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Hamre KES, Dismer AM, Rogier E, van den Hoogen LL, Williamson J, Kishore N, Travers A, McGee K, Pierre B, Fouché B, Impoinvil D, Holmes K, Stresman G, Druetz T, Eisele TP, Drakeley C, Lemoine JF, Chang MA. Spatial Clustering and Risk Factors for Malaria Infections and Marker of Recent Exposure to Plasmodium falciparum from a Household Survey in Artibonite, Haiti. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 109:258-272. [PMID: 37277106 PMCID: PMC10397426 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting malaria interventions in elimination settings where transmission is heterogeneous is essential to ensure the efficient use of resources. Identifying the most important risk factors among persons experiencing a range of exposure can facilitate such targeting. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Artibonite, Haiti, to identify and characterize spatial clustering of malaria infections. Household members (N = 21,813) from 6,962 households were surveyed and tested for malaria. An infection was defined as testing positive for Plasmodium falciparum by either a conventional or novel highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test. Seropositivity to the early transcribed membrane protein 5 antigen 1 represented recent exposure to P. falciparum. Clusters were identified using SaTScan. Associations among individual, household, and environmental risk factors for malaria, recent exposure, and living in spatial clusters of these outcomes were evaluated. Malaria infection was detected in 161 individuals (median age: 15 years). Weighted malaria prevalence was low (0.56%; 95% CI: 0.45-0.70%). Serological evidence of recent exposure was detected in 1,134 individuals. Bed net use, household wealth, and elevation were protective, whereas being febrile, over age 5 years, and living in either households with rudimentary wall material or farther from the road increased the odds of malaria. Two predominant overlapping spatial clusters of infection and recent exposure were identified. Individual, household, and environmental risk factors are associated with the odds of individual risk and recent exposure in Artibonite; spatial clusters are primarily associated with household-level risk factors. Findings from serology testing can further strengthen the targeting of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E. S. Hamre
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Amber M. Dismer
- Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Eric Rogier
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lotus L. van den Hoogen
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - John Williamson
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nishant Kishore
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Anyess Travers
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kathleen McGee
- Population Services International/Organisation Haïtienne de Marketing Social pour la Santé, Peguy-ville, Haiti
| | - Baby Pierre
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | - Daniel Impoinvil
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kathleen Holmes
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gillian Stresman
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Druetz
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Canada
| | - Thomas P. Eisele
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Chris Drakeley
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jean Frantz Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Michelle A. Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Bardosh K, Desir L, Jean L, Yoss S, Poovey B, Nute A, de Rochars MVB, Telfort MA, Benoit F, Chery G, Charlotin MC, Noland GS. Evaluating a community engagement model for malaria elimination in Haiti: lessons from the community health council project (2019-2021). Malar J 2023; 22:47. [PMID: 36759860 PMCID: PMC9910254 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04471-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community engagement (CE) plays a critical role in malaria control and elimination. CE approaches vary substantially, with more participatory programmes requiring higher levels of adaptive management. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a volunteer-based CE programme developed in Haiti in 2018. The approach was based on local leaders organizing and implementing monthly anti-malaria activities in their communities, and was implemented as part of Malaria Zero Consortium activities. METHODS This programme evaluation draws on quantitative and qualitative data collected from 23 Community Health Councils (CHCs) over a two-year period (2019-2021) in Grand'Anse department, a malaria hotspot region in Haiti. RESULTS Monthly monitoring data showed that 100% of the 23 CHCs remained functional over the two-year period, with an average of 0.90 monthly meetings held with an 85% attendance rate. A high degree of transparency and diversity in membership helped create strong planning and involvement from members. CHCs conducted an average of 1.6 community-based activities per month, directly engaging an average of 123 people per month. High levels of fluctuation in monthly activities were indicative of local ownership and self-organization. This included school and church sensitization, environmental sanitation campaigns, mass education, support for case referrals and community mobilization during mass drug administration (MDA) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) campaigns. Members drew on the tradition of konbit (mutual self-help), local histories of health and development campaigns and a lexicon of "solidarity" in difficult times as they negotiated their agency as community volunteers. Small incentives played both symbolic and supportive roles. Some level of politicization was viewed as inevitable, even beneficial. Rumours about financial and political profiteering of CHC volunteers took time to dispel while the tendency towards vertical planning in malaria control created conditions that excluded CHCs from some activities. This generated resentment from members who felt sidelined by the government malaria programme. CONCLUSION The CHC model was effective in promoting group solidarity and community-based anti-malaria activities over a two-year period in Haiti. With the end of the Malaria Zero Consortium in early 2021, there is now an opportunity to better integrate this programme into the primary healthcare system, evaluate the impact of the CHCs on malaria epidemiology, and promote the greater integration of CHCs with active surveillance and response activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bardosh
- School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. .,The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Luccene Desir
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Lorence Jean
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Sarah Yoss
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Brianna Poovey
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Andrew Nute
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Madsen Valerie Beau de Rochars
- grid.418694.60000 0001 2291 4696The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Marc-Aurèle Telfort
- grid.436183.bMinistère de la Sante Publique et de la Population, Jeremie and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Fabiola Benoit
- grid.436183.bMinistère de la Sante Publique et de la Population, Jeremie and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Ginette Chery
- grid.436183.bMinistère de la Sante Publique et de la Population, Jeremie and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Marie Carmelle Charlotin
- grid.436183.bMinistère de la Sante Publique et de la Population, Jeremie and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
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Jaramillo-Underwood A, Herman C, Impoinvil D, Sutcliff A, Knipes A, Worrell CM, Fox LM, Desir L, Fayette C, Javel A, Monestime F, Mace KE, Chang MA, Lemoine JF, Won K, Udhayakumar V, Rogier E. Spatial, environmental, and individual associations with Anopheles albimanus salivary antigen IgG in Haitian children. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1033917. [DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1033917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
IgG serology can be utilized to estimate exposure to Anopheline malaria vectors and the Plasmodium species they transmit. A multiplex bead-based assay simultaneously detected IgG to Anopheles albimanus salivary gland extract (SGE) and four Plasmodium falciparum antigens (CSP, LSA-1, PfAMA1, and PfMSP1) in 11,541 children enrolled at 350 schools across Haiti in 2016. Logistic regression estimated odds of an above-median anti-SGE IgG response adjusting for individual- and environmental-level covariates. Spatial analysis detected statistically significant clusters of schools with students having high anti-SGE IgG levels, and spatial interpolation estimated anti-SGE IgG levels in unsampled locations. Boys had 11% (95% CI: 0.81, 0.98) lower odds of high anti-SGE IgG compared to girls, and children seropositive for PfMSP1 had 53% (95% CI: 1.17, 2.00) higher odds compared to PfMSP1 seronegatives. Compared to the lowest elevation, quartiles 2-4 of higher elevation were associated with successively lower odds (0.81, 0.43, and 0.34, respectively) of high anti-SGE IgG. Seven significant clusters of schools were detected in Haiti, while spatially interpolated results provided a comprehensive picture of anti-SGE IgG levels in the study area. Exposure to malaria vectors by IgG serology with SGE is a proxy to approximate vector biting in children and identify risk factors for vector exposure.
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Louha S, Herman C, Gupta M, Patel D, Kelley J, OH JHM, Guru J, Lemoine JF, Chang MA, Venkatachalam U, Rogier E, Talundzic E. Evaluation of a parasite-density based pooled targeted amplicon deep sequencing (TADS) method for molecular surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance genes in Haiti. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262616. [PMID: 35030215 PMCID: PMC8759662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequencing large numbers of individual samples is often needed for countrywide antimalarial drug resistance surveillance. Pooling DNA from several individual samples is an alternative cost and time saving approach for providing allele frequency (AF) estimates at a population level. Using 100 individual patient DNA samples of dried blood spots from a 2017 nationwide drug resistance surveillance study in Haiti, we compared codon coverage of drug resistance-conferring mutations in four Plasmodium falciparum genes (crt, dhps, dhfr, and mdr1), for the same deep sequenced samples run individually and pooled. Samples with similar real-time PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values (+/- 1.0 Ct value) were combined with ten samples per pool. The sequencing success for samples in pools were higher at a lower parasite density than the individual samples sequence method. The median codon coverage for drug resistance-associated mutations in all four genes were greater than 3-fold higher in the pooled samples than in individual samples. The overall codon coverage distribution for pooled samples was wider than the individual samples. The sample pools with < 40 parasites/μL blood showed more discordance in AF calls for dhfr and mdr1 between the individual and pooled samples. This discordance in AF estimation may be due to low amounts of parasite DNA, which could lead to variable PCR amplification efficiencies. Grouping samples with an estimated ≥ 40 parasites/μL blood prior to pooling and deep sequencing yielded the expected population level AF. Pooling DNA samples based on estimates of > 40 parasites/μL prior to deep sequencing can be used for rapid genotyping of a large number of samples for these four genes and possibly other drug resistant markers in population-based studies. As Haiti is a low malaria transmission country with very few mixed infections and continued chloroquine sensitivity, the pooled sequencing approach can be used for routine national molecular surveillance of resistant parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarnali Louha
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Camelia Herman
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Mansi Gupta
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Dhruviben Patel
- Williams Consulting LLC, Atlanta, GA, United States America
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Julia Kelley
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, Atlanta, GA, United States America
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Je-Hoon M. OH
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Janani Guru
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Jean F. Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, MSPP, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Michelle A. Chang
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Udhayakumar Venkatachalam
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Eric Rogier
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
| | - Eldin Talundzic
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States America
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Spatial cluster analysis of Plasmodium vivax and P. malariae exposure using serological data among Haitian school children sampled between 2014 and 2016. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010049. [PMID: 34986142 PMCID: PMC8765618 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimation of malaria prevalence in very low transmission settings is difficult by even the most advanced diagnostic tests. Antibodies against malaria antigens provide an indicator of active or past exposure to these parasites. The prominent malaria species within Haiti is Plasmodium falciparum, but P. vivax and P. malariae infections are also known to be endemic. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS From 2014-2016, 28,681 Haitian children were enrolled in school-based serosurveys and were asked to provide a blood sample for detection of antibodies against multiple infectious diseases. IgG against the P. falciparum, P. vivax, and P. malariae merozoite surface protein 19kD subunit (MSP119) antigens was detected by a multiplex bead assay (MBA). A subset of samples was also tested for Plasmodium DNA by PCR assays, and for Plasmodium antigens by a multiplex antigen detection assay. Geospatial clustering of high seroprevalence areas for P. vivax and P. malariae antigens was assessed by both Ripley's K-function and Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic. Of 21,719 children enrolled in 680 schools in Haiti who provided samples to assay for IgG against PmMSP119, 278 (1.27%) were seropositive. Of 24,559 children enrolled in 788 schools providing samples for PvMSP119 serology, 113 (0.46%) were seropositive. Two significant clusters of seropositivity were identified throughout the country for P. malariae exposure, and two identified for P. vivax. No samples were found to be positive for Plasmodium DNA or antigens. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE From school-based surveys conducted from 2014 to 2016, very few Haitian children had evidence of exposure to P. vivax or P. malariae, with no children testing positive for active infection. Spatial scan statistics identified non-overlapping areas of the country with higher seroprevalence for these two malarias. Serological data provides useful information of exposure to very low endemic malaria species in a population that is unlikely to present to clinics with symptomatic infections.
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Carter TE, Existe A, Beau de Rochars M, Okech BA. Investigations of socioeconomic factors associated with follow-up compliance with malaria treatment in Haiti. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2021; 45:e150. [PMID: 34908812 PMCID: PMC8663112 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2021.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. To identify factors affecting compliance with follow-up during treatment in confirmed malaria patients at two health centers in Haiti. Methods. A prospective observational study of malaria patients undergoing treatment over a six-week period. Patients’ return visits (follow-up visits) to the health centers for consultation in accordance with the physicians’ requests were recorded and used to determine compliance. Socioeconomic data were obtained from patient enrollment questionnaires and through post-treatment interviews. The management practices and procedures at the health centers to retain patients were also reviewed. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation were used to identify significant factors, which were used as variables in a logistic regression model. Results. Sixty-eight percent of the malaria patients completed follow-up, with higher compliance being recorded in the larger, more established health center of Leogane (67%) than Cite Soleil (33%). The patient socioeconomic profiles differed between the two health center locations by level of education, religious diversity, household size, and percentage of married individuals. Crude logistic regression analyses identified health center location (OR = 0.179 [95% CI 0.064, 0.504]) and household size (OR = 1.374 [95% CI 1.056, 1.787]) to be associated with compliance. The adjusted model only identified health center location (OR = 0.226 [95% CI 0.056, 0.918]) as significantly associated with compliance. Conclusion. Although patients’ household size may be important according to the crude logistic regression analysis, in the adjusted analysis the site location of the health center where patients receive treatment was identified as the only important factor associated with follow-up compliance in malaria patients during treatment in Haiti. This information might be helpful to improve treatment outcomes and contribute to the monitoring of antimalarial resistance in Haiti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar E Carter
- Baylor University WacoTexas United States of America Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alexandre Existe
- Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population Port-au-Prince Haiti Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Madsen Beau de Rochars
- University of Florida GainesvilleFlorida United States of America University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Bernard A Okech
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences BethesdaMaryland United States of America Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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7
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Cameron E, Young AJ, Twohig KA, Pothin E, Bhavnani D, Dismer A, Merilien JB, Hamre K, Meyer P, Le Menach A, Cohen JM, Marseille S, Lemoine JF, Telfort MA, Chang MA, Won K, Knipes A, Rogier E, Amratia P, Weiss DJ, Gething PW, Battle KE. Mapping the endemicity and seasonality of clinical malaria for intervention targeting in Haiti using routine case data. eLife 2021; 10:62122. [PMID: 34058123 PMCID: PMC8169118 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Towards the goal of malaria elimination on Hispaniola, the National Malaria Control Program of Haiti and its international partner organisations are conducting a campaign of interventions targeted to high-risk communities prioritised through evidence-based planning. Here we present a key piece of this planning: an up-to-date, fine-scale endemicity map and seasonality profile for Haiti informed by monthly case counts from 771 health facilities reporting from across the country throughout the 6-year period from January 2014 to December 2019. To this end, a novel hierarchical Bayesian modelling framework was developed in which a latent, pixel-level incidence surface with spatio-temporal innovations is linked to the observed case data via a flexible catchment sub-model designed to account for the absence of data on case household locations. These maps have focussed the delivery of indoor residual spraying and focal mass drug administration in the Grand’Anse Department in South-Western Haiti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan Cameron
- Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Alyssa J Young
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, United States.,Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, United States
| | - Katherine A Twohig
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Emilie Pothin
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, United States.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Amber Dismer
- Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | | | - Karen Hamre
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Phoebe Meyer
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, United States
| | | | | | - Samson Marseille
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria/MSPP, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.,Direction d'Epidémiologie de Laboratoire et de la Recherche, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | | | - Michelle A Chang
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Kimberly Won
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Alaine Knipes
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Eric Rogier
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States
| | - Punam Amratia
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Weiss
- Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Peter W Gething
- Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia
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8
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Dismer AM, Lemoine JF, Baptiste MJ, Mace KE, Impoinvil D, Vanden Eng J, Chang MA. Detecting Malaria Hotspots in Haiti, a Low-Transmission Setting. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:2108-2116. [PMID: 33872208 PMCID: PMC8176511 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0465] [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: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2006, Haiti committed to malaria elimination when the transmission was thought to be low, but before robust national parasite prevalence estimates were available. In 2011, the first national population-based survey confirmed the national malaria parasite prevalence was < 1%. In both 2014 and 2015, Haiti reported approximately 17,000 malaria cases identified passively at health facilities. To detect malaria transmission hotspots for targeting interventions, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) piloted an enhanced geographic information surveillance system in three departments with relatively high-, medium-, and low-transmission areas. From October 2014–September 2015, NMCP staff abstracted health facility records of confirmed malaria cases from 59 health facilities and geo-located patients’ households. Household locations were aggregated to 1-km2 grid cells to calculate cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) per 1,000 persons. Spatial clustering of CIRs were tested using Getis-Ord Gi* analysis. Space–time permutation models searched for clusters up to 6 km in distance using a 1-month malaria transmission window. Of the 2,462 confirmed cases identified from health facility records, 58% were geo-located. Getis-Ord Gi* analysis identified 43 1-km2 hotspots in coastal and inland areas that overlapped primarily with 13 space–time clusters (size: 0.26–2.97 km). This pilot describes the feasibility of detecting malaria hotspots in resource-poor settings. More data from multiple years and serological household surveys are needed to assess completeness and hotspot stability. The NMCP can use these pilot methods and results to target foci investigations and malaria interventions more accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M Dismer
- 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Protection, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jean Frantz Lemoine
- 2Ministry of Public Health and Population, National Malaria Control Program, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Mérilien Jean Baptiste
- 2Ministry of Public Health and Population, National Malaria Control Program, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Kimberly E Mace
- 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Daniel Impoinvil
- 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jodi Vanden Eng
- 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michelle A Chang
- 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Disease and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia
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Daniels RF, Chenet S, Rogier E, Lucchi N, Herman C, Pierre B, Lemoine JF, Boncy J, Wirth DF, Chang MA, Udhayakumar V, Volkman SK. Genetic analysis reveals unique characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations in Haiti. Malar J 2020; 19:379. [PMID: 33097045 PMCID: PMC7583211 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03439-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With increasing interest in eliminating malaria from the Caribbean region, Haiti is one of the two countries on the island of Hispaniola with continued malaria transmission. While the Haitian population remains at risk for malaria, there are a limited number of cases annually, making conventional epidemiological measures such as case incidence and prevalence of potentially limited value for fine-scale resolution of transmission patterns and trends. In this context, genetic signatures may be useful for the identification and characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite population in order to identify foci of transmission, detect outbreaks, and track parasite movement to potentially inform malaria control and elimination strategies. Methods This study evaluated the genetic signals based on analysis of 21 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 462 monogenomic (single-genome) P. falciparum DNA samples extracted from dried blood spots collected from malaria-positive patients reporting to health facilities in three southwestern Haitian departments (Nippes, Grand’Anse, and Sud) in 2016. Results Assessment of the parasite genetic relatedness revealed evidence of clonal expansion within Nippes and the exchange of parasite lineages between Nippes, Sud, and Grand'Anse. Furthermore, 437 of the 462 samples shared high levels of genetic similarity–at least 20 of 21 SNPS–with at least one other sample in the dataset. Conclusions These results revealed patterns of relatedness suggestive of the repeated recombination of a limited number of founding parasite types without significant outcrossing. These genetic signals offer clues to the underlying relatedness of parasite populations and may be useful for the identification of the foci of transmission and tracking of parasite movement in Haiti for malaria elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel F Daniels
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stella Chenet
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru
| | - Eric Rogier
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Naomi Lucchi
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Camelia Herman
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,CDC Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Baby Pierre
- Ministère de La Santé Publique Et de La Population (MSPP), Programme National de Contrôle de La Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Jean Frantz Lemoine
- Ministère de La Santé Publique Et de La Population (MSPP), Programme National de Contrôle de La Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Ministère de La Santé Publique Et de La Population (MSPP), Programme National de Contrôle de La Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michelle A Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah K Volkman
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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10
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Tagliamonte MS, Yowell CA, Elbadry MA, Boncy J, Raccurt CP, Okech BA, Goss EM, Salemi M, Dame JB. Genetic Markers of Adaptation of Plasmodium falciparum to Transmission by American Vectors Identified in the Genomes of Parasites from Haiti and South America. mSphere 2020; 5:e00937-20. [PMID: 33087522 PMCID: PMC7580960 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00937-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was introduced into Hispaniola and other regions of the Americas through the slave trade spanning the 16th through the 19th centuries. During this period, more than 12 million Africans were brought across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and other regions of the Americas. Since malaria is holoendemic in West Africa, a substantial percentage of these individuals carried the parasite. St. Domingue on Hispaniola, now modern-day Haiti, was a major port of disembarkation, and malaria is still actively transmitted there. We undertook a detailed study of the phylogenetics of the Haitian parasites and those from Colombia and Peru utilizing whole-genome sequencing. Principal-component and phylogenetic analyses, based upon single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in protein coding regions, indicate that, despite the potential for millions of introductions from Africa, the Haitian parasites share an ancestral relationship within a well-supported monophyletic clade with parasites from South America, while belonging to a distinct lineage. This result, in stark contrast to the historical record of parasite introductions, is best explained by a severe population bottleneck experienced by the parasites introduced into the Americas. Here, evidence is presented for targeted selection of rare African alleles in genes which are expressed in the mosquito stages of the parasite's life cycle. These genetic markers support the hypothesis that the severe population bottleneck was caused by the required adaptation of the parasite to transmission by new definitive hosts among the Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) spp. found in the Caribbean and South America.IMPORTANCE Historical data suggest that millions of P. falciparum parasite lineages were introduced into the Americas during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which would suggest a paraphyletic origin of the extant isolates in the Western Hemisphere. Our analyses of whole-genome variants show that the American parasites belong to a well-supported monophyletic clade. We hypothesize that the required adaptation to American vectors created a severe bottleneck, reducing the effective introduction to a few lineages. In support of this hypothesis, we discovered genes expressed in the mosquito stages of the life cycle that have alleles with multiple, high-frequency or fixed, nonsynonymous mutations in the American populations which are rarely found in African isolates. These alleles appear to be in gene products critical for transmission through the anopheline vector. Thus, these results may inform efforts to develop novel transmission-blocking vaccines by identifying parasite proteins functionally interacting with the vector that are important for successful transmission. Further, to the best of our knowledge, these are the first whole-genome data available from Haitian P. falciparum isolates. Defining the genome of these parasites provides genetic markers useful for mapping parasite populations and monitoring parasite movements/introductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano S Tagliamonte
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Charles A Yowell
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Maha A Elbadry
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Christian P Raccurt
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Quisqueya, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Bernard A Okech
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Erica M Goss
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marco Salemi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John B Dame
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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11
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Boush MA, Djibrine MA, Mussa A, Talib M, Maki A, Mohammed A, Beshir KB, Mohamed Z, Hajissa K. Plasmodium falciparum isolate with histidine-rich protein 2 gene deletion from Nyala City, Western Sudan. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12822. [PMID: 32733079 PMCID: PMC7393171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In remote areas of malaria-endemic countries, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have dramatically improved parasitological confirmation of suspected malaria cases, especially when skilled microscopists are not available. This study was designed to determine the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum isolates with histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) gene deletion as one of the possible factors contributing to the failure of PfHRP2-based RDTs in detecting malaria. A total of 300 blood samples were collected from several health centres in Nyala City, Western Sudan. The performance of PfHRP2-based RDTs in relation to microscopy was examined and the PCR-confirmed samples were investigated for the presence of pfhrp2 gene. A total of 113 out of 300 patients were P. falciparum positive by microscopy. Among them, 93.81% (106 out of 113) were positives by the PfHRP2 RDTs. Seven isolates were identified as false negative on the basis of the RDTs results. Only one isolate (0.9%; 1/113) potentially has pfhrp2 gene deletion. The sensitivity and specificity of PfHRP2-based RDTs were 93.81% and 100%, respectively. The results provide insights into the pfhrp2 gene deletion amongst P. falciparum population from Sudan. However, further studies with a large and systematic collection from different geographical settings across the country are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A Boush
- Malaria, Centre for Disease Control, Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Leishmaniasis Control Program, State Ministry of Health, Nyala, Sudan
| | - Moussa A Djibrine
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences, University of N'djamena, N'djamena, Chad
| | - Ali Mussa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan.,Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Mustafa Talib
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - A Maki
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Nyala, Nyala, Sudan
| | - Abdulrahman Mohammed
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | - Khalid B Beshir
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Zeehaida Mohamed
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | - Khalid Hajissa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan. .,Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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12
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Druetz T, Stresman G, Ashton RA, van den Hoogen LL, Joseph V, Fayette C, Monestime F, Hamre KE, Chang MA, Lemoine JF, Drakeley C, Eisele TP. Programmatic options for monitoring malaria in elimination settings: easy access group surveys to investigate Plasmodium falciparum epidemiology in two regions with differing endemicity in Haiti. BMC Med 2020; 18:141. [PMID: 32571323 PMCID: PMC7310408 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01611-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As in most eliminating countries, malaria transmission is highly focal in Haiti. More granular information, including identifying asymptomatic infections, is needed to inform programmatic efforts, monitor intervention effectiveness, and identify remaining foci. Easy access group (EAG) surveys can supplement routine surveillance with more granular information on malaria in a programmatically tractable way. This study assessed how and which type of venue for EAG surveys can improve understanding malaria epidemiology in two regions with different transmission profiles. METHODS EAG surveys were conducted within the departments of Artibonite and Grand'Anse (Haiti), in regions with different levels of transmission intensity. Surveys were conducted in three venue types: primary schools, health facilities, and churches. The sampling approach varied accordingly. Individuals present at the venues at the time of the survey were eligible whether they presented malaria symptoms or not. The participants completed a questionnaire and were tested for Plasmodium falciparum by a highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test (hsRDT). Factors associated with hsRDT positivity were assessed by negative binomial random-effects regression models. RESULTS Overall, 11,029 individuals were sampled across 39 venues in Artibonite and 41 in Grand'Anse. The targeted sample size per venue type (2100 in Artibonite and 2500 in Grand'Anse) was reached except for the churches in Artibonite, where some attendees left the venue before they could be approached or enrolled. Refusal rate and drop-out rate were < 1%. In total, 50/6003 (0.8%) and 355/5026 (7.1%) sampled individuals were hsRDT positive in Artibonite and Grand'Anse, respectively. Over half of all infections in both regions were identified at health facilities. Being male and having a current or reported fever in the previous 2 weeks were consistently identified with increased odds of being hsRDT positive. CONCLUSIONS Surveys in churches were problematic because of logistical and recruitment issues. However, EAG surveys in health facilities and primary schools provided granular information about malaria burden within two departments in Haiti. The EAG surveys were able to identify residual foci of transmission that were missed by recent national surveys. Non-care seeking and/or asymptomatic malaria infections can be identified in this alternative surveillance tool, facilitating data-driven decision-making for improved targeting of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Druetz
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. .,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Gillian Stresman
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Ruth A Ashton
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Lotus L van den Hoogen
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Vena Joseph
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Malaria Zero Alliance, CDC Foundation, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | | | - Karen E Hamre
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,CDC Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michelle A Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jean F Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Thomas P Eisele
- Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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13
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Melo J, Padilha M, Barbosa R, Alonso W, Vittor A, Laporta G. Evaluation of the malaria elimination policy in Brazil: a systematic review and epidemiological analysis study. Trop Biomed 2020; 37:513-535. [PMID: 33235398 PMCID: PMC7682744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
After a centenary fight against malaria, Brazil has seen an opportunity for change with the proposal of the malaria elimination policy set by the Brazilian government, in line with malaria elimination policies in other Latin American countries. Brazilian malaria experts regard eliminating malaria by 2030 to be within reach. Herein we evaluated the likelihood that malaria elimination can be accomplished in Brazil through systematic review of the literature on malaria elimination in Brazil and epidemiological analysis. Fifty-two articles referring to malaria eradication/elimination in Brazil were analyzed to identify challenges and technological breakthroughs for controlling malaria. Monthly deaths (1979-2016) and monthly severe malaria cases (1998-2018) were analyzed according to age groups, geographic region and parasite species. As a result, we observed that the declining malaria burden was mostly attributable to a decline in Plasmodium falciparum-malaria. At the same time, the proportional increase of Plasmodium vivax-malaria in comparison with P. falciparum-malaria was notable. This niche replacement mechanism was discussed in the reviewed literature. In addition, the challenges to P. vivax-malaria elimination outnumbered the available technological breakthroughs. Although accumulated and basic information exists on mosquito vector biology, the lack of specific knowledge about mosquito vector taxonomy and ecology may hamper current attempts at stopping malaria in the country. An impressive reduction in malaria hospitalizations and mortality was seen in Brazil in the past 3 decades. Eliminating malaria deaths in children less than 5 years and P. falciparum severe cases may be achievable goals under the current malaria policy until 2030. However, eliminating P. vivax malaria transmission and morbidity seems unattainable with the available tools. Therefore, complete malaria elimination in Brazil in the near future is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.O. Melo
- Setor de Pos-graduaçao, Pesquisa e Inovação, Centro Universitârio Saûde ABC, Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | - M.A.O. Padilha
- Setor de Pos-graduaçao, Pesquisa e Inovação, Centro Universitârio Saûde ABC, Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | - R.T.A. Barbosa
- Setor de Pos-graduaçao, Pesquisa e Inovação, Centro Universitârio Saûde ABC, Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | | | - A.Y. Vittor
- Department of Medicine and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - G.Z. Laporta
- Setor de Pos-graduaçao, Pesquisa e Inovação, Centro Universitârio Saûde ABC, Fundação do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
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14
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Herman C, Huber CS, Jones S, Steinhardt L, Plucinski MM, Lemoine JF, Chang M, Barnwell JW, Udhayakumar V, Rogier E. Multiplex malaria antigen detection by bead-based assay and molecular confirmation by PCR shows no evidence of Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 deletion in Haiti. Malar J 2019; 18:380. [PMID: 31775743 PMCID: PMC6882344 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Plasmodium falciparum parasite is the only human malaria that produces the histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 (HRP2/3) antigens. Currently, HRP2/3 are widely used in malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), but several global reports have recently emerged showing genetic deletion of one or both of these antigens in parasites. Deletion of these antigens could pose a major concern for P. falciparum diagnosis in Haiti which currently uses RDTs based solely on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens. METHODS From September 2012 through February 2014, dried blood spots (DBS) were collected in Haiti from 9317 febrile patients presenting to 17 health facilities in 5 departments throughout the country as part of a bed net intervention study. All DBS from RDT positive persons and a random sampling of DBS from RDT negative persons were assayed for P. falciparum DNA by nested and PET-PCR (n = 2695 total). All PCR positive samples (n = 331) and a subset of PCR negative samples (n = 95) were assayed for three malaria antigens by a multiplex bead assay: pan-Plasmodium aldolase (pAldo), pan-Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), and HRP2/3. Any samples positive for P. falciparum DNA, but negative for HRP2/3 antigens were tested by nested PCR for Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 gene deletions. RESULTS Of 2695 DBS tested for Plasmodium DNA, 345 (12.8%) were originally found to be positive for P. falciparum DNA; 331 of these had DBS available for antigen detection. Of these, 266 (80.4%) were positive for pAldo, 221 (66.8%) positive for pLDH, and 324 (97.9%) were positive for HRP2/3 antigens. Seven samples (2.1%) positive for P. falciparum DNA were not positive for any of the three antigens by the bead assay, and were investigated for potential Pfhrp2/3 gene deletion by PCR. These samples either successfully amplified Pfhrp2/3 genes or were at an estimated parasite density too low for sufficient DNA to perform successful genotyping. CONCLUSIONS Malaria positive samples in multiple Haitian sites were found to contain the HRP2/3 antigens, and no evidence was found of Pfhrp2/3 deletions. Malaria RDTs based on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens remain a reliable P. falciparum diagnostic tool as Haiti works towards malaria elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Herman
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,CDC Foundation (CDCF), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Curtis S Huber
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sophie Jones
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Atlanta Research and Education Foundation (AREF), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laura Steinhardt
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mateusz M Plucinski
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jean F Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria/MSPP, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Michelle Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John W Barnwell
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Rogier
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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15
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Keys HM, Noland GS, De Rochars MB, Blount S, Gonzales M. Prevalence of malaria and lymphatic filariasis in bateyes of the Dominican Republic. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:39. [PMID: 31130142 PMCID: PMC6535845 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR), is the only remaining malaria-endemic island in the Caribbean and accounts for 95% of the lymphatic filariasis (LF) burden in the Americas. Both countries aim to eliminate the diseases by 2020. Migration from Haiti, where both diseases are more prevalent, may promote transmission in the DR. Historically, Haitian migrant labourers live in rural Dominican agricultural 'company towns' called bateyes, many of which received mass drug administration (MDA) for LF elimination. This study sought to determine the prevalence of malaria and LF in bateyes of the DR and to describe related risk factors for disease. METHODS From March to April 2016, a cross-sectional, cluster survey was conducted across Dominican bateyes stratified into three regions: southwest, north and east. A household questionnaire (n = 776), captured demographics, ethnic origin, mobility patterns, malaria intervention coverage, and knowledge, and recent fever and treatment-seeking. Two individuals per household (n = 1418) were tested for malaria parasites by microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and LF antigen by filariasis test strip (FTS). Population-level estimates and confidence intervals (CI) were computed adjusting for the survey design. Two-sided t-tests compared differences in knowledge scores. RESULTS No (0%) blood sample was Plasmodium-positive by microscopy or RDT. Six individuals were FTS-positive (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.2-1.5), but none (0%) of these were microfilariae-positive. Most batey residents were born in the DR (57.8%), documented (85.0%), and permanent residents (85.1%). Very few respondents (9.4%) reported travel to Haiti in the past year. Overall, half (53.8%) of respondents owned a bed net, and 82.3% of net owners reported using it the previous night. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) differed by region (range: 4.7%-61.2%). Most of those with recent fever sought care (56.0%), yet only 30.5% of those seeking care were tested for malaria. Compared to Dominican-born populations, Haitian-born respondents more frequently reported recent fever, did not seek care for the fever, had not heard of malaria, and could not name symptoms or prevention methods. CONCLUSIONS Malaria and LF transmission appear absent or extremely low in Dominican bateyes, which are a mixture of Haitian and Dominican residents. Travel to Haiti is rare, meaning risk of malaria and LF importation is low. Addressing identified gaps in intervention coverage, malaria knowledge, treatment seeking and service delivery will improve the quality of surveillance for these diseases, particularly among marginalized populations and promote island-wide elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter M. Keys
- Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, Building B-REC B 8.01, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Madsen Beau De Rochars
- Health Services Research, Management and Policy Department, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, HPNP 3101, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Stephen Blount
- The Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307 USA
| | - Manuel Gonzales
- Center for Prevention and Control of Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Av. Juan Pablo Duarte No. 269, 10301 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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16
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"Wherever doctors cannot reach, the sunshine can": overcoming potential barriers to malaria elimination interventions in Haiti. Malar J 2018; 17:393. [PMID: 30373575 PMCID: PMC6206681 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2553-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the only two Caribbean countries with endemic malaria transmission, are committed to eliminating malaria. With a Plasmodium falciparum prevalence under 1% and a highly focal transmission, the efforts towards elimination in Haiti will include several community-based interventions that must be tailored to the local sociocultural context to increase their uptake. However, little is known about local community perceptions regarding malaria and the planned elimination interventions. The aim of this study is to develop a robust understanding of how to tailor, implement and promote malaria elimination strategies in Haiti. METHODS A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted December 2015-August 2016 in Grande-Anse and the North Department in Haiti. Data collection included key informant interviews (n = 51), in-depth interviews (n = 15) and focus group discussions (n = 14) with health workers, traditional healers, teachers, priests or pastors, informal community leaders, public officials, and community members. Following a grounded theory approach, transcripts were coded and analysed using content analysis. Coded text was sorted by the types of interventions under consideration by the malaria elimination programme. RESULTS The level of knowledge about malaria was low. Many participants noted community beliefs about malaria being caused by magical phenomena in addition to vector-borne transmission. Participants described malaria as a problem rooted in the environment, with vector control the most noted method of prevention. Though participants noted malaria a severe disease, it ranked lower than other health problems perceived as more acute. Access barriers to healthcare were described including a lack of bed nets. Some distrust about pills, tests, and foreigners in general was expressed, and in few cases linked to previous experience with malaria campaigns under dictatorial regimes. CONCLUSIONS There are several potential barriers and opportunities to implement community-based malaria elimination interventions in rural Haiti. Elimination efforts should include the collaboration of voodoo priests and other traditional healers, be coupled with solutions to wider community concerns or other health interventions, and learn from previous or similar programmes, such as the campaign to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. It is essential to engage with communities and gain their trust to successfully implement targeted aggressive elimination activities.
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Hlongwana KW, Tsoka-Gwegweni J. Towards the implementation of malaria elimination policy in South Africa: the stakeholders' perspectives. Glob Health Action 2018; 10:1288954. [PMID: 28475435 PMCID: PMC5496171 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2017.1288954] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The past decade has seen substantial global reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality due to increased international funding and decisive steps by the international malaria community to fight malaria. South Africa has been declared ready to institute malaria elimination. However, research on the factors that would affect this policy implementation is inadequate. Objective: To investigate the stakeholders’ understanding of the malaria elimination policy in South Africa, including their perceived barriers and facilitators to effective policy implementation. Methods: The study followed a constructivist epistemological approach which manifests in phenomenological study design. Twelve purposively selected key informants from malaria researchers, provincial and national malaria programmes were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Interview questions elicited interviewees’ knowledge of the policy and its achievability, including any perceived barriers and facilitating factors to effective implementation. The hybrid approach was used to perform thematic data analysis. Results: The dominant view was that malaria remains a problem in South Africa, exacerbated by staff attitudes and poor capacity, lack of resources, lack of new effective intervention tools, lack of intra- and inter-departmental collaboration, poor cross-border collaboration and weak stakeholder collaboration. Informants were concerned about the target year (2018) for elimination, and about the process followed in developing the policy, including the perceived malaria epidemiology shortfalls, regulatory issues and political context of the policy. Conclusions: Achievability of malaria elimination remains a subject of intense debate for a variety of reasons. These include the sporadic nature of malaria resurgence, raising questions about the contributions of malaria control interventions and climate to the transmission trends in South Africa. The shortage of resources, inadequate staff capacity, lack of any new effective intervention tools, and gaps in malaria epidemiology were key concerns, as was the superficially participative nature of the consultation process followed in developing the policy.
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Weppelmann TA, Stephenson CJ, Musih E, Dame JB, Remy MY, Nicolas R, von Fricken ME. Elimination or more accurate estimation? Investigation of trends in malaria diagnoses in the Ouest Department of Haiti from 2008 to 2017. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198070. [PMID: 29879170 PMCID: PMC5991735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background According to the 2016 World Malaria Report, the malaria incidence in Haiti declined by > 40% between 2010 and 2015. Though elimination efforts have likely contributed, this time period also corresponded to a national change in diagnostic methods. Methods Monthly reports of aggregated patient data were acquired from five clinics in the Ouest Department of Haiti. Generalized linear models were used to compare the number of febrile patients tested, the number of positive tests, and the proportion of tests that were positive (TRP) before and after the national adoption of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Results Prior to the earthquake when microcopy was used for diagnosis, a total of 1,727 patients with 557 (32.3%) positive; post-earthquake testing was reduced and the TPR was variable; during the post recovery period when RDTs were used exclusivly, a total of 5,132 patients were tested using RDTs, only 83 (1.62%) were positive. Compared to the pre-earthquake period, there was a 69% increase in the number of patients tested (IRR: 1.69; 95% CI IRR 1.59, 2.79), and a 97.0% decrease in the proportion of patients with a positive test result (IRR: 0.03; 95% CI IRR 0.02, 0.04) in the post-recovery period. Conclusions While the decline in malaria indicators between 2010 and 2015 has been cited as evidence of progress towards elimination, these reports derived estimates of the malaria burden in Haiti using two different diagnostic tests. Thus, comparison of these periods in the context of malaria elimination should be made with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. Weppelmann
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Caroline J. Stephenson
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - Elisha Musih
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - John B. Dame
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Marie Y. Remy
- African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency, Inc., Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Robert Nicolas
- African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency, Inc., Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Michael E. von Fricken
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Mace KE, Arguin PM, Tan KR. Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2015. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT. SURVEILLANCE SUMMARIES (WASHINGTON, D.C. : 2002) 2018; 67:1-28. [PMID: 29723168 PMCID: PMC5933858 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.ss6707a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles species mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission. However, malaria is occasionally acquired by persons who have not traveled out of the country through exposure to infected blood products, congenital transmission, laboratory exposure, or local mosquitoborne transmission. Malaria surveillance in the United States is conducted to provide information on its occurrence (e.g., temporal, geographic, and demographic), guide prevention and treatment recommendations for travelers and patients, and facilitate transmission control measures if locally acquired cases are identified. PERIOD COVERED This report summarizes confirmed malaria cases in persons with onset of illness in 2015 and summarizes trends in previous years. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM Malaria cases diagnosed by blood film microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, or rapid diagnostic tests are reported to local and state health departments by health care providers or laboratory staff members. Case investigations are conducted by local and state health departments, and reports are transmitted to CDC through the National Malaria Surveillance System (NMSS), the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), or direct CDC consultations. CDC reference laboratories provide diagnostic assistance and conduct antimalarial drug resistance marker testing on blood samples submitted by health care providers or local or state health departments. This report summarizes data from the integration of all NMSS and NNDSS cases, CDC reference laboratory reports, and CDC clinical consultations. RESULTS CDC received reports of 1,517 confirmed malaria cases, including one congenital case, with an onset of symptoms in 2015 among persons who received their diagnoses in the United States. Although the number of malaria cases diagnosed in the United States has been increasing since the mid-1970s, the number of cases decreased by 208 from 2014 to 2015. Among the regions of acquisition (Africa, West Africa, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Oceania, and the Middle East), the only region with significantly fewer imported cases in 2015 compared with 2014 was West Africa (781 versus 969). Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae were identified in 67.4%, 11.7%, 4.1%, and 3.1% of cases, respectively. Less than 1% of patients were infected by two species. The infecting species was unreported or undetermined in 12.9% of cases. CDC provided diagnostic assistance for 13.1% of patients with confirmed cases and tested 15.0% of P. falciparum specimens for antimalarial resistance markers. Of the U.S. resident patients who reported purpose of travel, 68.4% were visiting friends or relatives. A lower proportion of U.S. residents with malaria reported taking any chemoprophylaxis in 2015 (26.5%) compared with 2014 (32.5%), and adherence was poor in this group. Among the U.S residents for whom information on chemoprophylaxis use and travel region were known, 95.3% of patients with malaria did not adhere to or did not take a CDC-recommended chemoprophylaxis regimen. Among women with malaria, 32 were pregnant, and none had adhered to chemoprophylaxis. A total of 23 malaria cases occurred among U.S. military personnel in 2015. Three cases of malaria were imported from the approximately 3,000 military personnel deployed to an Ebola-affected country; two of these were not P. falciparum species, and one species was unspecified. Among all reported cases in 2015, 17.1% were classified as severe illnesses and 11 persons died, compared with an average of 6.1 deaths per year during 2000-2014. In 2015, CDC received 153 P. falciparum-positive samples for surveillance of antimalarial resistance markers (although certain loci were untestable for some samples); genetic polymorphisms associated with resistance to pyrimethamine were identified in 132 (86.3%), to sulfadoxine in 112 (73.7%), to chloroquine in 48 (31.4%), to mefloquine in six (4.3%), and to artemisinin in one (<1%), and no sample had resistance to atovaquone. Completion of data elements on the malaria case report form decreased from 2014 to 2015 and remains low, with 24.2% of case report forms missing at least one key element (species, travel history, and resident status). INTERPRETATION The decrease in malaria cases from 2014 to 2015 is associated with a decrease in imported cases from West Africa. This finding might be related to altered or curtailed travel to Ebola-affected countries in in this region. Despite progress in reducing malaria worldwide, the disease remains endemic in many regions, and the use of appropriate prevention measures by travelers is still inadequate. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS The best way to prevent malaria is to take chemoprophylaxis medication during travel to a country where malaria is endemic. As demonstrated by the U.S. military during the Ebola response, use of chemoprophylaxis and other protection measures is possible in stressful environments, and this can prevent malaria, especially P. falciparum, even in high transmission areas. Detailed recommendations for preventing malaria are available to the general public at the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html). Malaria infections can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly with antimalarial medications appropriate for the patient's age and medical history, the likely country of malaria acquisition, and previous use of antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. Health care providers should consult the CDC Guidelines for Treatment of Malaria in the United States and contact the CDC's Malaria Hotline for case management advice when needed. Malaria treatment recommendations are available online (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment) and from the Malaria Hotline (770-488-7788 or toll-free at 855-856-4713). Persons submitting malaria case reports (care providers, laboratories, and state and local public health officials) should provide complete information because incomplete reporting compromises case investigations and efforts to prevent infections and examine trends in malaria cases. Compliance with recommended malaria prevention strategies is low among U.S. travelers visiting friends and relatives. Evidence-based prevention strategies that effectively target travelers who are visiting friends and relatives need to be developed and implemented to reduce the numbers of imported malaria cases in the United States. Molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance markers (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/features/ars.html) has enabled CDC to track, guide treatment, and manage drug resistance in malaria parasites both domestically and internationally. More samples are needed to improve the completeness of antimalarial drug resistance marker analysis; therefore, CDC requests that blood specimens be submitted for all cases diagnosed in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E. Mace
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, CDC
| | - Paul M. Arguin
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, CDC
| | - Kathrine R. Tan
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, CDC
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Hlongwana KW, Sartorius B, Tsoka-Gwegweni J. Malaria programme personnel's experiences, perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing malaria elimination strategy in South Africa. Malar J 2018; 17:21. [PMID: 29316916 PMCID: PMC5761101 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND South Africa has set an ambitious goal targeting to eliminate malaria by 2018, which is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals' call to end the epidemic of malaria by 2030 across the globe. There are conflicting views regarding the feasibility of malaria elimination, and furthermore studies investigating malaria programme personnel's perspectives on strategy implementation are lacking. METHODS The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2014 through a face-to-face investigator-administered semi-structured questionnaire to all eligible and consenting malaria programme personnel (team leader to senior manager levels) in three malaria endemic provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo) of South Africa. RESULTS The overall response rate was 88.6% (148/167) among all eligible malaria personnel. The mean age of participants was 47 years (SD 9.7, range 27-70), and the mean work experience of 19.4 years (SD 11.1, range 0-42). The majority were male (78.4%), and 66.9% had secondary level education. Awareness of the malaria elimination policy was high (99.3%), but 89% contended that they were never consulted when the policy was formulated and few had either seen (29.9%) or read (23%) the policy, either in full or in part. Having read the policy was positively associated with professional job designations (managers, EHPs and entomologists) (p = 0.010) and tertiary level education (p = 0.042). There was a sentiment that the policy was neither sufficiently disseminated to all key healthcare workers (76.4%) nor properly adapted (68.9%) for the local operational context in the elimination strategy. Most (89.1%) participants were not optimistic about eliminating malaria by 2018, as they viewed the elimination strategy in South Africa as too theoretical with unrealistic targets. Other identified barriers included inadequate resources (53.5%) and high cross-border movements (19.8%). CONCLUSIONS Most participants were not positive that South Africa could achieve the malaria elimination goal by 2018, citing the high cross-border movements and lack of resources as key barriers. The National and relevant Provincial Departments of Health should consider investing more time and resources in further stakeholder engagement for more effective implementation of malaria elimination strategy in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khumbulani Welcome Hlongwana
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George Avenue, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Benn Sartorius
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George Avenue, Durban, South Africa
| | - Joyce Tsoka-Gwegweni
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George Avenue, Durban, South Africa
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Stephenson CJ, Rossheim ME, Frankenfeld CL, Boncy J, Okech BA, von Fricken ME. Cross-sectional analysis of the association between bedtime and malaria exposure in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti. Acta Trop 2017; 176:188-191. [PMID: 28818627 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic have a binational agreement to work towards malaria elimination for the island of Hispaniola by the year 2020. Understanding malaria-related knowledge and behaviors can help inform elimination efforts. This study examined the association between social-behavioral factors, like bedtime and bed net ownership, with malaria seroconversion status among people in the Ouest and Sud-Est departments of Haiti. METHODS In 2013, cross-sectional survey data (n=377) and blood samples were collected from a convenience sample of individuals within community, clinic and school settings. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between social-behavioral factors and malaria exposure, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Compared to people going to bed between 6 and 8 pm, those going to bed between 8 and 10 pm were 2.67 (OR, 95% CI: 1.16-6.14) times as likely to have been exposed to malaria. Participants who reported going to bed after 10 pm were 5.96 times as likely to have had previous malaria exposure (OR, 95% CI: 2.26-15.7), compared to 6-8 pm. No significant associations were found between malaria exposure and either insecticide use nor bed net ownership. DISCUSSION These findings are consistent with suspected feeding behaviors of Anopheles albimanus, which prefers feeding at night and outdoors. Study findings may improve overall understanding of malaria transmission in Haiti and potentially guide future studies conducted in this region.
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Raccurt CP, Brasseur P, Cicéron M, Parke DM, Zervos MJ, Boncy J. In vivo study of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine susceptibility in three departments of Haiti. Malar J 2017; 16:313. [PMID: 28778206 PMCID: PMC5544994 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is considered a public health priority in Haiti, with a goal to eliminate by year 2020. Chloroquine is the first-line treatment recommended by the Ministry of Public Health and Population. In order to verify the suitability of chloroquine for uncomplicated malaria treatment, an in vivo study of susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine was conducted from January 2013 to March 2015 in six localities in the south of Haiti. RESULTS Sixty-one patients who presented with confirmed P. falciparum malaria were included in the study and followed until day 28 after having taken 25 mg/kg of chloroquine orally over 3 days. The sample included 28 children under the age of 10, 9 adolescents aged 10-19 years, and 24 adults aged 20 years and over. Among them, 30 were monitored on day 3 (49%) and 33 on day 28 (59%). Clinical and parasitological monitoring was carried out on day 7 on 28 subjects, on day 14 on 13 subjects and on day 21 on 18 subjects. Residual parasitaemia with presence of trophozoites was found in 7 of 30 subjects on day 3 (23%), and in 6 of 28 subjects on day 7 (21%) who had a temperature less than 37.5 °C. These patients can be considered as late parasitological failures. All monitoring performed on day 28 was negative. Gametocytes were found in 3 patients (9%) despite the use of primaquine. The continuing low parasitaemia on day 3 and 7 in more than one fifth of cases raises the question of the efficacy of chloroquine in southern Haiti. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest a decrease of chloroquine susceptibility for treatment of P. falciparum malaria cases in southern Haiti. Consequently, there is a need to strengthen malaria treatment surveillance and to study the effectiveness of chloroquine in Haiti by monitoring patients after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian P Raccurt
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Rue Chardonnier #2 and Delmas 33, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
| | - Philippe Brasseur
- Institut de Recherches pour le Développement, Campus international UCAD-IRD de Hann, Route des Pères Mariste, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Micheline Cicéron
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Rue Chardonnier #2 and Delmas 33, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Dana M Parke
- The Global Health Initiative, Henry Ford Health System, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 229, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Marcus J Zervos
- The Global Health Initiative, Henry Ford Health System, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 229, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Rue Chardonnier #2 and Delmas 33, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
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Elbadry MA, Tagliamonte MS, Raccurt CP, Lemoine JF, Existe A, Boncy J, Weppelmann TA, Dame JB, Okech BA. Submicroscopic malaria infections in pregnant women from six departments in Haiti. Trop Med Int Health 2017; 22:1030-1036. [PMID: 28609010 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the epidemiology of malaria in pregnancy in Haiti. METHODS Cross-sectional study among pregnant women in six departments of Haiti. After obtaining informed consent, whole blood samples and demographic surveys were collected to investigate malaria prevalence, anaemia and socio-behavioural risk factors for infection, respectively. A total of 311 pregnant women were screened for Plasmodium falciparum infection using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), microscopy and a novel, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method (qRT-PCR). RESULTS Overall, 1.2% (4/311) of pregnant women were tested positive for malaria infection by both microscopy and RDT. However, using the qRT-PCR, 16.4% (51/311) of pregnant women were positive. The prevalence of malaria infection varied with geographical locations ranging between 0% and 46.4%. Additionally, 53% of pregnant women had some form of anaemia; however, no significant association was found between anaemia and submicroscopic malaria infection. The socio-behavioural risk factors identified to be protective of malaria infection were marital status (P < 0.05) and travel within one month prior to screening (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study is the first to document the high prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infections among pregnant women in Haiti and identify social and behavioural risk factors for disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha A Elbadry
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Massimiliano S Tagliamonte
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christian P Raccurt
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Jean F Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Alexandre Existe
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Thomas A Weppelmann
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John B Dame
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bernard A Okech
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Mace KE, Arguin PM. Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2014. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT. SURVEILLANCE SUMMARIES (WASHINGTON, D.C. : 2002) 2017; 66:1-24. [PMID: 28542123 PMCID: PMC5829864 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.ss6612a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission. However, malaria is occasionally acquired by persons who have not traveled out of the country through exposure to infected blood products, congenital transmission, laboratory exposure, or local mosquitoborne transmission. Malaria surveillance in the United States is conducted to identify episodes of local transmission and to guide prevention recommendations for travelers. PERIOD COVERED This report summarizes cases in persons with onset of illness in 2014 and trends during previous years. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM Malaria cases diagnosed by blood film, polymerase chain reaction, or rapid diagnostic tests are reported to local and state health departments by health care providers or laboratory staff. Case investigations are conducted by local and state health departments, and reports are transmitted to CDC through the National Malaria Surveillance System, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, or direct CDC consultations. CDC conducts antimalarial drug resistance marker testing on blood samples submitted by health care providers or local or state health departments. Data from these reporting systems serve as the basis for this report. RESULTS CDC received reports of 1,724 confirmed malaria cases, including one congenital case and two cryptic cases, with onset of symptoms in 2014 among persons in the United States. The number of confirmed cases in 2014 is consistent with the number of confirmed cases reported in 2013 (n = 1,741; this number has been updated from a previous publication to account for delayed reporting for persons with symptom onset occurring in late 2013). Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae were identified in 66.1%, 13.3%, 5.2%, and 2.7% of cases, respectively. Less than 1.0% of patients were infected with two species. The infecting species was unreported or undetermined in 11.7% of cases. CDC provided diagnostic assistance for 14.2% of confirmed cases and tested 12.0% of P. falciparum specimens for antimalarial resistance markers. Of patients who reported purpose of travel, 57.5% were visiting friends and relatives (VFR). Among U.S. residents for whom information on chemoprophylaxis use and travel region was known, 7.8% reported that they initiated and adhered to a chemoprophylaxis drug regimen recommended by CDC for the regions to which they had traveled. Thirty-two cases were among pregnant women, none of whom had adhered to chemoprophylaxis. Among all reported cases, 17.0% were classified as severe illness, and five persons with malaria died. CDC received 137 P. falciparum-positive samples for the detection of antimalarial resistance markers (although some loci for chloroquine and mefloquine were untestable for up to nine samples). Of the 137 samples tested, 131 (95.6%) had genetic polymorphisms associated with pyrimethamine drug resistance, 96 (70.0%) with sulfadoxine resistance, 77 (57.5%) with chloroquine resistance, three (2.3%) with mefloquine drug resistance, one (<1.0%) with atovaquone resistance, and two (1.4%) with artemisinin resistance. INTERPRETATION The overall trend of malaria cases has been increasing since 1973; the number of cases reported in 2014 is the fourth highest annual total since then. Despite progress in reducing global prevalence of malaria, the disease remains endemic in many regions and use of appropriate prevention measures by travelers is still inadequate. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION Completion of data elements on the malaria case report form increased slightly in 2014 compared with 2013, but still remains unacceptably low. In 2014, at least one essential element (i.e., species, travel history, or resident status) was missing in 21.3% of case report forms. Incomplete reporting compromises efforts to examine trends in malaria cases and prevent infections. VFR travelers continue to be a difficult population to reach with effective malaria prevention strategies. Evidence-based prevention strategies that effectively target VFR travelers need to be developed and implemented to have a substantial impact on the number of imported malaria cases in the United States. Fewer U.S. resident patients reported taking chemoprophylaxis in 2014 (27.2%) compared with 2013 (28.6%), and adherence was poor among those who did take chemoprophylaxis. Proper use of malaria chemoprophylaxis will prevent the majority of malaria illnesses and reduce risk for severe disease (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html). Malaria infections can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly with antimalarial medications appropriate for the patient's age and medical history, likely country of malaria acquisition, and previous use of antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. Recent molecular laboratory advances have enabled CDC to identify and conduct molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance markers (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/features/ars.html) and improve the ability of CDC to track, guide treatment, and manage drug resistance in malaria parasites both domestically and globally. For this effort to be successful, specimens should be submitted for all cases diagnosed in the United States. Clinicians should consult CDC Guidelines for Treatment of Malaria in the United States and contact the CDC Malaria Hotline for case management advice, when needed. Malaria treatment recommendations can be obtained online at https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment/ or by calling the Malaria Hotline at 770-488-7788 or toll-free at 855-856-4713.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E. Mace
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, CDC
| | - Paul M. Arguin
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, CDC
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T cell subtypes and reciprocal inflammatory mediator expression differentiate P. falciparum memory recall responses in asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria patients in southeastern Haiti. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174718. [PMID: 28369062 PMCID: PMC5378365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection is responsible for maintaining malarial disease within human populations in low transmission countries such as Haiti. Investigating differential host immune responses to the parasite as a potential underlying mechanism could help provide insight into this highly complex phenomenon and possibly identify asymptomatic individuals. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of individuals who were diagnosed with malaria in Sud-Est, Haiti by comparing the cellular and humoral responses of both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Plasma samples were analyzed with a P. falciparum protein microarray, which demonstrated serologic reactivity to 3,877 P. falciparum proteins of known serologic reactivity; however, no antigen-antibody reactions delineating asymptomatics from symptomatics were identified. In contrast, differences in cellular responses were observed. Flow cytometric analysis of patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells co-cultured with P. falciparum infected erythrocytes demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the proportion of T regulatory cells (CD4+ CD25+ CD127-), and increases in unique populations of both NKT-like cells (CD3+ CD8+ CD56+) and CD8mid T cells in asymptomatics compared to symptomatics. Also, CD38+/HLA-DR+ expression on γδ T cells, CD8mid (CD56-) T cells, and CD8mid CD56+ NKT-like cells decreased upon exposure to infected erythrocytes in both groups. Cytometric bead analysis of the co-culture supernatants demonstrated an upregulation of monocyte-activating chemokines/cytokines in asymptomatics, while immunomodulatory soluble factors were elevated in symptomatics. Principal component analysis of these expression values revealed a distinct clustering of individual responses within their respective phenotypic groups. This is the first comprehensive investigation of immune responses to P. falciparum in Haiti, and describes unique cell-mediated immune repertoires that delineate individuals into asymptomatic and symptomatic phenotypes. Future investigations using large scale biological data sets analyzing multiple components of adaptive immunity, could collectively define which cellular responses and molecular correlates of disease outcome are malaria region specific, and which are truly generalizable features of asymptomatic Plasmodium immunity, a research goal of critical priority.
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Rogier E, Plucinski M, Lucchi N, Mace K, Chang M, Lemoine JF, Candrinho B, Colborn J, Dimbu R, Fortes F, Udhayakumar V, Barnwell J. Bead-based immunoassay allows sub-picogram detection of histidine-rich protein 2 from Plasmodium falciparum and estimates reliability of malaria rapid diagnostic tests. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172139. [PMID: 28192523 PMCID: PMC5305216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum provides evidence for active or recent infection, and is utilized for both diagnostic and surveillance purposes, but current laboratory immunoassays for HRP2 are hindered by low sensitivities and high costs. Here we present a new HRP2 immunoassay based on antigen capture through a bead-based system capable of detecting HRP2 at sub-picogram levels. The assay is highly specific and cost-effective, allowing fast processing and screening of large numbers of samples. We utilized the assay to assess results of HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in different P. falciparum transmission settings, generating estimates for true performance in the field. Through this method of external validation, HRP2 RDTs were found to perform well in the high-endemic areas of Mozambique and Angola with 86.4% and 73.9% of persons with HRP2 in their blood testing positive by RDTs, respectively, and false-positive rates of 4.3% and 0.5%. However, in the low-endemic setting of Haiti, only 14.5% of persons found to be HRP2 positive by the bead assay were RDT positive. Additionally, 62.5% of Haitians showing a positive RDT test had no detectable HRP2 by the bead assay, likely indicating that these were false positive tests. In addition to RDT validation, HRP2 biomass was assessed for the populations in these different settings, and may provide an additional metric by which to estimate P. falciparum transmission intensity and measure the impact of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Rogier
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Mateusz Plucinski
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Naomi Lucchi
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Mace
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Michelle Chang
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jean Frantz Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | - James Colborn
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rafael Dimbu
- National Malaria Control Program, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - John Barnwell
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Malaria Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by five species of Plasmodium parasites. Accurate diagnosis of malaria plays an essential part in malaria control. With traditional diagnostic methodologies, malaria control programs have achieved remarkable success during the past decade, and are now heading toward malaria elimination in many areas. This new situation, however, calls for novel diagnostics with improved sensitivity, throughput, and reduced cost for active screening of malaria parasites, as all transfected individuals have to be identified in order to block transmission. In this chapter, we provide a brief introduction of malaria, the requirement of diagnostic advances in the age of malaria elimination, and a comprehensive overview of the currently available molecular malaria diagnostics, ranging from well-known tests to platforms in early stages of evaluation. We also discussed several practical issues for the application of molecular tests in malaria identification.
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Weppelmann TA, von Fricken ME, Masse R, Gelin G, Morris JG, Okech BA, De Rochars VMB. Indicators of anemia and physical growth in schoolchildren from the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr 2016. [DOI: 10.1186/s40795-016-0107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Haiti: Implementation Strategies and Evidence of Their Success. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004954. [PMID: 27706162 PMCID: PMC5051938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have been targeted since 2000 in Haiti, with a strong mass drug administration (MDA) program led by the Ministry of Public Health and Population and its collaborating international partners. By 2012, Haiti’s neglected tropical disease (NTD) program had reached full national scale, and with such consistently good epidemiological coverage that it is now able to stop treatment for LF throughout almost all of the country. Essential to this success have been in the detail of how MDAs were implemented. These key programmatic elements included ensuring strong community awareness through an evidence-based, multi-channel communication and education campaign facilitated by voluntary drug distributors; strengthening community trust of the drug distributors by ensuring that respected community members were recruited and received appropriate training, supervision, identification, and motivation; enforcing a “directly observed treatment” strategy; providing easy access to treatment though numerous distribution posts and a strong drug supply chain; and ensuring quality data collection that was used to guide and inform MDA strategies. The evidence that these strategies were effective lies in both the high treatment coverage obtained– 100% geographical coverage reached in 2012, with almost all districts consistently achieving well above the epidemiological coverage targets of 65% for LF and 75% for STH—and the significant reduction in burden of infection– 45 communes having reached the target threshold for stopping treatment for LF. By taking advantage of sustained international financial and technical support, especially during the past eight years, Haiti’s very successful MDA campaign resulted in steady progress toward LF elimination and development of a strong foundation for ongoing STH control. These efforts, as described, have not only helped establish the global portfolio of “best practices” for NTD control but also are poised to help solve two of the most important future NTD challenges—how to maintain control of STH infections after the community-based LF “treatment platform” ceases and how to ensure appropriate morbidity management for patients currently suffering from lymphatic filarial disease. We present evidence of Haiti’s successful neglected tropical disease (NTD) program targeting lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths and the methods used to achieve this success. By 2012, Haiti’s NTD program had reached full national scale, with such consistently good treatment coverage that the program is now able to stop treatment for lymphatic filariasis in much of the country. These findings are in line with the predictions and expectations of the global community for countries where high coverage is achieved for program implementation. In addition to the evidence of successful program outcomes, we present a detailed description of how the program was implemented—from facilitating the effectiveness of the drug distributors to improving drug logistics and supporting a well-informed population. These methods described can be used to inform the design of other mass drug administration programs and enhance the development of global “best practices” guidance.
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Weppelmann TA, von Fricken ME, Lam B, Telisma T, Existe A, Lemoine JF, Larkin J, Okech BA. Sparse serological evidence of Plasmodium vivax transmission in the Ouest and Sud-Est departments of Haiti. Acta Trop 2016; 162:27-34. [PMID: 27230796 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium vivax infections, while quite prevalent throughout South and Central America, are virtually non-existent in Haiti, where P. falciparum infections are detected in over 99% of malaria cases. Historically, few cases of P. vivax have been reported in Haiti; all of which were identified by microscopy and none were confirmed by molecular diagnostics. To further examine the transmission of P. vivax in Haiti, a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted. METHODS Whole blood was collected from 814 community members and school children ranging in age between 2 and 80 years-of-age from four locations in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti. After separation of serum, samples were screened for antibodies toward P. vivax apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) and merozoite surface protein-119 (MSP-1) using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Of all participants screened, 4.42% (36/814) were seropositive for AMA-1, 4.55% (37/814) were seropositive for MSP-1, 7.99% (65/814) were seropositive to either antigen, and only 0.98% (7/814) were seropositive for both antigens. Seroconversion rates (SCR) for AMA-1, MSP-1, either AMA-1 or MSP-1, and for both AMA-1 and MSP-1 estimated from the cross-sectional seroprevalence indicated rates of P. vivax transmission of less than 1% per year. CONCLUSION Given the lack of historical evidence of P. vivax infections on the island of Hispaniola, the sparse serological evidence of antibodies toward P. vivax identified in the current study further support the notion that the transmission of P. vivax malaria might be extremely low or even completely absent in Haiti.
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Frederick J, Saint Jean Y, Lemoine JF, Dotson EM, Mace KE, Chang M, Slutsker L, Le Menach A, Beier JC, Eisele TP, Okech BA, Beau de Rochars VM, Carter KH, Keating J, Impoinvil DE. Malaria vector research and control in Haiti: a systematic review. Malar J 2016; 15:376. [PMID: 27443992 PMCID: PMC4957415 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1436-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haiti has a set a target of eliminating malaria by 2020. However, information on malaria vector research in Haiti is not well known. This paper presents results from a systematic review of the literature on malaria vector research, bionomics and control in Haiti. METHODS A systematic search of literature published in French, Spanish and English languages was conducted in 2015 using Pubmed (MEDLINE), Google Scholar, EMBASE, JSTOR WHOLIS and Web of Science databases as well other grey literature sources such as USAID, and PAHO. The following search terms were used: malaria, Haiti, Anopheles, and vector control. RESULTS A total of 132 references were identified with 40 high quality references deemed relevant and included in this review. Six references dealt with mosquito distribution, seven with larval mosquito ecology, 16 with adult mosquito ecology, three with entomological indicators of malaria transmission, eight with insecticide resistance, one with sero-epidemiology and 16 with vector control. In the last 15 years (2000-2015), there have only been four published papers and three-scientific meeting abstracts on entomology for malaria in Haiti. Overall, the general literature on malaria vector research in Haiti is limited and dated. DISCUSSION Entomological information generated from past studies in Haiti will contribute to the development of strategies to achieve malaria elimination on Hispaniola. However it is of paramount importance that malaria vector research in Haiti is updated to inform decision-making for vector control strategies in support of malaria elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Frederick
- />Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Yvan Saint Jean
- />Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | | | - Ellen M. Dotson
- />Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Kimberly E. Mace
- />Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Michelle Chang
- />Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Laurence Slutsker
- />Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | - John C. Beier
- />Division of Environment & Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Thomas P. Eisele
- />Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Bernard A. Okech
- />Department of Environmental and Global Health College of Public Health and Health Professions, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Valery Madsen Beau de Rochars
- />Department of Health Service Research Management and Policy of College of Public Health and Health Professions, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, FL USA
- />The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Keith H. Carter
- />Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC USA
| | - Joseph Keating
- />Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA USA
| | - Daniel E. Impoinvil
- />Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
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Elbadry MA, Al-Khedery B, Tagliamonte MS, Yowell CA, Raccurt CP, Existe A, Boncy J, Weppelmann TA, Beau De Rochars VEM, Lemoine JF, Okech BA, Dame JB. High prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infections: a cross-sectional study in rural areas in six departments in Haiti. Malar J 2015; 14:510. [PMID: 26689195 PMCID: PMC4687167 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-1051-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Public health measures are poised for transition from malaria control to malaria elimination on the island of Hispaniola. Assessment of the reservoir of asymptomatic infections from which acute malaria cases may derive is critical to plan and evaluate elimination efforts. Current field technology is ill suited for detecting sub-microscopic infections, thus highly sensitive survey methods capable of detecting virtually all infections are needed. In this study the prevalence of infection with Plasmodium falciparum was determined in patients seeking medical care primarily for non-febrile conditions in six departments in Haiti using a newly designed qRT-PCR-based assay. Methods Three different methods of parasite detection were compared to assess their utility in approximating the prevalence of P. falciparum infections in the population: malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) designed to detect histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), thick smear microscopy, and a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay based upon the small sub-unit ribosomal RNA. The limit of detection of the qRT-PCR assay utilized was 0.0003 parasite/µL of blood. Venous blood was obtained from a total of 563 subjects from six departments in Haiti, all of whom were seeking medical attention without complaints consistent with malaria. Each subject was questioned for knowledge and behaviour using demographic and epidemiological survey to identify risk factors for disease transmission. Results Among the 563 samples tested, ten and 16 were found positive for malaria by RDT and microscopy, respectively. Using the qRT-PCR test to assess the infection status of these subjects, an additional 92 were identified for a total of 108. Based upon the qRT-PCR assay results, a wide variation in prevalence of infection in asymptomatic subjects was seen between geographic locations ranging from 4–41 %. The prevalence of infection was highest in the Grand Anse, Nord and Sud-Est Departments, and demographic data from questionnaires provide evidence for focal disease transmission. Conclusions The qRT-PCR assay is sufficiently sensitive to identify an unexpectedly large number of asymptomatic, submicroscopic infections. Identifying and clearing these infections presents a significant challenge to both control and elimination efforts, but the qRT-PCR assay offers a reliable method to identify them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha A Elbadry
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. .,Emerging Pathogen Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Basima Al-Khedery
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR), University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | - Massimiliano S Tagliamonte
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | - Charles A Yowell
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | - Christian P Raccurt
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique (LNSP), Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
| | - Alexandre Existe
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique (LNSP), Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique (LNSP), Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
| | - Thomas A Weppelmann
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. .,Emerging Pathogen Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Valery E M Beau De Rochars
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. .,Emerging Pathogen Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. .,Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
| | - Jean F Lemoine
- Programme National de Contrôle de la Malaria, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
| | - Bernard A Okech
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. .,Emerging Pathogen Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - John B Dame
- Emerging Pathogen Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. .,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
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Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in Haiti: Insights from Microsatellite Markers. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140416. [PMID: 26462203 PMCID: PMC4604141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hispaniola, comprising Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has been identified as a candidate for malaria elimination. However, incomplete surveillance data in Haiti hamper efforts to assess the impact of ongoing malaria control interventions. Characteristics of the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum populations can be used to assess parasite transmission, which is information vital to evaluating malaria elimination efforts. Here we characterize the genetic diversity of P. falciparum samples collected from patients at seven sites in Haiti using 12 microsatellite markers previously employed in population genetic analyses of global P. falciparum populations. We measured multiplicity of infections, level of genetic diversity, degree of population geographic substructure, and linkage disequilibrium (defined as non-random association of alleles from different loci). For low transmission populations like Haiti, we expect to see few multiple infections, low levels of genetic diversity, high degree of population structure, and high linkage disequilibrium. In Haiti, we found low levels of multiple infections (12.9%), moderate to high levels of genetic diversity (mean number of alleles per locus = 4.9, heterozygosity = 0.61), low levels of population structure (highest pairwise Fst = 0.09 and no clustering in principal components analysis), and moderate linkage disequilibrium (ISA = 0.05, P<0.0001). In addition, population bottleneck analysis revealed no evidence for a reduction in the P. falciparum population size in Haiti. We conclude that the high level of genetic diversity and lack of evidence for a population bottleneck may suggest that Haiti’s P. falciparum population has been stable and discuss the implications of our results for understanding the impact of malaria control interventions. We also discuss the relevance of parasite population history and other host and vector factors when assessing transmission intensity from genetic diversity data.
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