BackgroundArtemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites are now present across much of mainland Southeast Asia, where ongoing surveys are measuring and mapping their spatial distribution. These efforts require substantial resources. Here we propose a generic ‘smart surveillance’ methodology to identify optimal candidate sites for future sampling and thus map the distribution of artemisinin resistance most efficiently.MethodsThe approach uses the ‘uncertainty’ map generated iteratively by a geostatistical model to determine optimal locations for subsequent sampling.ResultsThe methodology is illustrated using recent data on the prevalence of the K13-propeller polymorphism (a genetic marker of artemisinin resistance) in the Greater Mekong Subregion.ConclusionThis methodology, which has broader application to geostatistical mapping in general, could improve the quality and efficiency of drug resistance mapping and thereby guide practical operations to eliminate malaria in affected areas.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12942-016-0064-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The hematological changes following treatment have been poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the hematological alterations and recovery in plasmodium falciparum -infected patients, treated with Artesunate/Mefloquin. A retrospective study was conducted in Dak Lak province, located in Central highlands Vietnam, between August 2019 and April 2020. All data from 80 patients who were diagnosed with P. falciparum infectionincluding clinical characteristics, and hematological parameters in 42 days follow up -were reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that there were no anemia (p<0.001), no leukopenia (p<0.001), no leukocytosis (p<0.001), but thrombocytopenia (p=0.018) in 80 patients before treatment. There was a slightly decrease in hemoglobin (HGB) at day 7 (p=0.05), then HGB significantly increased at day 42 after treatment (p<0.001). White blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts rapidly recovered at day 7 after treatment (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). This study indicated that malaria patients treated with Artesunate/Mefloquin exhibit important changes in hematological parameters with HGB and PLT counts being the two most important changes before and after treatment. This data could be useful for detection, treatment and prevention of malaria in Vietnam.

No abstract

Estimating malaria parasite density is necessary for disease management, clinical trials and drug efficacy studies. This study was conducted to compare the malaria parasite density among patients using actual white blood cell (WBC) and the assumed WBC counts (8.0 ×109/l). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dak Lak, Vietnam. WBC and asexual malaria parasite counts were performed on blood films. Eighty patients were enrolled. The mean (±SD) of WBCs was 5.84±1.63 ×109/l. The median (IQR) of parasite density using the assumed WBCs (8000 cells/µl) (11057.50 [2388.50-34210.75] rings/µl) was significantly higher than that estimation based on the actual WBC count (6898.61 [1892.12-24623.10] rings/µl) (p<0.001). Therefore, this study recommended the use of actual WBC count to estimate malaria parasite density in P. falciparum -infected patients in Dak Lak, Vietnam.

No abstract