Parasite Epidemiology and Control最新文献

{"title":"Diagnostic performance evaluation of ParaEgg for identifying intestinal helminthiasis: A comparative study with conventional copromicroscopy","authors":"Tilak Chandra Nath ,&nbsp;Heeil Lee ,&nbsp;Md. Mahamudul Hasan ,&nbsp;Tanmoy Roy Rudro ,&nbsp;Dipta Das ,&nbsp;Md. Taufiqur Rahman ,&nbsp;Nandiny Saha Roy ,&nbsp;Pritha Parial ,&nbsp;Proloy Chakraborty Tusher ,&nbsp;Tarek Siddiki","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intestinal helminthiasis remains a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, affecting both humans and animals. Conventional copromicroscopic methods, though widely used, often lack sensitivity, particularly in areas with low prevalence and intensity of infection. ParaEgg, a new diagnostic tool, has been developed to improve the efficiency of copromicroscopic detection. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ParaEgg in detecting intestinal helminth infections in humans and dogs compared to commonly used traditional methods.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2024, analyzing 100 human stool samples and 100 dog fecal samples. For human samples, ParaEgg was compared with Formalin-Ether Concentration Technique (FET), Sodium Nitrate Flotation (SNF), Harada Mori Technique (HM), and Kato-Katz Smear (KK). For animal samples, ParaEgg was evaluated against FET, SNF, and HM. Diagnostic performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), with the composite results of all methods serving as the gold standard. Additionally, ParaEgg's efficacy was evaluated using naturally infected and experimentally seeded (<em>Trichuris</em> and <em>Ascaris</em> eggs) fecal samples.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The overall helminth infection rates were 24 % in humans and 53 % in dogs. In humans, five types of helminth genera (<em>Ascaris, Trichuris, Enterobius, hookworm, and Hymenolepis</em>) were detected, while six genera (<em>Toxocara, Trichuris, Spirometra, hookworm, Alaria, and Hymenolepis</em>) were identified in dogs. In human, ParaEgg detected 24 % of positive cases, closely following Kato-Katz Smear (26 %) and outperforming FET (18 %), SNF (19 %), and HM (9 %). In animal samples, ParaEgg demonstrated superior performance, identifying 53 % of positive cases compared to FET (48 %), SNF (45 %), and HM (29 %). ParaEgg exhibited a sensitivity of 85.7 % and specificity of 95.5 %, closely matching Kato-Katz Smear (sensitivity: 93.7 %, specificity: 95.5 %). Its NPV (80.1 %) and PPV (97.1 %) further confirmed its diagnostic reliability. In experimentally seeded samples, ParaEgg achieved 81.5 % recovery for <em>Trichuris</em> eggs and 89.0 % for <em>Ascaris</em> eggs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings highlight ParaEgg as an effective diagnostic tool, comparable to Kato-Katz Smear and superior to traditional methods. Its ability to detect mixed infections, egg recovery rate and its high sensitivity in both human and animal samples underscore its potential for widespread application in field settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00449"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae and cyprinoid fish abundance in Nong Han Wetland, Thailand","authors":"Wiwat Kaensa ,&nbsp;Lakhanawan Charoensuk ,&nbsp;Chadon Nakmai ,&nbsp;Somchai Pinlaor ,&nbsp;Apiporn T. Suwannatrai ,&nbsp;Umawadee Laothong ,&nbsp;Suksanti Prakobwong","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Opisthorchiasis, caused by <em>Opisthorchis viverrini</em>, remains a public health concern in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand. This study investigates the prevalence and intensity of <em>O. viverrini</em> metacercariae in cyprinoid fish from the Nong Han Wetland in Northeast Thailand, and assesses fish abundance and environmental factors influencing parasite distribution. Fish were sampled monthly at eight sites during the rainy (June – October 2024) and dry (November 2024 – March 2025) seasons. Fish species were identified, and their relative abundance and species diversity (Shannon-Wiener index (H′)) were assessed. Cyprinoid fish were digested with 0.25 % pepsin-HCl to detect, identified and quantify <em>O. viverrini</em> metacercariae under a microscope. Concurrent water quality paramteters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and fecal coliform levels) were analyzed to assess their correlation with parasite distribution. A total of 1429 fish from 36 species were collected, with <em>Trichogaster vittatus</em> (Family Belontiidae) being the most abundant. Among 392 cyprinoid fish (Family Cyprinidae) from 11 species (H′ = 1.8), 15.1 % were infected with <em>O. viverrini</em> metacercariae found in 6 species. <em>Cyclocheilichthys apogon</em> showed the significant highest prevalence (20.3 %). Infection intensity was highest in <em>Barbonymus gonionotus</em> and <em>Hampala dispar</em> (6.0 metacercariae/infected fish). Higher fecal coliform levels and proximity to human settlements correlated with infection. Dry season prevalence (17.8 %) and intensity (5.1 ± 2.6) were significantly greater than the rainy season (11.0 % and 2.6 ± 1.1, <em>P</em> ≤ 0.001). A strong correlation existed between fecal coliforms and <em>O. viverrini</em> prevalence (<em>r</em> = 0.981, <em>P</em> ≤ 0.001), with hotspots near human settlements. The findings highlight the influence of fecal contamination, seasonality, and human factors on <em>O. viverrini</em> transmission, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00447"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular evidence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in arid urban landscapes of shiraz cockroaches (Blattodea), Southwest Iran: Implications for urban public health surveillance","authors":"Mohsen Kalantari ,&nbsp;Kourosh Azizi ,&nbsp;Negin Kiani Junaghani ,&nbsp;Mozaffar Vahedi ,&nbsp;Iraj Mohammadpour ,&nbsp;Qasem Asgari ,&nbsp;Amin Hosseinpour ,&nbsp;Mehdi Miri","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microsporidia, particularly <em>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</em> and <em>Encephalitozoon intestinalis</em>, are emerging fungal pathogens of global concern, causing severe gastrointestinal and systemic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Cockroaches (Blattodea), as synanthropic pests, are potential mechanical vectors for disseminating these pathogens in urban environments. Despite their clinical significance, data on the role of cockroaches in transmitting microsporidia in arid regions remain scarce. This study assessed the contamination of cockroaches in Shiraz, Iran, with <em>E. bieneusi</em> and <em>E. intestinalis</em> to evaluate their public health risks. From January to June 2023, 378 cockroaches were collected from high-risk areas, including Hospitals and adjacent public areas. Specimens were morphologically identified and screened via microscopy. Molecular detection of <em>E. bieneusi</em> and <em>E. intestinalis</em> was performed using PCR targeting the 18sRNA region. DNA was extracted from pooled samples (10 cockroaches/pool) and amplified under standardized thermocycling conditions. All cockroaches were identified as <em>Periplaneta americana</em> (77.5 %) and <em>Blattella germanica</em> (22.5 %). In molecular assay, three positive case of <em>E. bieneusi</em> was detected, However, no <em>E. intestinalis</em> DNA was identified via PCR. This study reports the first molecular detection of <em>E. bieneusi</em> in Shiraz cockroaches. In continue, it records no evidence of <em>E. intestinalis</em>, which suggesting climatic or environmental barriers to limit this microsporidian persistence in this arid region. These findings highlight the need for integrated vector management and advanced molecular surveillance to elucidate the epidemiology of understudied pathogens like microsporidia in rapidly urbanizing regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00446"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Schistosoma haematobium infection and associated risk factors among pre-school age children in Gambella, Ethiopia","authors":"Tigist Mohammed ,&nbsp;Abraham Degarege ,&nbsp;Mulugeta Aemero ,&nbsp;Abebe Animut ,&nbsp;Yohannes Negash ,&nbsp;Yirgalem Gebrehiwot ,&nbsp;Berhanu Erko","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Schistosoma haematobium</em> can infect and cause morbidity in pre-school age children (PSAC) and due to its gradual nature, often goes unnoticed in its early stages and can result in long-term irreversible consequences during their most productive years. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of <em>S. haematobium</em> infection among PSAC in Gambella, Ethiopia.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2024 among 390 PSAC in four localities in Gambella, Ethiopia. Urine specimens were examined microscopically and with urinalysis reagent strips. Data on associated factors and socio-demographic characteristics were collected from the PSAC mothers/caregivers using a structured questionnaire.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The overall prevalence of <em>S. haematobium</em> infection was 16.7 %, of which 20 % (13/65) had heavy-intensity of infection. The prevalence of macro and microhematuria were 7.9 %, and 26.2 %, respectively. The prevalence of infection was significantly higher among PSAC who visited open water sources (90.8 %, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), bathed in open water (89.2 %, <em>P</em> = 0.004), and urinated in open water (89.2 %, <em>P</em> = 0.004), as well as among residents of Abaro and Tagni villages (72.3 %, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and who had mothers with no formal education (81.5 %, <em>P</em> = 0.006). The odds of infection were higher among children who played or bathed in infested water (AOR: 2.9, CI: 1.0–8.1) and those living in Abaro village (AOR: 4.3, CI: 1.6–11.9) compared to those who did not engage in these behaviors or lived in other villages, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study showed that <em>S. haematobium</em> infection is prevalent among PSAC in Gambella region in Ethiopia, and contact with an open water while playing, bathing or urinating may increase the risk of acquiring infection with the parasite in this population group. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease among PSAC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00448"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors of porcine cysticercosis in Mpwapwa district, eastern-Central Tanzania","authors":"Justine Daudi Maganira ,&nbsp;Noel Mark Makwinya ,&nbsp;Beda John Mwang'onde","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porcine cysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of <em>Taenia</em> species, poses significant health and economic challenges in low and lower-middle-income regions. This study assessed the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with the transmission of porcine cysticercosis in Mpwapwa District, eastern-central Tanzania, using a commercial antigen enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Ag- ELISA). A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Gulwe, Ving'hawe, and Igovu villages during the dry season in June 2024. Blood samples were collected from 159 household pigs, and structured questionnaires were administered to heads or representatives of 51 pig-keeping households to identify potential risk factors. Serum samples from 29 pigs tested positive for porcine cysticercosis in the Ag-ELISA assay with an apparent prevalence of 18.24 % (95 % CI: 12.57 %–25.13 %), and estimated true prevalence of 17.91 % (95 % CI: 12.66 %–24.67 %). The apparent prevalence of porcine cysticercosis varied across the villages with Gulwe showing the highest prevalence (22.58 %; 95 % CI: 12.93 %–34.79 %), followed by Ving'hawe (21.21 % 95 % CI: 8.98 %–38.91 %), and Igovu (12.50 %; 95 % CI: 5.55 %–23.15 %). Female pigs exhibited a relatively higher seropositivity rate (13.84 %; 95 % CI: 8.88 %–20.20 %) compared to male pigs (4.40 %; 95 % CI: 1.79 %–8.86 %) although this difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.629, <em>p</em>-value = 0.428). DNA extracted from cysticerci isolated from infected pigs slaughter in the study villages was confirmed via gel electrophoresis to belong to <em>Taenia solium</em>. Seropositivity was higher in adult pigs (14.47 %; 95 % CI: 9.84 %–20.77 %) than in growers (3.77 %; 95 % CI: 1.74 %–7.99 %), but this difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.385, <em>p</em> = value = 0.535). Risk factor analysis identified the pig management system (OR = 2.47, <em>p</em> = 0.005), household pig herd size (OR = 3.08, <em>p</em> = 0.003), pig pen design (OR = 2.49, <em>p</em> = 0.002), feed source (OR = 3.08, <em>p</em> = 0.000), ignorance of porcine cysticercosis (OR = 1.57, <em>p</em> = 0.031) and presence of open-field defecation (OR = 1.47, <em>p</em> = 0.025) as significant contributors to the transmission of porcine cysticercosis. This study identifies a significant burden of porcine cysticercosis in Mpwapwa District, highlighting the need for effective control strategies to combat this zoonotic disease, protect smallholder livelihoods, and align with the WHO's 2030 targets for intensified <em>T. solium</em> control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating geospatial tools is crucial for enhancing control strategies against human lymphatic filarial infections in Ghana: A comprehensive review","authors":"Efiba Vidda Senkyire Kwarteng ,&nbsp;Ebenezer Asiedu ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Kobla Atsu Amewu ,&nbsp;Arnold Abakah ,&nbsp;Samuel Ato Andam-Akorful ,&nbsp;Allan Alfred Duker ,&nbsp;Alexander Kwarteng","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Ghana, lymphatic filariasis (LF) infection transmission remains high in some endemic foci and continues to frustrate current control programs, posing serious health threats. Over the years, significant economic investments and efforts have been made to control human filarial infections in endemic regions. The need for interdisciplinary strategic action is crucial in eliminating human filarial infections. In this review, we discuss the application and integration of geospatial technology and Geographic Information Systems tools into existing control strategies to accelerate the elimination of lymphatic filarial infections in Ghana. Our analysis of six publications that have applied geospatial tools in LF in Ghana reveals the potential of geospatial tools to enhance surveillance, predict risk factors, and monitor MDA programs. It also highlights the limited integration of these tools in current LF control strategies and the need to address challenges such as data availability and funding to fully realize their benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00444"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malaria-induced dysregulation of selected micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, Fe, Co) and plasma free amino acids; implications for pathogenesis and host immunity in a Nigerian population","authors":"Chukwuma Raphael Ekeanyanwu ,&nbsp;Paul Chidoka Chikezie ,&nbsp;Chidinma Lynda Ekeanyanwu","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria remains a significant global health burden, particularly in regions like Nigeria. This study investigated the impact of malaria infection on plasma amino acid and micronutrient levels in a Nigerian population. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 participants, including malarious and healthy controls. Plasma levels of amino acids and selected micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, Fe, Co) were measured using HPLC and ICP-MS, respectively. Results revealed significant alterations (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) in plasma amino acid profiles (except histidine and proline) with increasing malaria severity. Essential amino acids including branched-chain amino acids like leucine and valine were depleted, indicating metabolic disruptions in the diseases. Aromatic and immune-related amino acids (arginine, tyrosine, tryptophan, glutamine, methionine, and cysteine) were reduced significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) compared to the uninfected groups. Additionally, malarious individuals exhibited significant deficiencies in several micronutrients, including calcium, sodium, zinc, and iron (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Malaria infection induces a complex metabolic response, leading to nutrient imbalances that may contribute to disease severity. Further research is warranted to explore the potential of targeted nutritional interventions to improve patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sliding mode control with stochastic modeling and mobility interaction for managing epidemic spread in high-population regions","authors":"Dewi Suhika ,&nbsp;Roberd Saragih ,&nbsp;Dewi Handayani ,&nbsp;Mochamad Apri","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Managing infectious disease transmission in high-mobility regions is a critical challenge due to dynamic population interactions and elevated transmission risks. This study develops a stochastic epidemiological model to simulate disease spread between two densely populated provinces in Indonesia, Jakarta and West Java. A robust sliding mode control (SMC) framework is proposed and integrated with an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate key epidemiological parameters in real time using limited observable data. The proposed framework functions as a theoretical and simulation-based tool to evaluate the potential effects of vaccination and isolation strategies. Although full-state variables are not directly measurable in practice, the EKF allows for the estimation of unobservable parameters, thereby enabling control analysis under uncertainty. Simulation results demonstrate that the SMC strategy significantly reduces infection levels in both provinces, achieving reductions of 84.45 % and 63.94 % in Jakarta, and 98.83 % and 58.35 % in West Java, for the original and Omicron variants, respectively. By incorporating stochasticity, the model captures natural fluctuations and mismatched uncertainties in epidemic progression. This work contributes a conceptual control framework that integrates EKF and SMC for managing stochastic epidemic systems. While the approach is not directly implementable for real-time policymaking, it offers valuable insight into disease dynamics and the potential impact of control strategies under limited observability. These findings support the use of data-driven control simulations for scenario evaluation and policy guidance in complex, uncertain epidemic settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00439"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144321819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and associated factors of malaria among febrile patients at two sites with different transmission intensities, Northwest Ethiopia","authors":"Abebaw Setegn,&nbsp;Yalewayker Tegegne,&nbsp;Ligabaw Worku,&nbsp;Ayalew Jejaw Zeleke","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Malaria is the most prevalent and deadly mosquito-borne disease worldwide. In Ethiopia, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax coexist, adding to the country's malaria burden. Assessing the prevalence of malaria and identifying the factors linked to its transmission are essential strategies for effective prevention and control.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To determine the prevalence and associated factors of malaria among febrile patients at two sites with different transmission intensities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2021. The sample size was determined using the double population proportion formula, and participants were selected through a convenient sampling technique in which study participants were selected based on their easy convenience or willingness to participate until the expected sample size was obtained. Malaria diagnosis was performed via Geimsa-based microscopy. Data entry was performed using EpiData version 4.6.0, and analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with malaria, with a <em>p</em>-value &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant. Additionally, the difference in malaria prevalence between the two study areas was assessed using the chi-square test.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 528 study participants, the overall malaria prevalence was 16.1 % (85/528). Specifically, the prevalence was 13.6 % (36/264) at Maksegnit Health Center and 18.6 % (49/264) at Sanja Health Center. The difference in malaria prevalence between the two study sites was not statistically significant (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). In Maksegnit Health Center, malaria prevalence was significantly associated with the age groups 6–14 years: 16.09 (2.65–37.80) and 15–24 years: 8.21 (2.74–20.98), as well as rural residence 14.25 (3.13–44.86). In Sanja Health Center, significant associations were observed with the age group 15–24 years: 8.21 (2.74–20.98), lack of bed net availability: 11.84 (3.36–41.66), and recent travel history: 5.58 (1.32–23.70).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study revealed that malaria prevalence was moderately high in both study areas, with no statistically significant difference between the two sites. However, unique factors were associated with malaria prevalence in each location. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to address area-specific risk factors, such as improving bed net distribution, enhancing housing conditions, and eliminating mosquito-breeding sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00441"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asymptomatic/submicroscopic Plasmodium vivax infection: A systematic review and META-analysis on the hidden challenge for preventing re-establishment of malaria transmission","authors":"Siqi Wang,&nbsp;He Yan,&nbsp;Li Zhang,&nbsp;Zhigui Xia,&nbsp;Jianhai Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Plasmodium vivax</em> is not only the second most prevalent cause of malaria worldwide, but also the second leading cause of imported malaria in China. This poses a significant threat to preventing the re-establishment of malaria transmission, as the competent vector (<em>Anopheles sinensis</em>) suitable for <em>vivax</em> malaria transmission is widely distributed in China. Particularly, the asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection as another important source of infection deserves further study, but it is rarely reported.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases were systematically searched for asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection relevant studies published between February 2014 and February 2024. I-squared statistics (<em>I</em>²) was used to assess heterogeneity among included studies. The pooled prevalence and pooled odds ratio and their corresponding 95 % Confidence Interval were estimated using the random effects model in Review Manager 5.4 software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seventy-one eligible studies were included in this analysis. Both study countries (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001, <em>I</em>² = 95 %) and diagnostic methods (<em>P</em> = 0.001, <em>I</em>² = 95 %) were the source of heterogeneity. The rates of asymptomatic malaria infection detected by the gold standard method of microscopy in the countries from Africa, Asia, Oceania and Americas were 9.2 %, 4.8 %, 15.6 % and 14.5 %, respectively. And the corresponding rates of asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection were 4.0 %, 2.1 %, 10.6 % and 13.0 %. In terms of diagnostic methods, the rate of asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection (5.6 %) detected by polymerase chain reaction in the population was the highest (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>According to the asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection worldwide, the countries with the higher rate of asymptomatic infection are the main source of <em>vivax</em> malaria cases imported into China, which indicates a potentially higher potential risk of importation of asymptomatic <em>P. vivax</em> infection. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more sensitive, easier to operate, and more cost-effective techniques to detect and screen asymptomatic malaria infections in a timely manner, so as to prevent re-establishment of malaria transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e00442"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}