Malaria Journal最新文献

{"title":"Recurrent parasitemias with artemisinin partial resistance mutations during the 2024 Ethiopia malaria resurgence: a case series.","authors":"Dessalegn Geleta, Bokretsion G Brhane, Adugna Abera, Mahlet Belachew, Heven Sime, Atsbeha Gebreegziaxher, Melak Getu, Abraham Ali, Neamin Tesfay, Medhanye Habtetsion, Belayneh Kokobe, Mandefro Kebede, Zemene Worku, Geremew Tasew, Gemechu Tadesse, Getachew Tollera, Abebe A Fola, Jeffrey A Bailey, Jonathan J Juliano, Jonathan B Parr, Melkamu Abte, Ashenafi Assefa","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06078-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06078-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ethiopia experienced a marked resurgence of malaria in 2024. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria and are threatened by the emergence of artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R), which is associated with mutations in the P. falciparum kelch13 (k13) gene, that could undermine treatment efficacy and accelerate transmission.</p><p><strong>Methods and material: </strong>The study was conducted as part of country wide resurgence response. We used the national Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) surveillance system to characterize malaria resurgence and further investigate antimalarial drug resistance markers among cases of recurrent clinical malaria in two selected resurgence sites in central Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Parasite isolates from 15 patients with confirmed clinical, recurrent P. falciparum malaria were genotyped for molecular markers associated with drug resistance, including mutations in pfk13, pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, and pfdhps using PfSMARRTer multiplex amplicon sequencing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Clinical presentation and treatment history were reviewed alongside genotyping results. Three patients (3/15, 20%) with confirmed recurrence were infected by parasites carrying the WHO-candidate ART-R molecular marker K13 P441L. Markers of resistance to other antimalarial drugs were nearly fixed in the population. These cases occurred in the context of increasing malaria incidence, with evidence of clonal expansion or dominance of a related lineage. The findings indicate the presence of ACT resistance-associated markers within genetically heterogeneous parasite populations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current study documents cases of recurrent parasitemia caused by P. falciparum with K13 P441L during the malaria resurgence in Gelana district of the Oromia region, Ethiopia. The detection of multiple independent resistance markers suggests ongoing drug pressure on first-line treatments. These findings underscore the need for strengthened molecular surveillance integrated with routine case monitoring to inform treatment policy and support malaria control and elimination efforts in Ethiopia.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmaceutical quality of artemether-lumefantrine in Rwanda's public health supply chain: a cross-sectional post-market surveillance study.","authors":"Robert Rutayisire, Aline Uwimana, Nadine Rujeni, Ella Larissa Ndoricyimpaye, Lazare Ntirenganya, Celine Caillet, Mehul Dhorda, Leon Mutesa","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06063-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06063-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Substandard and falsified (S&F) antimalarial medicines undermine malaria control efforts across sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 19% of antimalarials failing to meet quality standards and contributing to 40,000-160,000 preventable deaths annually. ACTs, particularly artemether-lumefantrine (AL), are the cornerstone of malaria treatment, yet their effectiveness is threatened by poor pharmaceutical quality and emerging drug resistance. This study evaluated the pharmaceutical quality of AL circulating in Rwanda's public health supply chain to assess compliance with international pharmacopeial standards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2023 across eight districts representing all five provinces of Rwanda and encompassing both high- and low-malaria transmission settings. A total of 19 samples (3588 AL tablets) were sampled from three supply chain levels: Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS) headquarters and district branches, health centers, and Community Health Workers. Samples underwent comprehensive quality testing at a WHO-recognized laboratory, including visual inspection, tablet weight determination, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for artemether and lumefantrine content (acceptance range: 95.0-105.0%), and dissolution testing using pharmacopeial methods. The study followed Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guidelines (MEDQUARG) guidelines for medicine quality surveillance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 19 samples (3588 tablets, 100%) met international pharmacopeial quality standards across all testing parameters. Visual inspection revealed no packaging defects, labeling errors, or tablet abnormalities. Tablet weight uniformity complied with specifications for both dispersible tablets (mean: 356.27 mg; range: 355.04-357.65 mg; specification: 339.50-360.50 mg) and regular tablets (mean: 241.63 mg; range: 239.79-242.72 mg). Artemether assay values ranged from 97.3 to 99.4% (mean: 98.7%), while lumefantrine ranged from 97.3 to 104.3% (mean: 99.2%), with all samples meeting the 95.0-105.0% acceptance criteria. Dissolution testing demonstrated 100% compliance for both active pharmaceutical ingredients across all samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>All AL samples met international quality standards, contrasting with sub-Saharan Africa's 19% failure rate. Rwanda's centralized procurement, regulatory oversight, and WHO-prequalified sourcing demonstrate a replicable model for ensuring antimalarial quality and combating drug resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13637200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149111563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design matters: structural variation in experimental huts significantly alters entomological endpoints in insecticide treated net (ITN) evaluation -a comparative experimental hut trial using a latin square design in Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire.","authors":"Alphonce A Assenga, John Bradley, Ludovic P Ahoua Alou, Raphael N'Guessan, Alphonsine A Koffi, Graham Small, Janneke Snetselaar, Jason Moore, Sarah J Moore","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Experimental huts are the gold standard for the semi-field evaluation of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) but the design of the huts used varies markedly between sites. Structural differences may influence mosquito behaviour - and, consequently, the measured efficacy of ITNs. This raises concerns about the comparability, validity, and policy relevance of trial outcomes. We assessed the influence of four commonly used hut designs on entomological endpoints central to ITN evaluations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 126-night comparative trial was conducted in Tanzania, using 18 experimental huts in two contiguous 9 × 9 Latin squares. Four hut types-East African, West African, Ifakara, and Rapley-were tested with PRONet Duo, Interceptor^® G2, MAGNet^®, and untreated nets. Sleepers and treatments were rotated throughout the trial. The primary outcome was 72-h mortality (M72); secondary outcomes were mosquito density, blood-feeding success, and exiting. Endpoint estimates for each hut type were compared using East African huts as the reference. Non-inferiority analysis of PRONet Duo in each hut type were compared with findings from a sister trial conducted exclusively in West African huts in West Africa.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 22611 Anopheles gambiae s.l. (99.9% An. arabiensis) were collected. Rapley and Ifakara huts captured over six times more mosquitoes than East African huts (rate ratio [RR] = 6.50 and 6.22, respectively; both p < 0.0001), whereas West African huts caught 88% fewer mosquitoes (RR = 0.12, p < 0.0001). West African huts recorded the highest mortality (70%) and blood feeding (15%) whilst the other hut types recorded 40-46% mortality and 3-8% blood feeding. All hut designs and the West African sister trial detected the same direction of effect between PRONet Duo and Interceptor^® G2 and predicted non-inferiority of PRONet Duo, although smaller sample sizes limited statistical certainty in East African and West African huts in Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Experimental hut design substantially affected key entomological outcomes, influencing both the magnitude of measured efficacy of ITNs and the statistical power of trials. Whilst relative product performance was broadly consistent across designs, absolute values varied widely, underscoring the need for greater standardisation of hut architecture in ITN evaluations. Harmonising experimental hut designs and reporting standards would strengthen cross-site comparability, improving the reliability of vector control product assessments, and enhancing the evidence base for global malaria control policy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13450459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148689390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A qualitative study exploring factors associated with the accuracy of recording malaria rapid diagnostic test results in two high-burden regions of Côte d'Ivoire.","authors":"Orphée M A Kouakou, Valérie A Bédia-Tanoh, Annie Arnzen, Abibatou Konaté-Toure, Saadjo Sow, Antoine M Tanoh, Michael Humes, Kevin Griffith, Kim A Lindblade, William Yavo","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06053-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06053-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>While the expanded use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in Sub-Saharan Africa has improved testing rates, healthcare workers do not always adhere to results or report them accurately. Because misrecording RDT results compromises malaria surveillance, this study identified factors associated with providers' guideline adherence and accurate RDT reporting in in two high-burden regions in Côte d'Ivoire.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study was embedded within a mixed-methods evaluation of RDT reporting and recording accuracy called the Malaria RDT Capture and Reporting Assessment (MaCRA). Healthcare workers performed RDTs for patients with suspected malaria and recorded interpretations in registers. RDTs were photographed and independently read by an external panel; agreement was measured using Cohen's kappa. Sixteen healthcare workers (eight high agreement, eight low agreement) with ≥ 75 recorded results were purposively selected across regions and districts. Semi-structured interviews in French covered RDT knowledge, perceived self-efficacy for performing and interpreting RDTs, perceived risks, subjective norms, guidelines, and health system context. Blinded analysts coded transcripts in NVivo using deductive and inductive approaches to compare themes between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Perceptions of RDT reliability, particularly confidence in negative results for symptomatic patients, was the primary differentiator between groups. Low-agreement participants more frequently feared false-negative results and severe consequences of failing to provide antimalarials, contributing to prescribing antimalarials after a negative RDT. Several described deliberate misrecording to align registers with treatment decisions, including changing negative results to positive or omitting antimalarial documentation to avoid scrutiny. Conversely, some high-agreement participants documented these cases as \"presumed\" malaria rather than falsifying results.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Differences in guideline adherence and RDT recording were driven by risk perceptions and confidence in results rather than a lack of procedural knowledge, guideline access, or supply constraints. Interventions should target clinical decision-making for RDT-negative fevers through supportive supervision, expand non-malarial diagnostic options, and strengthen documentation systems to record non-adherence transparently and without incentivizing misreporting.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13682046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149224258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health system readiness-the neglected catalyst in Malaria elimination.","authors":"Win Htike, Win Han Oo, Catherine M Bennett, Paul A Agius, Alyssa E Barry, Freya J I Fowkes","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06059-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06059-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>While strong political commitment and robust technical strategies are essential to drive malaria elimination, the readiness of national health systems ultimately determines whether these commitments can be successfully translated into action.</p><p><strong>Main text: </strong>Without adequate preparation, gaps in the health system can undermine the transition from malaria burden reduction to elimination policies, reduce the effectiveness of interventions, and jeopardise progress toward achieving zero local transmission of malaria. Despite its critical importance, there is currently no systematic and comprehensive approach for assessing health system readiness for malaria elimination. This paper highlights the consequences of unprepared health systems and the urgent need for standardised, structured, comprehensive readiness assessments that would enable policymakers and programme managers to systematically evaluate health system readiness for malaria elimination at national and subnational levels, identify and address critical gaps, and strengthen the health systems. These efforts will support sustained elimination and achieve WHO-certified malaria elimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13682027/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149224290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Sudanese medical professionals regarding the 2023 Sudan malaria treatment protocol: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yousif Omer Elgaili Yousif, Rayan Mohamed Issa Kheerallah, Maab Khalifa Mohamed Ahmed, Khadiga Mansoor Ali Bakheit, Azza Omer Osman Abdelrahman, Hind Elmukashfi ShamsEldin Elobied, Sittia Basil Hassan Ali, Srraa Abdelrasoul Elnour Ismail, Sahl Muawia Elbsri Elshaikh, Tarik Abdulrahim Ahmed Yousif, Adam Elnour Mohamed Ibrahim, Ahmed Eltayeb Ali Hassan, Mahmoud Alballa Almahdi Alhag, Faisal Rhma Ismail Adam, Omer Elgaili Yousif Elhag, Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06064-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06064-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Sudan, primarily driven by Plasmodium falciparum. Timely and effective case management is critical, necessitating high adherence to the newly issued Sudan Malaria Case Management Protocol 2023. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and current practices of Sudanese medical professionals regarding this 2023 protocol.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in 2024-2025. A convenience sample of 371 currently practicing Sudanese medical professionals was recruited and surveyed. Data were analyzed to identify levels of awareness and adherence, as well as the major barriers to protocol implementation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High awareness was reported, with 67.9% of participants knowing about the 2023 protocol. Knowledge of first-line treatments was strong, with 93.5% correctly identifying Artemether-Lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria and 83.0% correctly identifying Intravenous Artesunate for severe malaria. However, a significant gap in formal training was observed: 69.5% of participants reported no formal training on the new protocol. Furthermore, only 41.5% reported \"always\" adhering to the protocol in their practice. The major reported barriers included lack of formal training (55.8%) and lack of resources (53.4%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although the 2023 protocol is well-regarded as an improvement, and knowledge of key recommendations is high, its potential is limited by significant implementation challenges. Translating awareness into effective clinical practice requires immediate, comprehensive interventions, including structured training and addressing resource shortages.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13678900/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149220250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The burden of malaria and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Mozambique: a nationwide cross‑sectional survey.","authors":"Jovinary Adam, Isabelle Munyangaju, Syabo Mwaisengela, Hawa Mbawala, Pankras Luoga","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06070-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06070-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age in Mozambique despite ongoing prevention and control interventions. Understanding the sociodemographic and household factors associated with malaria is essential for designing targeted public health strategies. This study aimed to determine the burden of malaria and identify its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Mozambique.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used secondary data from the nationally representative 2022-23 Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted sample of 4,016 children aged 6-59 months who underwent malaria rapid diagnostic testing (mRDT) was included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants' characteristics and estimate malaria prevalence. Associations between malaria and independent variables were assessed using modified Poisson regression with robust variance estimation. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall prevalence of malaria among children aged 6-59 months was 32.3% (95% CI 29.1-35.7), with marked regional variation ranging from 0% in Cidade de Maputo to 54.7% in Nampula Province. In the multivariable analysis, malaria was independently associated with older child age (24-59 months) (APR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.42-1.76), rural residence (APR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.10-1.68), maternal primary education (APR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.52-2.81), informal maternal education (APR = 2.04; 95% CI 1.49-2.78), unimproved roof materials (APR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.07-1.56), middle wealth status (APR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.43-2.70), poor wealth status (APR = 2.41; 95% CI 1.73-3.37), anemia (APR = 2.89; 95% CI 2.42-3.45), malnutrition (APR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.02-1.21), residence in the central zone (APR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.41-2.64), and residence in the northern zone (APR = 3.06; 95% CI 2.24-4.19).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malaria remains highly prevalent among Mozambican children and is strongly associated with socioeconomic and household conditions. Bold, integrated, and equity-driven action that strengthens health systems, addresses social determinants, and protects the most vulnerable children are urgently required.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13679097/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149220268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A target product profile for a rapid diagnostic test to monitor mosquito gene drive presence and frequency.","authors":"Prateek Verma, Sebald Verkuijl, Calvin K Yee, Filippo Randazzo, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Jonathan Kayondo, Nikolai Windbichler, Michael R Santos, Frédéric Tripet, John M Marshall","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06065-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06065-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains a major global health challenge, with over 263 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths reported in 2023, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. While conventional interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying and antimalarial drugs have reduced transmission, progress has stalled due to the limitations of these interventions and the emergence of resistance. Gene drive-modified mosquitoes represent a promising, potentially transformative vector control strategy, capable of spreading malaria-refractory traits or suppressing mosquito populations. Successful field deployment will depend upon monitoring systems to track the presence and frequency of gene drive constructs as they spread and persist. Current molecular surveillance techniques, though effective, are resource-intensive and reliant on laboratory infrastructure and technical competencies. Here, we make the case for a near-universal and low-cost rapid diagnostic test (RDT) designed to detect gene drive mosquitoes in the field, to complement existing surveillance infrastructure. Two use cases are outlined: (i) to detect the presence of the drive construct in a new population, and (ii) to provide an estimate of drive frequency prior to more accurate laboratory-based measurements. We provide a target product profile for the RDT outlining minimally essential and ideal characteristics, including test procedures, sensitivity, specificity, usability by a range of stakeholders in field settings, and compatibility with pooled testing of mosquito samples. An RDT for gene drive construct detection would support community access and participation in monitoring, enhance regulatory oversight, and promote transparency in field trials, thereby facilitating responsible deployment of gene drive-based malaria interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13679231/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149220295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria prevention practice and associated factors among residents in Fogera district, Ethiopia, during the armed conflict between Amhara Fano forces and the federal government, 2025.","authors":"Masresha Kassaw Ewinetu, Bekalu Mekonen Belay, Yirgalem Abere","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06035-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06035-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria is continuously a great health challenge in Ethiopia, which is worst during armed conflict. Hence, continuous malaria prevention practice is very essential. However, there is no evidence of malaria prevention practices among the residents in Ethiopia during armed conflict. Thus, this study aimed to provide tangible evidence regarding malaria prevention practices and associated factors among residents in Fogera district, Ethiopia, during the armed conflict between Amhara Fano and the federal government, 2025.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among residents in Fogera district from September 1-30, 2025. Multistage sampling was applied to select households. The data was collected by trained nurses via face-to-face interview and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Data were summarized with frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation for both continuous and categorical variables. All predictors with a p-value of less than 0.25 in bi-variable analysis were entered in to multivariable logistic regression to control the confounding effect. An AOR with 95% CI and a p-value of < 0.05 was used to announce statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A total of 804 participants were included with a 99.5% response rate. 48% of respondents had good practice of malaria prevention and control interventions. Predictors including male gender (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.10-1.81), urban residence (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01-5.92), having bed net (AOR = 6.91, 95% CI 3.79-8.59) and adequate knowledge (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.34-4.03) were significantly associated with malaria prevention practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Almost half of the residents had poor practice of malaria prevention and control methods and one-third of the participants had no bed net. Hence, health officials and partners need to give more attention by providing ongoing supervision, support and access to a bed net.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13390461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148549617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lumefantrine quantification on pre-treated filter paper dried blood spots for clinical field trials.","authors":"Daniel Blessborn, Natpapat Kaewkhao, Joel Tarning","doi":"10.1186/s12936-026-06048-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-026-06048-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artemether-lumefantrine is the most widely used antimalarial treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Malaria predominantly affects populations in rural areas of tropical and subtropical regions. Drug resistance is a growing concern, and monitoring antimalarial efficacy remains crucial for detecting changes in treatment performance and tracking potential resistance trends. In this study, we present an efficient method for collecting blood samples in resource-limited settings, using dried blood spots on pre-treated filter paper, which enhances the stability of lumefantrine. This approach builds on previous methods by incorporating rapid sample processing through semi-automated punching robots for 96-well plate formats, quick sample cleanup via filtration through a phospholipid removal plate, and expedited analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a turnaround time of just 2 min per sample. The method also achieves a significantly improved the lower limit of quantification of 15 ng of lumefantrine per ml of blood (i.e. LLOQ of 15 ng/ml). A Phenomenex Luna-CN 50 × 2 mm, 3 µm LC column was used, with a flow rate of 400 µl/min and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and ammonium formate buffer (10 mM, 0.5% formic acid) in a 67:33 (v/v) ratio. The linear range for quantification spanned from 15 to 15,000 ng/ml, based on three 3.2 mm punched discs from a 50 µl blood spot. Accuracy was within ± 15% of the validation criteria, and precision was demonstrated by intra-assay variability of less than 7.2% and inter-assay variability of less than 12% across all concentration levels. The stability of lumefantrine in dried blood spots on pre-treated filter paper was demonstrated using a sample set obtained from another research group, which had been stored in the dark under low-humidity conditions for up to 16 years. The method showed no endogenous interference or interference from the concomitant drug artemether and is suitable for use in clinical trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13663207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}