Prospects for malaria elimination in non-Amazonian regions of Latin America

Abstract

Latin America contributes 1 to 1.2 million clinical malaria cases to the global malaria burden of about 300 million per year. In 21 malaria endemic countries, the population at risk in this region represents less than 10% of the total population exposed worldwide. Factors such as rapid deforestation, inadequate agricultural practices, climate change, political instability, and both increasing parasite drug resistance and vector resistance to insecticides contribute to malaria transmission. Recently, several malaria endemic countries have experienced a significant reduction in numbers of malaria cases. This is most likely due to actions taken by National Malaria Control Programs (NMCP) with the support from international funding agencies. We describe here the research strategies and activities to be undertaken by the Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria (CLAIM), a new research center established for the non-Amazonian region of Latin America by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Throughout a network of countries in the region, initially including Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru, CLAIM will address major gaps in our understanding of changing malaria epidemiology, vector biology and control, and clinical malaria mainly due to Plasmodium vivax. In close partnership with NMCPs, CLAIM seeks to conduct research on how and why malaria is decreasing in many countries of the region as a basis for developing and implementing new strategies that will accelerate malaria elimination.

The Genome of Anopheles darlingi , the main neotropical malaria vector

“…Malaria was once epidemic in most areas in Central and South America (7,77,78). Economic development and the associated environmental changes that have occurred during the 20th century have drastically reduced malaria transmission in subtropical areas.…”

Participatory risk mapping of malaria vector exposure in northern South America using environmental and population data

“…While most mortality and morbidity associated with the disease occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of the Neotropics experience significant case burdens, particularly in the Amazon Basin and western Colombia (Herrera et al, 2012; Oliveira-Ferreira et al, 2010). Unlike Africa, where the principal malaria parasite is Plasmodium falciparum , most cases in Latin America and the Caribbean involve infection by Plasmodium vivax , which may produce relapsing infections in some patients.…”

Susceptibility to insecticides of Anopheles darlingi Root 1840, in two locations of the departments of Santander and Caquetá, Colombia

“…darlingi, el vector de paludismo más importante para Colombia, es relevante si se tiene en cuenta que las circunstancias de transmisión de la malaria registran una dinámica permanente en el país. Los cambios en los ecosistemas derivados del uso del suelo, como son los sistemas agrícolas intensivos, la explotación minera y de petróleo, así como los propiciados por los asentamientos humanos no planificados, donde la pobreza, el bajo nivel educativo y la automedicación son recurrentes, aunados a la influencia por el cambio climático, el debilitamiento de los sistemas de salud en áreas de escasa presencia del Estado, han contribuido Tasas de mortalidad por minuto para a) lambdacialotrina y b) deltametrina, obtenidas mediante metodología CDC para la población de Anopheles darlingi de la Vereda Gerumano, municipio Solano, departamento del Caquetá Sensibilidad a insecticidas de Anopheles darlingi a la aparición de áreas donde la malaria no era un problema de salud pública y a la expansión de las áreas palúdicas reconocidas (21)(22)(23). Ambas localidades están influenciadas por estos aspectos.…”