 18. Children with uncomplicated malaria should be treated with an ACT (artemether-lumefantrine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine) as first line treatment (Grade 1A). Quinine with doxycycline or clindamycin, or atovaquone-proguanil at appropriate doses for weight can also be used. Doxycycline should not be given to children under 12 years. 19. Either an oral ACT or chloroquine can be used for the treatment of non-falciparum malaria. An oral ACT is preferred for a mixed infection, if there is uncertainty about the infecting species, or for P. vivax infection from areas where chloroquine resistance is common (Grade 1B). 20. Dormant parasites (hypnozoites) persist in the liver after treatment of P. vivax or P. ovale infection: the only currently effective drug for eradication of hypnozoites is primaquine (1A). Primaquine is more effective at preventing relapse if taken at the same time as chloroquine (Grade 1C). 21. Primaquine should be avoided or given with caution under expert supervision in patients with Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), in whom it may cause severe haemolysis. 22. Primaquine (for eradication of P. vivax or P. ovale hypnozoites) is contraindicated in pregnancy and when breastfeeding (until the G6PD status of child is known); after initial treatment for these infections a pregnant woman should take weekly chloroquine prophylaxis until after delivery or cessation of breastfeeding when hypnozoite eradication can be considered. 23. An acute attack of malaria does not confer protection from future attacks: individuals who have had malaria should take effective anti-mosquito precautions and chemoprophylaxis during future visits to endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Lalloo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Delane Shingadia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - David J Bell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
| | - Nicholas J Beeching
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Christopher J M Whitty
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mortimer Market Centre, Capper Street off Tottenham Court Road, London WC1E 6AU, UK
| | - Peter L Chiodini
- Malaria Reference Laboratory, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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The role of red blood cell exchange for severe imported malaria in the artesunate era: a retrospective cohort study in a referral centre. Malar J 2016; 15:216. [PMID: 27075988 PMCID: PMC4831171 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intravenous artesunate has replaced quinine as the first-line therapy for severe imported malaria, given its anti-malarial superiority shown in clinical trials conducted in endemic countries. Evidence for red blood cell (RBC) exchange in patients with severe malaria treated with artesunate is lacking. This retrospective cohort study describes the experience at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona with the use of artesunate for severe malaria and the joint use of RBC exchange in selected cases. Methods Patients treated for severe malaria at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona between August 2013 and January 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Severe malaria was defined according to WHO criteria. Data were extracted from electronic hospital records. A log-linear mixed model approach was used to estimate parasite clearance times. Results Within the study period, 42 patients were diagnosed of malaria at this centre, of which 38 had Plasmodium falciparum (90.5 %). Sixteen patients (42 %) had severe malaria cases and were treated with intravenous artesunate. Four patients underwent RBC exchange within a period of 15 h after the first dose of artesunate (range 9–21 h). The procedure lasted a median of 2 h (IQR 1.8–2 h), using a median of 12 (IQR 11–14) units of packed RBCs to replace a median of 3794 ml (IQR 2977–4343). The technique was well-tolerated without haemodynamic complications. There were no deaths. The regression model showed an estimated time to 95 % decay of 21.6 h (95 % CI 17.3–28.8). When assessing effect modification by RBC exchange, there was no difference in the parasite elimination rate (p = 0.286). Discussion and conclusion In this study RBC exchange failed to show benefits in terms of parasite clearance probably due to the small number of patients analysed. The evidence for exchange transfusion remains limited.
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Mackroth MS, Tappe D, Tannich E, Addo M, Rothe C. Rapid-Antigen Test Negative Malaria in a Traveler Returning From Thailand, Molecularly Diagnosed as Plasmodium knowlesi. Open Forum Infect Dis 2016; 3:ofw039. [PMID: 27006963 PMCID: PMC4800993 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofw039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium knowlesi has been identified in the last decade as a fifth species causing malaria in areas of South East Asia. Due to its short erythrocytic cycle, rapid development of high parasitemia and severe manifestations are frequently observed. Therefore, prompt diagnosis of infection is essential to prevent complications, but the low sensitivity of rapid diagnostic tests for P knowlesi pose a diagnostic challenge in acute settings. In this study, we report the case of a German traveler to Thailand, who was treated for P knowlesi malaria after returning to Germany. Rapid antigen test for malaria was negative on presentation. Diagnosis of a nonfalciparum malaria was made based on microscopy, and species definition was determined using polymerase chain reaction technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Mackroth
- Ist Department of Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine , University Medical Centre Eppendorf
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Egbert Tannich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Marylyn Addo
- Ist Department of Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine , University Medical Centre Eppendorf
| | - Camilla Rothe
- Ist Department of Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine , University Medical Centre Eppendorf
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Zhao X, Smith DL, Tatem AJ. Exploring the spatiotemporal drivers of malaria elimination in Europe. Malar J 2016; 15:122. [PMID: 26944257 PMCID: PMC4778289 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1175-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Europe once had widespread malaria, but today it is free from endemic transmission. Changing land use, agricultural practices, housing quality, urbanization, climate change, and improved healthcare are among the many factors thought to have played a role in the declines of malaria seen, but their effects and relative contributions have rarely been quantified. Methods Spatial datasets on changes in climate, wealth, life expectancy, urbanization, and land use trends over the past century were combined with datasets depicting the reduction in malaria transmission across 31 European countries, and the relationships were explored. Moreover, the conditions in current malaria-eliminating countries were compared with those in Europe at the time of declining transmission and elimination to assess similarities. Results/conclusions Indicators relating to socio-economic improvements such as wealth, life expectancy and urbanization were strongly correlated with the decline of malaria in Europe, whereas those describing climatic and land use changes showed weaker relationships. Present-day malaria-elimination countries have now arrived at similar socio-economic indicator levels as European countries at the time malaria elimination was achieved, offering hope for achievement of sustainable elimination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1175-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhao
- WorldPop project, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, UK.
| | - David L Smith
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA. .,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Andrew J Tatem
- WorldPop project, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, UK. .,Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA. .,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Sharma H, Sarker SJ, Lambourne JR, Fhogartaigh CN, Price NM, Klein JL. The selective outpatient treatment of adults with imported falciparum malaria: a prospective cohort study. QJM 2016; 109:181-6. [PMID: 26025694 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcv113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current UK malaria treatment guidelines recommend admission for all patients diagnosed with falciparum malaria. However, evidence suggests that certain patients are at lower risk of severe malaria and death and may be managed as outpatients. AIM To prospectively assess the risk of post-treatment severe falciparum malaria in selected cases managed as outpatients. The readmission rate and treatment tolerability were assessed as secondary outcomes. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS Adults (>15 years old) diagnosed with falciparum malaria between May 2008 and July 2012 were selected for outpatient treatment using locally defined clinical and laboratory indicators based on known risk factors for severity and death. Treatment outcomes were assessed in clinic or by telephone 4-6 weeks after treatment. RESULTS 269 adults were diagnosed with falciparum malaria on blood film between May 2008 and July 2012. Of 255 eligible participants, 106 patients were offered ambulatory treatment, of which 95 completed the study. The severe malaria rate was 0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0-3.8%) and the readmission rate was 5.3% (95% CI 1.7-11.9) in the outpatient group. In addition, 10.6% (95% CI 5.2-18.7%) of outpatients reported drug-related side effects. CONCLUSIONS The outpatient treatment of selected cases of falciparum malaria is effective in our high volume UK setting. We recommend adopting a similar approach to managing this infection in other non-endemic settings where immediate access to specialist advice is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sharma
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK and
| | - S-J Sarker
- Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Old Anatomy Building, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - J R Lambourne
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK and
| | - C N Fhogartaigh
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK and
| | - N M Price
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK and
| | - J L Klein
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK and
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Vázquez-Sánchez R, Martínez-Núñez ME, Molina-García T. Severe malaria in immigrant haematological patient. IDCases 2016; 2:77-9. [PMID: 26793463 PMCID: PMC4712194 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe malaria is a life-threatening condition caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Rupture of red blood cells when merozoites release to the bloodstream is responsible for the clinical manifestations, febrile fever reaching 39 °C, and other unspecific symptoms. P. falciparum is considered as the worst form of malaria. Moreover, this species has cytoadherence to red blood cells. This can lead to an organic dysfunction. People coming from hyper endemic areas have developed a partial immunity, but immunodepressed people are a group with a greater risk. Due to the high mortality rate associated to this disease, early diagnosis and a prompt treatment implementation are essential. However, the missed or delayed diagnosis is one of the major reasons of reaching a severe malaria disease. This case reflects the complexity of the diagnosis in an immigrant and immunodepressed patient with a haematological neoplasm with a severe infection by P. falciparum due to the unspecified symptoms and the overlapping of the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Vázquez-Sánchez
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - T Molina-García
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain
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Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Malaria and Dengue Infection. Mol Microbiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1128/9781555819071.ch42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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50
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Chavada R, Hui SH, O'Connor S, Akima S, Gosbell IB. Post‐artesunate delayed haemolysis in severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Med J Aust 2015; 203:364. [PMID: 26510804 DOI: 10.5694/mja15.00565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Siong H Hui
- Sydney South West Pathology Service, Sydney, NSW
| | | | | | - Iain B Gosbell
- Sydney South West Pathology Service, Sydney, NSW
- Campbelltown Hospital, Sydney, NSW
- University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW
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