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Siddig EE, Mohamed NS, Ahmed A. Severe coinfection of dengue and malaria: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2024; 12:e9079. [PMID: 38868112 PMCID: PMC11166561 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.9079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Key Clinical Message In countries like Sudan, where several infectious diseases are prevalent, health care providers should not be satisfied with initial detection of a single pathogen and whenever it is feasible, they should investigate coinfections. Infections with high mortality or severe morbidity should be prioritized during the differential diagnosis particularly for diseases with similar clinical manifestations to reduce the death and disability rates. However, this requires substantial improvement in the diagnostic capacity. Abstract Here we report a case of dengue and malaria coinfection from the southeast region of Sudan, bordering Ethiopia and Eritrea. A 25-year-old male from Sudan presented with symptoms of fever, chills, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain. Laboratory investigations confirmed a coinfection of dengue and malaria, which is assumingly not uncommon in areas heavily syndemic with several diseases but it is severely under-detected, underreported, and underestimated. The case has fully recovered after the supportive care for dengue and chemotherapy treatment for malaria. In such a case, it was important to monitor the patient's recovery and the treatment outcome through clinical indicators and laboratory parameters to update the treatment course whenever needed, according to response. The increasing burden and outbreaks of vector-borne diseases including dengue and malaria in Sudan, indicates the need for improving the implementation of the global vector control response that established by the World Health Organization. Additionally, the increasing prevalent of coinfections is urging substantial improvement in the diagnostic capacity in endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Edwar Siddig
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory SciencesUniversity of KhartoumKhartoumSudan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious DiseasesErasmusMC, University Medical Center RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Nouh Saad Mohamed
- Molecular Biology UnitSirius Training and Research CentreKhartoumSudan
| | - Ayman Ahmed
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)AllschwilSwitzerland
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesUniversity of KhartoumKhartoumSudan
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Altahir O, AbdElbagi H, Abubakr M, Siddig EE, Ahmed A, Mohamed NS. Blood meal profile and positivity rate with malaria parasites among different malaria vectors in Sudan. Malar J 2022; 21:124. [PMID: 35428264 PMCID: PMC9013081 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04157-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is a life-threatening public health problem globally with particularly heavy burden in the sub-Saharan Africa including Sudan. The understanding of feeding preference of malaria vectors on different hosts is a major challenge for hindering the transmission cycle of malaria. In this study, blood meals taken by blood-fed Anopheles mosquitoes collected from the field in malaria endemic areas of Sudan were analysed for source of blood meal and malaria parasite presence. Methods Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from different regions in Sudan: Khartoum state, Sennar state, Northern state, and El Gedarif state between September 2020 and February 2021. Anopheles mosquitoes were collected using the standard pyrethrum spray catch and back-pack aspirator. Mosquito samples were sorted and morphologically identified to species level using international identification keys. Morphologically identified mosquito species were also confirmed using PCR. Genomic DNA was extracted from mosquitoes for molecular identification of blood meal source and parasite detection. The presence of Plasmodium species DNA in each mosquito sample was investigated using semi-nested PCR. Frequency of each blood meal source, Anopheles mosquito vector, and malaria parasite detected was calculated. Positivity rate of each fed female Anopheles mosquito was calculated for each species. Results A total of 2132 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected. 571 (26.8%) were males and 1561 (73.2%) were females classified based on their abdominal status into 1048 (67.1%) gravid, 274 (17.6%) fed, and 239 (15.3%) unfed females. Among the blood fed Anopheles mosquitoes, 263 (96.0%) were morphologically identified and confirmed using PCR to Anopheles arabiensis, 9 (3.3%) to Anopheles stephensi, and 2 (0.7%) to Anopheles rufipes. Of 274 blood-fed An. arabiensis, 68 (25.9%) fed on mixed blood meals from human and cattle, 8 (3.0%) fed on cattle and goat, and 13 (4.8%) fed on human, cattle and goat. For single blood meal sources, 70 (26.6%) fed on human, 95 (36.1%) fed on cattle, 8 (3.0%) fed on goat, and 1 (0.4%) fed on dog. While An. rufipes and An. stephensi fed on dog (2; 0.75%) and cattle (9; 3.3%), respectively. Plasmodium parasite detection in the blood meals showed that 25/274 (9.1%) An. arabiensis meals were positive for Plasmodium vivax and 19/274 (6.9%) An. arabiensis meals were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. The rate of positivity of An. arabiensis with any Plasmodium species was 16.7%. However, the positivity rate with P. falciparum only was 7.2%, while P. vivax was 9.5%. Both An. rufipes and An. stephensi were having positivity rates of 0.0% each. Conclusions This study which was mainly on blood-fed Anopheles mosquitoes showed a diversity in the type of diet from human, cattle, and goat. Anopheles mosquitoes especially An. arabiensis in Sudan, are opportunistic blood feeders and can feed broadly on both human and cattle. The application of blood meal identification is not only important in malaria vector epidemiological surveillance but also is very useful in areas where arthropods exhibit zoophilic feeding behaviour for mammals.
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Huang F, Cui Y, Yan H, Liu H, Guo X, Wang G, Zhou S, Xia Z. Prevalence of antifolate drug resistance markers in Plasmodium vivax in China. Front Med 2022; 16:83-92. [PMID: 35257293 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-021-0894-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthetase (dhps) genes of Plasmodium vivax, as antifolate resistance-associated genes were used for drug resistance surveillance. A total of 375 P. vivax isolates collected from different geographical locations in China in 2009-2019 were used to sequence Pvdhfr and Pvdhps. The majority of the isolates harbored a mutant type allele for Pvdhfr (94.5%) and Pvdhps (68.2%). The most predominant point mutations were S117T/N (77.7%) in Pvdhfr and A383G (66.8%) in Pvdhps. Amino acid changes were identified at nine residues in Pvdhfr. A quadruple-mutant haplotype at 57, 58, 61, and 117 was the most frequent (57.4%) among 16 distinct Pvdhfr haplotypes. Mutations in Pvdhps were detected at six codons, and the double-mutant A383G/A553G was the most prevalent (39.3%). Pvdhfr exhibited a higher mutation prevalence and greater diversity than Pvdhps in China. Most isolates from Yunnan carried multiple mutant haplotypes, while the majority of samples from temperate regions and Hainan Island harbored the wild type or single mutant type. This study indicated that the antifolate resistance levels of P. vivax parasites were different across China and molecular markers could be used to rapidly monitor drug resistance. Results provided evidence for updating national drug policy and treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Huang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology (National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Yanwen Cui
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology (National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - He Yan
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology (National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Yunnan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Puer, 665000, China
| | - Xiangrui Guo
- Yingjiang County for Disease Control and Prevention, Yingjiang, 679300, China
| | - Guangze Wang
- Hainan Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Haikou, 570203, China
| | - Shuisen Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology (National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhigui Xia
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Centre for International Research on Tropical Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology (National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Shanghai, 200025, China
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Abubakr M, Sami H, Mahdi I, Altahir O, Abdelbagi H, Mohamed NS, Ahmed A. The Phylodynamic and Spread of the Invasive Asian Malaria Vectors, Anopheles stephensi, in Sudan. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030409. [PMID: 35336783 PMCID: PMC8945054 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Climate change increases the suitability of some environments for the establishment of newly introduced insects and is a major driver for the spread of mosquitoes that transmit diseases. Anopheles stephensi is a disease vector mosquito that transmits malaria and is naturally endemic in Asia. This vector newly emerged in Africa (first report from Djibouti in 2012), where annual malaria infections and deaths are the highest worldwide. This mosquito has different ecology and behavior from previously known malaria vectors in Africa, which makes control difficult for local under-resourced health systems. Considering the capacity of this vector to transmit at least two malaria-causing parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax), we investigated its distribution and population structure in Sudan and assessed the potential risk of its further spread into neighboring countries. Using morphological and genomic sequencing techniques, we confirmed the presence of Anopheles stephensi along the borders of six countries previously assumed as free, including Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Republic of Central Africa, and South Sudan. African countries need to enhance vector surveillance and control services and utilize genomics tools for tracking the dynamics of invasive disease vectors. Abstract Anopheles stephensi is an invasive Asian malaria vector that initially emerged in Africa in 2012 and was reported in Sudan in 2019. We investigated the distribution and population structure of An. stephensi throughout Sudan by using sequencing and molecular tools. We confirmed the presence of An. stephensi in eight border-states, identifying both natural and human-made breeding sites. Our analysis revealed the presence of 20 haplotypes with different distributions per state. This study revealed a countrywide spread of An. stephensi in Sudan, with confirmed presence in borders states with Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Republic of Central Africa, and South Sudan. Detection of An. stephensi at points of entry with these countries, particularly Chad, Libya, and South Sudan, indicates the rapid previously undetected spread of this invasive vector. Our phylogenetic and haplotype analysis suggested local establishment and evolutionary adaptation of the vector to different ecological and environmental conditions in Sudan. Urgent engagement of the global community is essential to control and prevent further spread into Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Abubakr
- Directorate of the Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.A.); (H.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Hamza Sami
- Directorate of the Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.A.); (H.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Isam Mahdi
- Directorate of the Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.A.); (H.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Omnia Altahir
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (O.A.); (H.A.); (N.S.M.)
| | - Hanadi Abdelbagi
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (O.A.); (H.A.); (N.S.M.)
| | - Nouh Saad Mohamed
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (O.A.); (H.A.); (N.S.M.)
| | - Ayman Ahmed
- Directorate of the Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.A.); (H.S.); (I.M.)
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (O.A.); (H.A.); (N.S.M.)
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +249-123997091
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Mohamed NS, AbdElbagi H, Elsadig AR, Ahmed AE, Mohammed YO, Elssir LT, Elnour MAB, Ali Y, Ali MS, Altahir O, Abubakr M, Siddig EE, Ahmed A, Omer RA. Assessment of genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein in Sudan: the RTS,S leading malaria vaccine candidate. Malar J 2021; 20:436. [PMID: 34758827 PMCID: PMC8579544 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03971-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The currently used malaria vaccine, RTS,S, is designed based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). The pfcsp gene, besides having different polymorphic patterns, can vary between P. falciparum isolates due to geographical origin and host immune response. Such aspects are essential when considering the deployment of the RTS,S vaccine in a certain region. Therefore, this study assessed the genetic diversity of P. falciparum in Sudan based on the pfcsp gene by investigating the diversity at the N-terminal, central repeat, and the C-terminal regions. Methods A cross-sectional molecular study was conducted; P. falciparum isolates were collected from different health centres in Khartoum State between January and December 2019. During the study period, a total of 261 febrile patients were recruited. Malaria diagnosis was made by expert microscopists using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. DNA samples were examined by the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Single clonal infection of the confirmed P. falciparum cases, were used to amplify the pfcsp gene. The amplified amplicons of pfcsp have been sequenced using the Sanger dideoxy method. The obtained sequences of pfcsp nucleotide diversity parameters including the numbers of haplotypes (Hap), haplotypes diversity (Hapd), the average number of nucleotide differences between two sequences (p), and the numbers of segregating sites (S) were obtained. The haplotype networks were constructed using the online tcsBU software. Natural selection theory was also tested on pfcsp using Fuand Li’s D, Fuand Li’s F statistics, and Tajima’s D test using DnaSP. Results In comparison with the different pfcsp reference strains, the Sudanese isolates showed high similarity with other African isolates. The results of the N-terminal region showed the presence of 2 different haplotypes with a Hapd of 0.425 ± 0.00727. The presence of the unique insertion of NNNGDNGREGKDEDKRDGNN was reported. The KLKQP motif was conserved in all the studied isolates. At the central repeat region, 11 haplotypes were seen with a Hapd of 0.779 ± 0.00097. The analysis of the genetic diversity in the C-terminal region showed the presence of 10 haplotypes with a Hapd of 0.457 ± 0.073. Several non-synonymous amino acids changes were also seen at the Th2R and the Th3R T-cell epitope regions including T317K, E317K, Q318E, K321N, I322K, T322K, R322K, K324Q, I327L, G352N, S354P, R355K, N356D, Q357E, and E361A. Conclusions In this study, the results indicated a high conservation at the pfcsp gene. This may further contribute in understanding the genetic polymorphisms of P. falciparum prior to the deployment of the RTS,S vaccine in Sudan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouh Saad Mohamed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan. .,Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Hanadi AbdElbagi
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | | | - Yassir Osman Mohammed
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Lubna Taj Elssir
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohammed-Ahmed B Elnour
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Yousif Ali
- Health Emergencies and Epidemics Control General Directorate, Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed S Ali
- Faculty of Medicine, EL-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Omnia Altahir
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mustafa Abubakr
- Department of the Integrated Vector Management (IVM), Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Ayman Ahmed
- Molecular Biology Unit, Sirius Training and Research Centre, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rihab Ali Omer
- Pediatric Epidemiology, Clinic and Polyclinic for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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