Malaria Journal最新文献

{"title":"Prevalence and associated factors of malaria among the displaced population in refugee camps in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Habtu Debash, Ermiyas Alemayehu, Melaku Ashagrie Belete, Hussen Ebrahim, Ousman Mohammed, Daniel Gebretsadik, Mihret Tilahun, Alemu Gedefie","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05246-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05246-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The increased occurrence of malaria among Africa's displaced communities poses a new humanitarian problem. Understanding malaria epidemiology among the displaced population in African refugee camps is a vital step for implementing effective malaria control and elimination measures. As a result, this study aimed to generate comprehensive and conclusive data from diverse investigations undertaken in Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review adhered to PRISMA standards, involving searches across electronic data bases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct. In addition, grey literature was retrieved from several professional associations. The quality of selected studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Data extraction was executed using Microsoft Excel, and the meta-analysis was performed with STATA 14 software. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of malaria. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were used to identify heterogeneity, while funnel plots and Egger's statistical tests assessed the publication bias. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall random-effects pooled prevalence of malaria infection (comprising symptomatic and asymptomatic cases) across all included studies was 35.93% (95% CI 24.71-47.15). This study showed a high level of heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 97.1; P < 0.001). Of the identified Plasmodium species, Plasmodium falciparum constituted 99.3%. The frost plot indicated that the overall prevalence of P. falciparum was 34.94% (95% CI 24.34-45.53). Subgroup analysis revealed significant variation (P < 0.001) in malaria prevalence between asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, with a prevalence of 4.39% (95% CI 2.57-6.21) and 45.10% (95% CI 27.28-62.92), respectively. Lack of insecticide-treated mosquito net utilization (AOR 2.43; 95% CI 1.01-5.88) and living near mosquito breeding sites (AOR 2.76, 95% CI 1.56-4.87) were risk factors of malaria.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study determined that the pooled prevalence of malaria among displaced individuals in refugee camps was high and exhibited variations across different population groups. This signifying there is still a need to improve and recheck existing malaria prevention and control strategies to establish an effective malaria control and elimination programme in Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11734236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142983931","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":"Acceptability of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in Papua New Guinea: a qualitative study.","authors":"Elvin Lufele, Sophie Pascoe, Alice Mengi, Alma Auwun, Nalisa Neuendorf, John W Bolnga, Moses Laman, Stephen J Rogerson, Kamala Thriemer, Holger W Unger","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05233-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-05233-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In moderate-to-high malaria transmission regions, the World Health Organization recommends intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) alongside insecticide-treated bed nets to reduce the adverse consequences of pregnancy-associated malaria. Due to high-grade Plasmodium falciparum resistance to SP, novel treatment regimens need to be evaluated for IPTp, but these increase pill burden and treatment days. The present qualitative study assessed the acceptability of IPTp-SP plus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) in Papua New Guinea, where IPTp-SP was implemented in 2009.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions were conducted at health facilities where a clinical trial evaluated IPTp-SP plus DP (three-day regimen) versus IPTp-SP plus DP-placebo. IDIs were conducted with: (1) trial participants at different stages of engagement with ANC and IPTp, e.g. first antenatal clinic visit, subsequent antenatal clinic visits and postpartum; (2) local health workers (nurses, community health workers, midwives, health extension officers, doctors); and (3) representatives of district, provincial and national health authorities involved in programming ANC and IPTp. Focus group discussions comprised pregnant women only, including those engaged in the clinical trial and those receiving routine ANC outside of the trial. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis applying a framework assessing: affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity costs, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women expressed positive feelings and attitudes towards SP plus DP/DP-placebo; reported limited side effects; and found the size, number, colour, and taste of study medicines acceptable. Health workers and policymakers were concerned that, compared to SP alone, additional tablets, frequency (three-day regimen), and tablet size might be barriers to acceptability for users outside a non-trial setting. There was a high perceived effectiveness of SP plus DP; most women reported that they did not get malaria or felt sick during pregnancy. Broader healthcare benefits received through trial participation and the involvement of health workers, relatives and community members in the clinical trial enabled antenatal clinic attendance and perceived acceptability of this IPTp regimen.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In the trial context, IPTp-SP plus DP was acceptable to both users and providers. Healthcare providers were concerned about the realities of acceptability and adherence to SP plus DP outside a clinical trial setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731547/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143055975","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":"Prevalence and factors associated with childhood malaria and anaemia in Osun state, Nigeria: a baseline household malariometric study.","authors":"Olusola Ajibaye, Semiu Adebayo Rahman, Oluwagbemiga Olanrewaju Aina, Chinazo Ujuju, Chimere Obiora Agomo, Samuel Akindele, Olakiigbe Abiodun, Tolulope Victoria Uzoka, Nnenna Ogbulafor, Olufemi Oroge, Rufai-Ahmed Garba, Michael Ekholuenetale, Kolawole Maxwell, Ridwan Akorede Awosanya, Mary Abosede Adekola, Benjamin Bukky Ilesanmi, Adekemi Ajayi, Olusola Oresanya, James K Tibenderana, Adeola Yetunde Olukosi","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05238-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05238-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Under-5 children have been known to bear a significant burden of malaria in endemic countries. Though significant progress has been made towards malaria prevention and control in Nigeria, it is expected that the addition of new malaria prevention strategy, such as perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) can contribute to a more rapid decline in malaria cases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with malaria and anaemia among children aged 2-18 months in Osun State.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional household malariometric study was conducted in 80 communities across eight Local Government areas (LGAs) in Osun State. Ethical approval was obtained from Osun State Health Research Ethical Committee (OSHREC/PRS/569T312/ on the 22nd of May 2023. Malaria test positivity was determined by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopy. In addition, haemoglobin levels were measured using Haemocue® Hb 201. Caregivers were interviewed on malaria management practices using tools adapted from Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of four hundred children aged 2-18 months were assessed in this study, which was conducted in July 2023. The caregivers were mostly the biological mothers of the children (n = 387, 96.8%). Female children were 51.8% and their male counterparts 48.2% respectively. Malaria positivity rate by RDT was 36.8% and this was higher in children aged 13-18 months (48.0%) and followed by those aged 7-12 months (44.0%). By microscopy, the positivity rate was 12.5% overall, with 15.0% positivity rate among children aged 7-12 months, about 13.5% among those 13-18 months and those aged 2-6 months had the least positivity rate whether by microscopy (8.5%) or RDT (18.5%). Overall, the prevalence of severe anaemia was 4.0%, moderate was 37.3%, mild was 18.3% and the normal was 40.4% respectively. However, higher proportion of moderate anaemia (7.0-9.9 haemoglobin (g/dL)) was reported in older children. Children from medium wealth households (aOR = 0.549; 95% CI 0.306-0.986) and those from rich households (aOR = 0.543; 95% CI 0.283-1.042) had 45.0% reduction in the odds of having malaria, when compared with their counterparts from poor households. In addition, children aged 7-12 months (aOR = 2.856; 95% CI 1.524-5.354) and those aged 13-18 months (aOR = 4.269; 95% CI 2.422-7.526) had higher odds of malaria infection, respectively, when compared with children aged 2-6 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malaria infection and anaemia were found to be higher in older children. Household wealth and child's age were significantly associated with malaria infection. These findings would inform the positioning of PMC intervention touch-points to reduce malaria burden in young children.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11726936/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142979019","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":"Therapeutic development to accelerate malaria control through intentional intervention layering.","authors":"Lydia Braunack-Mayer, Narimane Nekkab, Josephine Malinga, Sherrie L Kelly, Evelyn Ansah, Joerg J Moehrle, Melissa A Penny","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05222-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05222-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The clinical development of novel vaccines, injectable therapeutics, and oral chemoprevention drugs has the potential to deliver significant advancements in the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These innovations could support regions in accelerating malaria control, transforming existing intervention packages by supplementing interventions with imperfect effectiveness or offering an entirely new tool. However, to layer new medical tools as part of an existing programme, malaria researchers must come to an agreement on the gaps that currently limit the effectiveness of medical interventions for moderate to low transmission settings. In this perspective, three crucial gaps that may prevent new therapeutics from being used to their fullest extent are presented. First, do burden reduction outcomes, which are typically monitored in studies of new medical products, sufficiently capture the broader goal of accelerating malaria control? Layering novel malaria products requires monitoring health outcomes that reflect the novel product's targeted stage of the parasite life cycle, in addition to all-infection and prevalence-based outcomes. Second, what public health outcome does a novel medical prevention tool provide that existing malaria interventions cannot fully deliver? Novel medical tools should be developed not just for an incremental improvement in preventive efficacy over an existing product, but also to meet a gap in protection. Specifically, this means designing products with components that target parts of the parasite life cycle beyond the scope of existing therapeutics, and better addressing populations and settings not well covered by existing tools. Finally, when do the population-level benefits of a multi-tool prevention programme justify the individual-level outcomes from receiving multiple interventions? An individual-level perspective should be key for exploring when and how layering a novel prevention intervention can accelerate efforts towards P. falciparum malaria control.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731559/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142979044","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 prevalence, transmission potential and efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy in the Kenyan Central highlands: a zone previously characterized as malaria-free.","authors":"Francis T Kimani, Kelvin K Thiongó, Maureen A Otinga, Lewis K Mbabu, Mary N Ombati, Stanley K Kitur, Sarah A Ochieng', Lucy N Wachira, Damaris K Matoke-Muhia, Luna Kamau","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05214-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05214-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The current study sought to re-evaluate malaria prevalence, susceptibility to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), transmission patterns and the presence of malaria vectors in the Kikuyu area of the Kenyan Central highlands, a non-traditional/low risk malaria transmission zone where there have been anecdotal reports of emerging malaria infections.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sampling of adult mosquitoes was done indoors, while larvae were sampled outdoors in June 2019. The malaria clinical study was an open label non-randomized clinical trial where the efficacy of one ACT drug, was evaluated in two health facilities. Microscopy was used at the facility while nested 18 s rRNA subunit gene PCR amplification and MSP-1 and MSP-2 family alleles genotyping was done in the laboratory. Anti-malarial resistance gene markers Pfk13 and Pfmdr1 were profiled.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Anopheles funestus mosquitoes were the predominant vectors at 76.35% of all larvae collections (N = 148). Only two non-blood fed, parasites negative adult mosquitoes were collected from houses sampled. Parasitological analysis of the 838 patients screened resulted in 41 positives whose treatment outcome was 100% Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR). From the 35 positive samples genotyped, 29 (82.9%) were polyclonal. The overall mean MOI was 2.8 (95% CI 2.36-3.35). The MOI for msp-1 and msp-2 genes, was 2.02 (95% CI 0.72-2.27) and 2.9 (95% CI 2.22-3.55), and parasite strains range of 1-3 and 1-7, respectively. Polyclonal variation in the two genes was at 76.4% and 70.3%, respectively. The Pfk13 gene revealed no single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with suspected artemisinin resistance nor was there any pfmdr1 N86 mutant allele detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Plasmodium infections positivity rate observed in the study site was very low but significant. A proportion of participants who tested positive did not report recent history of travel. This observation together with the finding of competent known vectors can probably suggest that several of the cases could have been acquired and transmitted locally. The observed genetic diversity and polyclonal variations was on the contrary and suggest that these are imported cases. This however does not rule out a likely changing malaria transmission scenario in this zone, thus the need for further investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11726929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142971611","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":"Potential of emodepside for vector-borne disease control.","authors":"Pattarapon Khemrattrakool, Thitipong Hongsuwong, Theerawit Phanphoowong, Patchara Sriwichai, Kittiyod Poovorawan, Joel Tarning, Kevin C Kobylinski","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05250-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05250-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Emodepside is an anthelmintic used in veterinary medicine that is currently under investigation in human clinical trials for the treatment of soil-transmitted helminths and possibly Onchocerca volvulus. Emodepside targets the calcium-activated voltage-gated potassium slowpoke 1 (SLO-1) channels of presynaptic nerves of pharynx and body wall muscle cells of nematodes leading to paralysis, reduced locomotion and egg laying, starvation, and death. Emodepside also has activity against Drosophila melanogaster SLO-1 channels. Orthologous SLO-1 genes are present in Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti, suggesting that emodepside may have activity against mosquitoes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Both Anopheles dirus and Ae. aegypti were blood-fed emodepside across a range of concentrations (1-10,000 nM) and mosquito survival was monitored for 10 days. Co-feeding experiments were also performed with An. dirus blood fed ivermectin at the concentrations that kills 25% (LC₂₅) and 50% (LC₅₀) of mosquitoes with and without emodepside at clinical peak concentration in humans (C_max) and five times the C_max, and mosquito survival was monitored for 10 days.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Emodepside had weak mosquito-lethal effects in An. dirus but none observed in Ae. aegypti at the concentrations evaluated. The An. dirus emodepside LC₅₀ was 4,623 [4,159-5,066] ng/ml which is > 100-fold greater than the peak concentrations seen in human. The ivermectin and emodepside co-feed experiment with An. dirus did not indicate any altered effect of ivermectin on mosquito survival when emodepside co-fed at human C_max or five times that of the human C_max.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Emodepside was not lethal to An. dirus at human-relevant concentrations and had no effect on Ae. aegypti survival. Thus, mass distribution of emodepside does not appear to be a potential tool for vector-borne disease control. Emodepside induced mortality in An. dirus does suggest that the SLO-1 channel could be a potential target for novel vector control and may warrant further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11734516/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143008054","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":"Factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among women attending ANC clinics in selected districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana.","authors":"Emmanuel Abu Bonsra, Petra Amankwah Osei, Emmanuel Adjei Kyeremeh, Stephen Adama, Akua Grace Sekyi, Elsie Fafa King","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05244-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05244-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria is a disease deeply rooted in poverty. Malaria in pregnant women leads to severe complications, including low birth weight and neonatal mortality, which can adversely affect both mother and child. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among women attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics in three districts of the Ashanti Region, Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1215 pregnant women selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The self-reported prevalence of at least one episode of malaria was 76.7% (95% CI [74.1-79.3%]). Age, education, marital status, income, and religion were significantly associated with the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women, with a p-value < 0.001. Pregnant women aged 17-25 years were 10.26 times more likely to have malaria compared to other age groups (aOR = 10.26, 95% CI [4.52-11.05], p = 0.000). Women with no formal education had higher odds of malaria, being 15.10 times more likely to have malaria compared to those with tertiary education (aOR = 15.10, 95% CI [7.32-16.78], p = 0.002). Women not using insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) were 20 times more likely to have malaria compared to those who used ITNs (aOR = 20.0, 95% CI [7.04-21.03], p = 0.000).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Age, education, marital status, income, religion and insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) use significantly influence malaria prevalence in pregnancy. To achieve SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), particularly Target 3.1 (reducing maternal mortality) and Target 3.3 (ending malaria), the Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health should prioritize expanding ITN distribution, educational campaigns, and targeted support for vulnerable groups to reduce malaria prevalence during pregnancy and improve maternal health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11724469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142971610","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":"Anopheles mosquitoes in Mondulkiri forest, Cambodia: abundance, distribution, seasonal patterns and Plasmodium prevalence.","authors":"Sebastien Boyer, Bros Doeurk, Antsa Rakotonirina, Sophy Chy, Chantrea Vong, Eakpor Piv, Baura Tat, Malen Ea, Chansophea Chhin, Sreyvouch Phen, Nimol Kloeung, Sopheakvatey Ke, Jean Popovici, Patrice Piola, Benoit Witkowski, Pierre-Olivier Maquart, Amélie Vantaux","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05166-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05166-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mosquitoes are important drivers of infectious diseases transmission, with Anopheles mosquitoes being responsible of malaria transmission. In Cambodia, where malaria is prevalent in forested regions, understanding the ecology of these vectors is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the abundance, distribution, seasonal patterns, biting behaviour of Anopheles mosquitoes, and prevalence of Plasmodium, in Mondulkiri province, Northeastern Cambodia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Conducted in 9 sites, seven in forested and two in neighbouring villages, over one year, the collection of Anopheles mosquitoes was made hourly for a 72-h period every month, using a human-baited double net trap. Each mosquito was collected using a mouth-aspirator and identified morphologically, and screened for the presence of Plasmodium.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Primary vectors, including Anopheles baimaii, Anopheles dirus, Anopheles maculatus, and Anopheles minimus, constituted 11.1% of all female mosquitoes, while 12 secondary vector species represented 29.4% of the overall collection. Anopheles species were more prevalent during the late rainy season (August to November), with year-round activity observed. Primary vectors were predominantly found in forest sites, while other vector species were found in both village and forest environments. Notably, primary vectors exhibited a preference for nocturnal biting, yet a significant proportion (19.2%) displayed daytime activity, highlighting a potential risk of daytime malaria transmission. Among 5,056 Anopheles specimens tested, only 36 Plasmodium spp.-infected samples were detected, mainly in forest sites (94%), and in specimens collected at night. This study provides essential insights into the ecology of Anopheles in Mondulkiri Forest.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The identification of primary and secondary vectors, their seasonal dynamics, and biting behaviour contribute to enhances our understanding of malaria transmission risks in these areas, guiding future strategies toward effective and context-specific control measures, while stressing the need for individual protection during daytime.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11720960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142965945","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":"Low prevalence of copy number variation in pfmdr1 and pfpm2 in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from southern Angola.","authors":"Denise Duarte, Francisco Manuel, Ana Dias, Esmeralda Sacato, Elsa Taleingue, Elsa Daniel, Francisco Simão, Luis Varandas, Maria Lina Antunes, Fatima Nogueira","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05240-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05240-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria is the parasitic disease with the highest global morbidity and mortality. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), there were around 249 million cases in 2022, with 3.4% occurring in Angola. The emergence and spread of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum have compromised anti-malarial efficacy and threatens malaria elimination campaigns using artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Increased copy number (CNV) of the P. falciparum gene plasmepsin 2 (pfpm2) have been reported to confer parasite tolerance to piperaquine (PPQ) and the multidrug resistance-1 (pfmdr1), resistance to mefloquine (MEF) and decreased susceptibility to lumefantrine (LUM). PPQ, MEF and LUM are ACT partner drugs. Therefore, CNV detection is a useful tool to track ACT resistance risk. The potential for future treatment failure of artemisinin-based combinations (that include PPQ, LUM and AMQ), due to parasite resistance in the region, emphasizes the need for continued molecular surveillance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>One hundred and nine clinically derived samples were collected at Hospital Central Dr. António Agostinho Neto (HCL) in Lubango, Angola. qPCR targeting the small-subunit 18S rRNA gene was used to confirm P. falciparum infection. Copy number estimates were determined using a SYBR green-based quantitative PCR assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, this study revealed a low number of resistance CNVs present in the parasite population at Lubango, for the genes pfmdr1 and pfpm2. Of the 102 samples successfully analysed for pfpm2 10 (9.8%) carried increased CNV and 9/101 (8.9%) carried increased CNV of pfmdr1.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides, for the first time, evidence for the presence of CNVs in the pfpm2 and pfmdr1 genes in P. falciparum isolates from southern Angola.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11720348/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142965947","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":"Effectiveness of a tailored forest package of interventions, including topical repellents, in reducing malaria incidence in Myanmar.","authors":"Kyawt Mon Win, John E Gimnig, Nay Yi Yi Linn, Feliciano Monti, Nu Nu Khin, William A Hawley, Jimee Hwang, Ryan E Wiegand, Ersin Topcuoglu, Alexander Moran, Khin Lin, Hsu Thadar, Aye Aye Myint, Kyaw Myint Tun","doi":"10.1186/s12936-024-05241-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-024-05241-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Myanmar, progress towards malaria elimination has stagnated in some areas requiring deployment of new tools and approaches to accelerate malaria elimination. While there is evidence that networks of community-based malaria workers and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) can reduce malaria transmission in a variety of settings, evidence for the effectiveness of other interventions, such as topical repellents, is limited. Since malaria transmission in Myanmar occurs outdoors, mainly among forest-goers, this study tested the effectiveness of topical repellents in combination with supplemental ITN distribution and strengthened networks of malaria workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-eight villages in the Tanintharyi Region and Rakhine State were initially selected for the study based on malaria incidence in previous years. An additional 31 villages were included as comparison areas. The implementation of interventions began in March 2020 and continued through June 2021. Malaria cases were detected in all villages through surveillance at health facilities and a network of malaria workers. Data were analysed by interrupted time series. A nested case-control study was also conducted where forest-goers who tested positive for malaria by RDT were matched to up to three forest-goers who tested negative.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A decrease in mean monthly incidence was observed in the intervention villages from 6.0 (95% CI 4.9-7.1) to 3.7 (95% CI 2.4-4.9) cases per 1000 people at risk before and after the interventions. For the comparison villages, the mean monthly incidence increased from 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.5) to 5.7 (95% CI 2.1-9.3) cases per 1000 people at risk. Malaria incidence was significantly lower following the implementation of the interventions (RR = 0.117; 95% CI 0.061-0.223; p < 0.001) in the intervention villages, whereas that of comparison villages was higher after the implementation of the interventions (RR = 3.558; 95% CI 0.311-40.750; p = 0.308). However, a significant trend for increasing malaria incidence after implementation was observed in the intervention villages (RR = 1.113; 95% CI 1.021-1.214, p = 0.015), suggesting a waning effect. The nested case-control analysis showed that the odds of topical repellent use were significantly lower among cases than controls (aOR: 0.063, 95% CI 0.013-0.313, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The tailored intervention package for forest-goers helped reduce malaria incidence in Myanmar. Topical repellents may help to further reduce malaria transmission in elimination settings where high-risk populations such as forest-goers do not have easy access to routine health services or are less likely to use ITNs for malaria prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11721590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142965946","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}