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Kattenberg JH, Erhart A, Truong MH, Rovira-Vallbona E, Vu KAD, Nguyen THN, Nguyen VH, Nguyen VV, Bannister-Tyrrell M, Theisen M, Bennet A, Lover AA, Tran TD, Nguyen XX, Rosanas-Urgell A. Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax recent exposure in an area of significantly decreased transmission intensity in Central Vietnam. Malar J 2018; 17:180. [PMID: 29703200 PMCID: PMC5923009 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2326-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Vietnam, malaria transmission has been reduced to very low levels over the past 20 years, and as a consequence, the country aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. This study aimed to characterize the dynamics and extent of the parasite reservoir in Central Vietnam, in order to further target elimination strategies and surveillance. Methods A 1-year prospective cohort study (n = 429) was performed in three rural communities in Quang Nam province. Six malaria screenings were conducted between November 2014 and November 2015, including systematic clinical examination and blood sampling for malaria parasite identification, as well as molecular and serological analysis of the study population. Malaria infections were detected by light microscopy (LM) and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), while exposure to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was measured in the first and last survey by ELISA for PfAMA1, PfGLURP R2, PvAMA1, and PvMSP1-19. Classification and regression trees were used to define seropositivity and recent exposure. Results Four malaria infections (2 P. falciparum, 2 P. vivax) were detected in the same village by qPCR and/or LM. No fever cases were attributable to malaria. At the same time, the commune health centre (serving a larger area) reported few cases of confirmed malaria cases. Nevertheless, serological data proved that 13.5% of the surveyed population was exposed to P. falciparum and/or P. vivax parasites during the study period, of which 32.6% were seronegative at the start of the study, indicating ongoing transmission in the area. Risk factor analysis for seroprevalence and exposure to P. falciparum and/or P. vivax identified structural or economic risk factors and activity/behaviour-related factors, as well as spatial heterogeneity at the village level. Conclusions Previous studies in Central Vietnam demonstrated high occurrence of asymptomatic and sub-microscopic infections. However, in this study very few asymptomatic infections were detected despite serological evidence of continued transmission. Nonetheless, the factors associated with spatial heterogeneity in transmission could be evaluated using serological classification of recent exposure, which supports the usefulness of serological methods to monitor malaria transmission. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2326-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annette Erhart
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,MRC Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.,Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Minh Hieu Truong
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Khac Anh Dung Vu
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thi Hong Ngoc Nguyen
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Van Hong Nguyen
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Van Van Nguyen
- Provincial Malaria Station Quang Nam/Center for Malaria and Goitre Control, Quang Nam Province, Tam Ky, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Adam Bennet
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Andrew A Lover
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Thanh Duong Tran
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Xuan Xa Nguyen
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam, Luong The Vinh Street 245-Trung Van, BC 10.200 Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Anna Rosanas-Urgell
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Greenman JV, Adams B. The exclusion problem in seasonally forced epidemiological systems. J Theor Biol 2014; 367:49-60. [PMID: 25437346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The pathogen exclusion problem is the problem of finding control measures that will exclude a pathogen from an ecological system or, if the system is already disease-free, maintain it in that state. To solve this problem we work within a holistic control theory framework which is consistent with conventional theory for simple systems (where there is no external forcing and constant controls) and seamlessly generalises to complex systems that are subject to multiple component seasonal forcing and targeted variable controls. We develop, customise and integrate a range of numerical and algebraic procedures that provide a coherent methodology powerful enough to solve the exclusion problem in the general case. An important aspect of our solution procedure is its two-stage structure which reveals the epidemiological consequences of the controls used for exclusion. This information augments technical and economic considerations in the design of an acceptable exclusion strategy. Our methodology is used in two examples to show how time-varying controls can exploit the interference and reinforcement created by the external and internal lag structure and encourage the system to 'take over' some of the exclusion effort. On-off control switching, resonant amplification, optimality and controllability are important issues that emerge in the discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J V Greenman
- Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
| | - B Adams
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Churcher TS, Bousema T, Walker M, Drakeley C, Schneider P, Ouédraogo AL, Basáñez MG. Predicting mosquito infection from Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte density and estimating the reservoir of infection. eLife 2013; 2:e00626. [PMID: 23705071 PMCID: PMC3660740 DOI: 10.7554/elife.00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission reduction is a key component of global efforts to control and eliminate malaria; yet, it is unclear how the density of transmission stages (gametocytes) influences infection (proportion of mosquitoes infected). Human to mosquito transmission was assessed using 171 direct mosquito feeding assays conducted in Burkina Faso and Kenya. Plasmodiumfalciparum infects Anopheles gambiae efficiently at low densities (4% mosquitoes at 1/µl blood), although substantially more (>200/µl) are required to increase infection further. In a site in Burkina Faso, children harbour more gametocytes than adults though the non-linear relationship between gametocyte density and mosquito infection means that (per person) they only contribute slightly more to transmission. This method can be used to determine the reservoir of infection in different endemic settings. Interventions reducing gametocyte density need to be highly effective in order to halt human–mosquito transmission, although their use can be optimised by targeting those contributing the most to transmission. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00626.001 Malaria is one of the world’s most deadly infectious diseases. The most severe form is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which can reside within red blood cells and thus evade the human immune system. Plasmodium is transmitted between humans by mosquitoes. When a mosquito takes a blood meal from an individual infected with the parasite, the insect ingests Plasmodium gametocytes (i.e., eggs and sperm), and these go on to reproduce in the gut of the mosquito. These parasites then move to the mosquito’s salivary glands, to be injected into the next person whom the mosquito bites. Although malaria is both preventable and curable, the mortality rates in many African countries remain high, especially among children. Reducing the transmission of malaria to mosquitoes is one of the primary goals in the global effort to control and eliminate the disease. While a range of drugs and vaccines that specifically try to reduce transmission are in development, non-medical interventions such as mosquito nets and insecticide spraying can quickly and effectively reduce infection rates. Here, Churcher et al. examine the dynamics of human to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and report that the ease with which mosquitoes become infected is not directly proportional to the density of parasite gametocytes in human blood. They found that the transmission occurs readily at very low gametocyte densities. Moreover, the transmission rate remains relatively stable as the density increases, before increasing significantly when the density reaches around 200 cells per microlitre. Churcher et al. also challenge the assumption that children are mostly responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite by suggesting that, in certain locations, there is a more significant role for adults than previously assumed. By identifying the groups that contribute most to transmission, and targeting resources to reduce gametocyte density in those individuals, it could be possible to greatly reduce the number of infected mosquitoes and, therefore, the number of infected humans. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00626.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Churcher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology , Imperial College London , London , United Kingdom
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