Absence of asymptomatic cases of malaria in a historically endemic indigenous locality of the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay: moving toward elimination

Barrios, Eugenia Duarte de; Russomando, Graciela; Puerto, Florencia del

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0197-2016

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Results indicate that the current elimination strategies and interventions have been effective in interrupting malaria transmission in populations at risk, and asymptomatic and submicroscopic parasitemia cases are an insignificant source of malaria transmission in Bhutan. The observation is in agreement with previous reports from Sri Lanka 28 , 29 , Iran 30 , Soloman Islands 31 and Paraguay 32 . All these reports suggest the reduction of cases of asymptomatic and submicroscopic parasitemia malaria with decreased symptomatic malaria cases in the population at risk.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India

Wangchuk

Gyeltshen

Dorji

et al. 2019

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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In 2018, Bhutan reported 54 cases of malaria, of which six were indigenous, 14 introduced and 34 imported. Considering the continuous reduction in the number of indigenous cases, Bhutan plans to eliminate malaria by 2025 under the Bhutan Malaria Elimination Strategy. The study was conducted to assess the presence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection in both, Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers to guide the elimination strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2016 in 750 Bhutanese people and 473 migrant workers. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections were investigated by using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection based on PCR was 0.27% (95% CI: 0.05–1.07%) among Bhutanese people with a mean age of 43 years old. The proportions of males and females were 45% and 55%, respectively. Among migrant workers, the prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection was 0.42% (95% CI: 0.07–1.69%) with a mean age of 30 years old. The majority of migrant workers were from the neighboring Indian State of West Bengal (57.51%), followed by Assam (12.26%). RDT in both study groups did not detect any plasmodial infection. The presence of a low prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection indicates that the current elimination strategies and interventions are effective.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India

Wangchuk

Gyeltshen

Dorji

et al. 2019

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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“…No case of malaria was detected in this study, similarly with studies conducted in an endemic indigenous locality in Paraguay [ 21 ], endemic area of Bashagard District, Iran [ 22 ] and in China [ 23 ] also showed zero prevalence of human malaria cases. However, there are pockets of cases still reported around Malaysia where Hussin et al [ 6 ] and Ramdzan et al [ 24 ] studies showed prevalence of 16.2% in Peninsular Malaysia and 17.1% of human malaria cases in Sabah among patients attending public health clinic, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Sero-prevalence of malaria and the knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to the prevention of malaria among indigenous people living in the central forest spine in Peninsular Malaysia: a mixed-methods study

Maideen

Rashid

Ahmad

et al. 2022

Malar J

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Background Malaria is still a major public health threat in some parts of the world. Many countries are targeting to achieve malaria free status country. This study aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of malaria and the knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to the prevention of malaria among the indigenous adults living in the central forest spine in Peninsular Malaysia. Methods A mixed method study was conducted in indigenous settlements in 2020. Blood film for malaria parasite (BFMP) was used to diagnose malaria in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. For the qualitative data, in-depth interviews were conducted and data was collected until data saturation was reached. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the predictors after adjusting for confounders. A p-value of < 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Meaningful statements from the in-depth interviews were assigned to the relevant codes using NVivo version 12 software. Results A total of 284 indigenous people participated in the study. The prevalence of malaria in this study was 0%. Those in the middle age group between 25 and 41 years and tested positive for malaria previously were significantly more likely to have better knowledge and attitude scores. Significant correlations were also observed between knowledge-attitude and knowledge-practice. For the qualitative results, most of the respondents were unsure of monkey malaria, but all were aware of human malaria. Conclusion The present study highlighted the absence of malaria in the study population and relatively good knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to the prevention of malaria.

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“…There is a need for a strategy to detect and reduce the number of asymptomatic cases and submicroscopic infections to eliminate malaria in endemic regions. This observation agrees with reports from similar studies conducted in Sri Lanka [ 42 , 43 ], Iran [ 44 ], the Solomon Islands [ 45 ], and Paraguay [ 46 ], which suggest the importance of reducing asymptomatic cases, submicroscopic parasitemia, and symptomatic cases of malaria in at-risk populations to achieve the elimination goal.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Detection through the use of RT-MqPCR of asymptomatic reservoirs of malaria in samples of patients from the indigenous Comarca of Guna Yala, Panama: Essential method to achieve the elimination of malaria

Cáceres Carrera,

Santamaría,

Castillo

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Plasmodium vivax is the main causative agent of malaria in Panama. However, the prevalence of asymptomatic infections in the different endemic regions remains unknown. Understanding the epidemiological behavior of asymptomatic infections is essential for the elimination of malaria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malarial infections in one of the main endemic regions of Panama using multiplex real-time reverse transcription RT-MqPCR. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three communities in the Guna Yala Comarca. A total of 551 thick blood smears and their respective samples on filter paper were collected from volunteers of different ages and sexes from June 20 to 25, 2016. Infections by the Plasmodium spp. were diagnosed using microscopy and RT-MqPCR. All statistical analyses were performed using the R software. Results The average prevalence of asymptomatic infections by P. vivax in the three communities detected by RT-MqPCR was 9.3%, with Ukupa having the highest prevalence (13.4%), followed by Aidirgandi (11.1%) and Irgandi (3.3%). A total of 74 samples were diagnosed as asymptomatic infections using RT-MqPCR. Light microscopy (LM) detected that 17.6% (13/74) of the asymptomatic samples and 82.4% (61/74) were diagnosed as false negatives. A 100% correlation was observed between samples diagnosed using LM and RT-MqPCR. A total of 52.7% (39/74) of the asymptomatic patients were female and 85.1% (63/74) were registered between the ages of 1 and 21 years. Factors associated with asymptomatic infection were community (aOR = 0.38 (95% CI 0.17–0.83), p < 0.001) and age aOR = 0.98 (95% CI 0.97–1.00), p < 0.05); F = 5.38; p < 0.05). Conclusions This study provides novel evidence of the considerable prevalence of asymptomatic P. vivax infections in the endemic region of Kuna Yala, representing a new challenge that requires immediate attention from the National Malaria Program. The results of this study provide essential information for the health authorities responsible for developing new policies. Furthermore, it will allow program administrators to reorient and design effective malaria control strategies that consider asymptomatic infections as a fundamental part of malaria control and move towards fulfilling their commitment to eliminate it.

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Absence of asymptomatic cases of malaria in a historically endemic indigenous locality of the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay: moving toward elimination

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India

Sero-prevalence of malaria and the knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to the prevention of malaria among indigenous people living in the central forest spine in Peninsular Malaysia: a mixed-methods study

Detection through the use of RT-MqPCR of asymptomatic reservoirs of malaria in samples of patients from the indigenous Comarca of Guna Yala, Panama: Essential method to achieve the elimination of malaria

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