Malaria Journal最新文献

{"title":"Retraction Note: Malaria in urban, semi‑urban and rural areas of southern of Gabon: comparison of the Pfmdr 1 and Pfcrt genotypes from symptomatic children.","authors":"Sydney Maghendji-Nzondo, Lady-Charlène Kouna, Gaël Mourembou, Larson Boundenga, Romeo-Karl Imboumy-Limoukou, Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui, Rella Manego-Zoleko, Bertrand Mbatchi, Didier Raoult, Fousseyni Toure-Ndouo, Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05334-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05334-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"93"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11927315/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143676990","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":"Congenital infection with Plasmodium malariae: a rare case of intrauterine transmission in Germany.","authors":"Sarah Goretzki, Nora Bruns, Anna Daniels, Anne Schönecker, Adela Della Marina, Andrea Gangfuß, Bernd Schweiger, Andreas Schönfeld, Oliver Witzke, Jutta Dedy, Jan Dziobaka, Caroline Holtkamp, Peter-Michael Rath, Ursula Felderhoff-Müser, Christian Dohna-Schwake, Hedda-Luise Verhasselt","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05331-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05331-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains the leading parasitic disease worldwide with a significant global morbidity and mortality burden. Plasmodium malariae, the least prevalent of the five Plasmodium species that cause human malaria, has unique characteristics including prolonged prepatent periods and life-long persistance. In non-endemic countries and particular in neonates with coexisting diseases diagnosis and therapy pose challenges.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report a rare case of severe congenital P. malariae malaria in a 2-month-old female infant born in Germany to a Nigerian mother. The infant presented with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and respiratory distress. Initial workup revealed significant haemolysis, hepatopathy, and thrombocytopenia. Microscopic and PCR confirmed P. malariae. Shortly after the initial presentation, the infant developed clinical signs of cerebral malaria and organ failure, requiring invasive ventilation, anti-seizure medication, and vasoactive support. Following treatment with intravenous artesunate and oral atovaquone/proguanil, the infant showed significant improvement and was discharged after 36 days (22 days of paediatric intensive care) with a multidisciplinary follow-up plan. At six months post-discharge, she demonstrated stable organ function and mild developmental delay.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic complexities of life-threatening congenital P. malariae infections in non-endemic countries. It underlines the importance of clinicians' awareness of maternal travel or migration history and individualized treatment strategies. The increasing global mobility necessitates updated guidelines for congenital malaria management even for less likely P. malariae infections. Prophylactic measures, early recognition, and multidisciplinary management are critical for improving outcomes for such rare but severe presentations and their long-lasting complications. Possible comprehensive neonatal malaria screening in high-risk populations should be considered in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"91"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924655/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670171","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":"Acceptance of a malaria vaccine among caregivers of sick children under 5 years of age in Burundi.","authors":"Eric Ntihebuwayo, Manassé Nimpagaritse, Thomas Bizimana, Stany Banzimana, Dieudonné Kabura, Pierre Sinarinzi, Domina Asingizwe","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05327-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05327-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria poses a significant public health burden globally, particularly in Burundi, where it is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity. To eliminate malaria, the malaria vaccine will be introduced in childhood vaccination. However, the information on malaria vaccine acceptance is limited. Therefore, this study investigates malaria vaccine acceptance and associated factors in Burundi.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved caregivers of sick children under 5 years old to assess the acceptability of the malaria vaccine. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and SPSS was used to analyse data and identify factors significantly associated with malaria vaccine acceptance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 405 (90.6%) participants indicated they would accept a malaria vaccine for their children under 5 years. The predictive factors that are significantly associated with the acceptance of the malaria vaccine include the caregivers' knowledge regarding the malaria vaccine (OR = 10.326, P-value = 0.035), the caregivers' employment (OR = 6.088, P-value = 0.02), and previous experience with childhood vaccination (OR = 3.145, P-value = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows a high proportion of caregivers' willingness to accept the malaria vaccine. Factors including caregivers' employment, prior childhood vaccination experience, and awareness of the malaria vaccine significantly influence acceptance. These findings highlight the need for targeted awareness campaigns to increase awareness, thus, the potential for widespread vaccine adoption. Consequently, building on existing trust in childhood vaccinations, policymakers should prioritize targeted public health interventions that address knowledge gaps and concerns, ultimately contributing to malaria prevention and control efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"90"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670167","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":"Early evening outdoor biting by malaria-infected Anopheles arabiensis vectors threatens malaria elimination efforts in Zanzibar.","authors":"Bakar Khatib, Juma Mcha, Zamzam Pandu, Makame Haji, Makame Hassan, Huba Ali, Ramla Mrisho, Kali Abdallah, Ali Ali, Khadija Ali, Talib Said, Safia Mohamed, Humphrey Mkali, Said Mgata, Stella Makwaruzi, Michael Gulaka, Geofrey Makenga, Sigsbert Mkude, Victoria Githu, Victor Mero, Naomi Serbantez, Sarah-Blythe Ballard, Adeline Chan, Shija Joseph Shija, Nicodem J Govella","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05333-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05333-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme relies on insecticide-treated nets as the principal vector control method, supplemented by reactive focal indoor residual spraying. Despite the success, local malaria transmission persists, and the underlying reasons for sustained transmission remain unclear, yet critical to optimizing vector control for elimination. Entomological characterization of transmission dynamics was conducted to identify the gaps with existing interventions and opportunities for complementary interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adult malaria vectors were collected monthly for two consecutive nights at ten sentinel sites (6 Unguja, 4 Pemba) from October 2022 to September 2023. Hourly indoor and outdoor human landing catch method was used for collecting mosquitoes from 18:00 to 06:00 h.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anopheles arabiensis was the predominant malaria vector species across all the sentinel sites, except in the urban district of Unguja, where Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto was predominant. Malaria parasite-infected An. arabiensis bites were distributed disproportionately between indoors (n = 4), 22:00 to 02:00 h, and outdoors (n = 10) earlier in the evenings, 1800 to 2100 h.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The outdoor catches of malaria-parasite infected mosquitoes before typical sleeping hours highlight the potential risk of human exposure to outdoor transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"92"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11927253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670253","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":"Increasing day three parasitaemia is observed after treatment of patients with artemether-lumefantrine and single dose of primaquine for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Arbaminch Zuria district, Southwest Ethiopia.","authors":"Bontu Abate, Bokretsion Gidey Brhane, Tsegahun Manyazewal, Hussien Mohammed, Yonas Wuletaw, Moges Kassa, Mesay Hailu, Getachew Tollera, Geremew Tasew, Ashenafi Assefa, Eyasu Makonnen","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05337-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05337-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Since 2017, the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infection in Ethiopia has been artemether-lumefantrine (AL), plus a single dose of primaquine (PQ). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular monitoring of the first-line drug efficacy as crucial tool for supporting national treatment policies. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of AL with single dose of PQ for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective single-arm efficacy study was conducted among outpatients at Shecha Health Centre, aged six months and older with confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria from October 2023 to January 2024. Participants were treated with AL plus single dose of PQ and followed up to 28 days to evaluate clinical and parasitological responses. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis and per protocol (PP) analysis were used to estimate primary and secondary outcomes. Paired sample t-test was used to compare mean haemoglobin levels across follow-up dates (SPSS v.25). All comparisons were made at 95% confidence interval (CI), with a level of significance at 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 93 patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum were enrolled and 88 participants completed the study. Based on KM analysis the overall PCR uncorrected cure rate of AL plus single dose of PQ was 96.6% (95% CI 90.4-99.3%). The PCR-corrected cure rate was 100% (95% CI 95.8-100%). Despite high cure rate, accompanied by fast resolution of clinical symptoms, 17% of participants continued to have detectable parasitaemia on day 3. There was a slight decrease in mean haemoglobin on day 28 compared to the baseline. No serious adverse events were reported during the 28-day follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study findings reaffirm high efficacy of AL with a single dose of PQ for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, with acceptable safety profile. These findings support the ongoing use of AL with a single dose of PQ as the primary treatment option for uncomplicated P. falciparum infections in the study area. In the context of the emergence and spread of partial artemisinin-based combination therapy(ACT) resistance in Africa, regular monitoring of the efficacy of current artemisinin-based combinations is recommended for the early detection of emerging drug resistance in the study setting and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"89"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143657626","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":"Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a condensed, multi-dose prime regimen of PfSPZ Vaccine for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection.","authors":"Andrea A Berry, Thomas L Richie, L W Preston Church, Matthew B Laurens, Colleen Boyce, Natasha Kc, Sudhaunshu Joshi, Abra Rachida Koudjra, Lauryn Butler, Mei-Chun Chen, Yonas Abebe, Tooba Murshedkar, Eric R James, Peter F Billingsley, B Kim Lee Sim, Stephen L Hoffman, Kirsten E Lyke","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05299-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05299-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for new malaria vaccines with > 90% efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum infection to expand the anti-disease benefit provided by the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix M subunit vaccines currently administered to infants and young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Attenuated P. falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ) are being developed as a traveller's vaccine and to fulfill WHO's call for high-level efficacy in endemic countries to support malaria elimination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PfSPZ Vaccine, comprised of radiation-attenuated PfSPZ, was compared with normal saline placebo in a randomized, double-blind trial targeting 60 malaria-naive US adults to assess safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and efficacy against heterologous controlled human malaria infection three and twelve weeks after immunization. Pharmacists provided syringes to blinded clinicians using 3:1 (vaccine:placebo) blocked randomization, for administration by direct venous inoculation on days 1 and 8 (multidose prime) and day 29 (boost), a condensed regimen with superior efficacy. Primary outcomes included adverse events and antibody responses to the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>31 participants were screened, randomized and immunized twice (V1, V2) 5-7 days apart, with one withdrawal after an intercurrent adverse event. A vial issue, later traced to the vial manufacturer, halted further immunizations. Solicited local and systemic adverse events recorded for 2 and 7 days after immunizations, respectively, occurred with equal frequency and severity in the 23 vaccinees and 7 controls receiving two immunizations, as did unsolicited adverse events recorded for 28 days and laboratory abnormalities 1 and 5 weeks after V2. Four of 23 vaccinees and one of 7 controls (p = 1.00) developed grade 2 adverse events including subjective fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, rigors, arthralgia and myalgia after V2 but not V1, these symptoms generally resolving within 24 h. Twenty-two of 23 (96%) vaccinees developed IgG (median 99-fold increase over baseline) and IgM (median 1,110-fold increase) antibodies to PfCSP one week after V2. Antibody responses were not associated with reactogenicity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The two-dose priming immunization regimen was safe, well tolerated and highly immunogenic. Larger studies may better define the adverse event profile of condensed regimens of PfSPZ Vaccine in malaria-naive adults.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>clinicaltrial.gov NCT05604521.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"88"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11916963/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143648233","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":"Post-treatment transmissibility of Plasmodium falciparum infections: an observational cohort study.","authors":"Kassahun Habtamu, Hallelujah Getachew, Ashenafi Abossie, Assalif Demissew, Arega Tsegaye, Teshome Degefa, Daibin Zhong, Xiaoming Wang, Ming-Chieh Lee, Guofa Zhou, Solomon Kibret, Christopher L King, James W Kazura, Beyene Petros, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Guiyun Yan","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05279-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05279-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Strengthening malaria control and expediting progress toward elimination requires targeting gametocytes to interrupt transmission. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) effectively clears Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites and immature gametocytes but has a limited impact on mature gametocytes, which mosquitoes ingest during a blood meal. To address this gap, the World Health Organization recommends adding a single low dose of primaquine (PQ) to ACT regimens. This study assessed the efficacy of a single low-dose PQ for P. falciparum gametocyte clearance and evaluated mosquito infectiousness in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cohort study was conducted using passive case detection to enrol individuals with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria at six health facilities. Participants were treated with either ACT alone or ACT plus 0.25 mg/kg single-dose PQ (ACT + PQ) and followed for 28 days with weekly visits. Blood smears for parasite counts, filter paper samples for DNA isolation, and whole blood for RNA preservation were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. On day 7, venous blood was obtained for membrane feeding assays using the Hemotek^® system to assess mosquito infection. Logistic regression analysed mosquito infection predictors, while gametocyte prevalence was compared between treatment arms using χ² or Fisher's exact tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 304 screened patients, 192 were enroled, with a median age of 23 (IQR 17-30) years; 65.7% were male. Post-treatment, 11 human-to-mosquito transmission cases were identified on day 7. Participants receiving ACT + SLD-PQ were significantly less likely to be infectious on day 7 (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.57, p = 0.008) and had a significantly reduced prevalence of gametocytes (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.83, p = 0.026) compared to those receiving ACT alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A single course of low-dose primaquine (PQ) given with ACT significantly decreases the prevalence of gametocytaemia. Furthermore, membrane-feeding assays show that this combination also considerably lowers mosquito infection, confirming existing knowledge and emphasizing the promise of low-dose PQ as a successful transmission-blocking strategy in managing malaria.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"87"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11917023/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649786","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":"Spatial distribution of malaria among under-five children and associated factors in Tanzania: a spatial and multilevel analysis.","authors":"Yaregal Animut, Solomon Gedlu Nigatu, Rediet Eristu Teklu, Saron Abeje Abiy","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05313-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05313-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria is a major public health problem in Tanzania, accounting for 3.1% of the global cases, with under-five children being particularly vulnerable. Over half of malaria deaths in Tanzania occurred among under-five children. Identifying the spatial determinants of malaria is crucial for optimizing targeted interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the spatial determinants of malaria and factors associated with malaria infection among under-five children in Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A secondary data analysis was carried out using the Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) 2022 data. A total weighted sample of 4971 under-five children was included in the analysis. Spatial determinants of malaria were identified by ordinary least square and geographically weighted regression analysis. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with malaria infection among under-five children.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Malaria among under-five children was spatially clustered in Tanzania (Moran's Index = 0.14, p-value < 0.0001). Significant primary clusters of malaria were identified in the Northwestern part of the country (western and Lake zones) (log-likelihood ratio (LLR = 80.22, p < 0.0001) and secondary clusters in the Mtwara region (LLR = 16.04, p < 0.0001). Wealth index and access to health care were significant determinants of spatial clustering of malaria among under-five children. In the multilevel analysis, maternal education [primary level (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.97)], child age of 48-59 months (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.80-5.62), family size of 5 to 10 (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI 1.12, 2.54), being in poor wealth index (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.18-5.57), and unimproved roof (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.04-2.16) were significantly associated with malaria infection among under-five children.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and recommendation: </strong>Malaria among under-five children in Tanzania shows significant spatial clustering, particularly in the Northwestern and Southern parts of the country. This spatial clustering of malaria was attributed to poor socioeconomic status and lack of access to health care. Improving access to health care and enhancing malaria prevention measures for the economically disadvantaged group could have a better impact on reducing the burden of malaria.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910873/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143634258","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":"Time to loss of physical integrity of attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) stations in Western Province, Zambia: a survival analysis.","authors":"Refilwe Y Karabo, Masuzyo H Mundia, Mwansa Mwenya, Kochelani Saili, John Miller, Kafula Silumbe, Irene Kyomuhangi, Joseph Wagman, Javan Chanda, Erica Orange, Busiku Hamainza, Angela F Harris, Julian Entwistle, Laurence Slutsker, Thomas R Burkot, Megan Littrell, Thomas P Eisele, Ruth A Ashton, Joshua Yukich","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05316-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05316-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) are a potential addition to an integrated vector management strategy against malaria. ATSB stations, which include a sugar bait and an ingestion toxicant, could potentially be deployed to attract-and-kill mosquitoes and thereby prevent malaria transmission. The physical durability of these stations is likely to be an important factor in decisions around future use strategies. This study measured the duration of physical integrity of the ATSB Sarabi v1.2 stations used in Western Zambia, as part of a Phase III cluster RCT.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>ATSB stations were installed and followed as a cohort on the external walls of selected sleeping structures in households in trial clusters (10-11 per cluster). Monthly visits were made to assess the presence and condition of the ATSBs from November 2022 to June 2023. A rolling cohort approach was used, whereby new ATSB stations were used to replace those which failed or were lost-to-follow-up, and these were subsequently enrolled in the cohort. Information on structure construction and ATSBs location on the walls was also collected. Median ATSB survival and associated factors were analysed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox-Proportional hazard models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Including replacements, a total of 1107 ATSBs were installed across 304 sleeping structures in 206 households, and 5696 ATSB-visits were made. Common types of damage observed were holes/tears, mold, and leakage of bait. While the median survival time for the devices was 5 months (149 days) for all stations in the study, the median survival time was longer than the transmission season for stations installed in locations well protected by the roof (> 218 days). ATSB station survival was longer when installed on structures with thatched roofs compared to iron-sheet roofs (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.26-0.47, p < 0.001), and where there was \"excellent protection\" (HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.49, p < 0.001), compared to \"no protection\".</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Study results suggest that the majority of ATSB stations deployed in this setting will remain intact for a 7-month seasonal deployment period if stations are installed in locations protected from weather elements, such as underneath the overhang of thatched roof. Further research is needed to understand factors that influence the physical integrity and efficacy of ATSB stations in addition to those observed in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"84"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143634260","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":"Bionomics and distribution of malaria vectors in Kisumu city, Western Kenya: implications for urban malaria transmission.","authors":"Maxwell G Machani, Shirley A Onyango, Irene Nzioki, Sylvia Milanoi, Godfrey Nattoh, John Githure, Harrysone Atieli, Chloe Wang, Ming-Chieh Lee, Goufa Zhou, Andrew K Githeko, Yaw A Afrane, Eric Ochomo, Guiyun Yan","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05332-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05332-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Increasing unplanned urbanization in tropical Africa may create new niches for malaria vectors, raising transmission risk, yet control efforts focus on rural ecosystems. Understanding mosquito diversity, ecology and biting behaviour in urban areas is crucial for effective control. This study assessed Anopheles diversity, abundance, behaviour, and Plasmodium infection rates in Kisumu city, Kenya.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Indoor and outdoor host-seeking and resting adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC miniature light traps (CDC-LT) and Prokopack aspirators along an urban-rural transect. Anophelines were identified morphologically, with Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and Anopheles funestus group further distinguished to siblings using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporozoite infection rates were determined using a multiplexed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3,394 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected: An. gambiae s.l. (68%), An. funestus s.l. (19.8%), Anopheles coustani (7.8%), Anopheles pharoensis (2.6%), Anopheles maculipalipis (1.6%), and Anopheles leesoni (0.2%). All six species were found in urban zone, but only three were in peri-urban and rural sites. Overall, urban collection accounted for 55.5% of mosquitoes, followed by peri-urban (30%) and rural sites (14.5%). Anopheles arabiensis dominated urban (84.3%) and peri-urban (89%) sites, while An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) was predominant in rural zone (60.2%) alongside An. arabiensis (39.7%). Anopheles funestus was predominant in peri-urban (98.4%) and rural (85.7%) areas, while An. leesoni accounted for 1.6% and 14.3%, respectively. In urban areas, all An. funestus s.l. samples were An. funestus s.s.. Most (55.5%) of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected indoors, while secondary vectors were mainly outdoors. Overall, sporozoite rates were higher outdoors (3.5%) than indoors (1.45%) in rural areas. Indoor rates were 2.5% (An. funestus), 1.4% (An. gambiae s.s.), and 1% (An. arabiensis). Outdoors, An. gambiae had 5.3%, and An. arabiensis 2.1%. In peri-urban areas, An. gambiae had 2.3%. No sporozoites were found in urban samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights a shift in Anopheles diversity towards urban areas with increased outdoor activity and outdoor malaria transmission in rural and peri-urban areas, underscoring the need for tools targeting outdoor-biting mosquitoes. The presence of An. funestus in urban settings emphasizes the need for sustained entomological surveillance to inform integrated vector control.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"85"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143634253","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}