scholarly journals A clonal Plasmodium falciparum population in an isolated outbreak of malaria in the Republic of Cabo Verde

Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. AREZ ◽  
G. SNOUNOU ◽  
J. PINTO ◽  
C. A. SOUSA ◽  
D. MODIANO ◽  
...  

We present the first parasitological, molecular and longitudinal analysis of an isolated outbreak of malaria. This outbreak occurred on Santiago Island (Republic of Cabo Verde), a region where malaria is hypoendemic and controlled, and thus the population is considered non-immune. Blood samples were collected from the inhabitants over 1 month and during cross-sectional surveys in the following year. The presence and nature of the parasites was determined by PCR. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species detected. Genetic analysis revealed that the circulating parasites were genetically homogeneous, and probably clonal. Gametocytes were found throughout this period. Our data suggest that this represented a focal outbreak, resulting in the infection of at least 40% of the villagers with a clonal parasite line. Thus, P. falciparum infections can persist for at least 1 year in a substantial proportion (10%) of the hosts. Implications for malaria control and the interpretation of epidemiological data are discussed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-213
Author(s):  
G.Y. Benjamin ◽  
H.I. Inabo ◽  
M.H.I. Doko ◽  
B.O. Olayinka

Malaria is a disease of public health concern in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by intracellular parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The aim of this study was to detect genetic markers associated with Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance among malaria patients in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional study that lasted from May 2018 to October 2018. Three hundred blood samples were collected from consenting individuals attending selected hospitals, in the three senatorial districts of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire were used to obtain relevant data from study participants. The blood samples were screened for malaria parasites using microscopy and rapid diagnostic test kit. Polymerase Chain Reaction was used for detection of the drug resistance genes. Pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, pfdhps and pfatpase6 genes were detected at expected amplicon sizes from the malaria positive samples. The pfatpase6 PCR amplicons were sequenced and a phylogenetic tree was created to determine their relatedness. Result showed that Pfcrt (80%) had the highest prevalence, followed by pfdhfr (60%), pfmdr1 (36%) and pfdhps (8%). Pfatpase6 was also detected in 73.3% of the samples, and a phylogenetic tree showed relatedness between the pfatpase6  sequences in this study and those deposited in the GenBank. In conclusion, the study detected that Plasmodium falciparum genes were associated with drug resistance to commonly used antimalarials.


1999 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souha Ben Abderrazak ◽  
Bruno Oury ◽  
Altaf A. Lal ◽  
Marie-France Bosseno ◽  
Pierre Force-Barge ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana R. Andronescu ◽  
Andrea G. Buchwald ◽  
Jenna E. Coalson ◽  
Lauren Cohee ◽  
Andy Bauleni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Distribution campaigns for insecticide-treated nets (ITN) have increased the use of ITNs in Malawi, but malaria prevalence remains high even among those using the nets. Previous studies have addressed ITN ownership, insecticide resistance, and frequency of ITN use as possible contributing factors to the high prevalence of malaria infection despite high ITN coverage, but have rarely considered whether the condition of the ITN, or how many people use it, impacts efficacy. This study assessed how ITN integrity, ITN age, and the number of persons sharing a net might mitigate or reduce protective efficacy among self-identified ITN users in Malawi. Methods From 2012 to 2014, six cross-sectional surveys were conducted in both the rainy and dry seasons in southern Malawi. Data were collected on ITN use, integrity (number and size of holes), and age. Blood samples for detecting Plasmodium falciparum infection were obtained from reported ITN users over 6 months of age. Generalized linear mixed models were used to account for clustering at the household and community level. The final model controlled for gender, household eaves, and community-level infection prevalence during the rainy season. Results There were 9646 ITN users with blood samples across six surveys, 15% of whom tested positive for P. falciparum infection. Among children under 5 years old, there was a 50% increased odds of P. falciparum infection among those sleeping under an ITN older than two years, compared to those using an ITN less than 2 years old (OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.07–2.08). ITN integrity and number of individuals sharing an ITN were not associated with P. falciparum infection. Conclusions Older ITNs were associated with higher rates of P. falciparum in young children, which may indicate that insecticide concentrations play a larger role in infection prevention than the physical barrier of an ITN. ITN use was self-reported and the integrity measures lacked the precision of newer methods, suggesting a need for objective measures of ITN use and more precise assessment of ITN integrity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lemu Golassa ◽  
Alebachew Messele ◽  
Alfred Amambua-Ngwa ◽  
Gote Swedberg

Abstract Background: Despite remarkable malaria reduction in recent years, malaria remains a public health problem in Ethiopia. With the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), malaria diagnosis has been transformed. However, the Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 ( hrp 2) that is targeted by the most widely used RDTs is prone to genetic mutations and gene deletions as observed in recent years. Patients infected with P. falciparum malaria parasites with a deletion in hrp 2/3 gene locus would remain undetected and results in ‘false-negatives’, which are not treated. Undoubtedly, these untreated infected patients are at risk of developing complicated disease and may further fuel parasite transmission. Hence, molecular targeting of the region across exons and flanking genes has been used to provide greater confirmatory evidence of gene deletions. This study was initiated to determine pfhrp2 /3 gene deletions including the flanking regions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hrp 2/3 genes deletion.Finger-prick blood samples were collected from a total of 64 febrile patients attending Adama Malaria Diagnostic Centre in 2015. Thick and thin blood smears were prepared for microscopic slide readings, and parasitaemias were determined. Blood samples were spotted onto filter for parasite DNA extraction. Results: From a total of 64 microscopically and PCR confirmed P. falciparum infections, 50 were successfully analyzed for deletion of pfhrp2 , pfhrp3 and flanking regions. Extensive deletions were observed in the pfhrp2 gene with all 50(100%) isolates presenting a deletion. This deletion extended downstream towards the Pf3D7 0831900 (MAL7PI.230) gene in 11/50 (22%) cases. In contrast, only 2/50 (4%) of samples had deletions for the upstream gene Pf3D7 0831700 (MALPI.228). Similarly, all isolates had deleted the pfhrp3 gene (100%) and this in 40% of isolates extended to the downstream flanking region Pf3D7 13272400 (MAL13PI.485) where 40% samples showed absence of this region. However, the deletion also extended toward the upstream region Pf3D7 081372100 (MAL13PI.475). The deleted pfhrp 3 genomic region also extended upstream to the region Pf3D7 081372100 (MAL13PI.475) with 49/50 (95%) of the isolates exhibiting absence of the locus. Conclusion: As patient recruitment was not done on pfhrp 2/3-based RDTs, it is impossible to know if the isolates would test negative or positive in the absence of hrp 2/3 genes. Indeed, the sequence variation and high frequencies of deletion in pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes in Ethiopian isolates most likely will have a negative influence on the performance of currently used pfhrp2 RDTs. This study confirms the presence of that P. falciparum parasite population with extensive deletions of the pfhrp 2 and pfhrp3 genes in Ethiopia and this calls for a countrywide surveillance to determine the extent of these deletions and its effect on routine malaria diagnosis. Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum , Histidine rich protein 2/3, Deletion, RDTs, Microscopy, Ethiopia


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Md Zulfekar Ali ◽  
Mohammad Moktader Moula ◽  
Zafar Ahmed Bhuiyan ◽  
Muhammad Tariq Javed

AbstractChicken astroviruses (CAstV) are enteric viruses of poultry causing gastroenteritis, malabsorption, gout and white chick disease commonly known as runting-stunting syndrome (RSS). It can affect the wide range of poultry birds, especially chicken, turkey and duck worldwide. To our best knowledge there is no published report on presence of antibodies against CAstV in Bangladesh. Therefore, the study aimed to detect the presence of CAstV antibodies in broilers and sonali chickens (a cross-bread) in Bangladesh through a cross-sectional survey. A total of 454 blood samples from 66 flocks of broiler (n=343) and sonali chickens (n=111) of different ages were obtained during 2017 from four districts. The birds were healthy but were not vaccinated against CAstV. The samples were tested for specific antibodies against CAstV Group B by using commercially available ELISA kit. Overall, 16.74% (76/454) samples and 34.84% (23/66) flocks were positive for CAstV antibodies. The seroprevalence of CAstV was significantly (p=0.001) higher in sonali chickens (36.96%) than broiler (10.20%), while it was significantly higher (p=0.001) in birds of Bogura district (36.94%) than the other three districts. Regarding the age groups, seroprevalence was insignificantly (p=0.192) higher in sonali chicken before laying age (45%) than during laying age (27.45%). Regarding the seasons, CAstV infection was prevalent significantly (p=0.001) higher in winter season. Thus, the present study indicated the presence of CAstV in poultry in Bangladesh, so further studies are required to find out the magnitude of the problem in the country.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 592-601
Author(s):  
Viktor Oleksenko ◽  
Kazim Aliev ◽  
I. Akinshevich ◽  
Ye. Chirva

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumor, both world-wide and in the Russian Federation (RF), possessing one of the highest mortality rates. The aim of current research was to analyze the main epidemiological data, the rates reflecting the diagnostics and results of treatment of GC patients in the Republic of Crimea (RC) and to compare with national trends. Using the extensive, intensive, standardized rates, estimated by world standard method, structural analysis of the epidemiology of GC in RC for the period from 2007 to 2016 was carried out. The obtained results made it possible to compare these data with the main GC rates in RF. Results of the study. The incidence of GC in RC decreased during 10 years, for men - 16,42 (4th place), for women - 6,68 (9th place) per 100 000 of the population. By 2021 a further decline in morbidity in men is expected to be 30,27% and a possible increase in the female incidence rate - by 17,54%. The average age of GC patients in RC was 66,5 years. Index accuracy was 0,75, which testified to satisfactory conditions of specialized treatment for this tumor. Mortality from GC at the 1st year of life in RC was higher than in RF - 56,0%, which was due to low active diagnostics - 3,6% and accordingly a high proportion of GC patients of IV stage - 43,3%. Ratio index in RC for 10 years was higher than in RF and increased from 3,5 to 4,4; prevalence rate of GC in RC was lower - 84,1 per 100 000 of the population in comparison with RF, GC mortality index - 15,3 per 100 000 of the population that was lower than in RF. The proportion of patients who have been observed for 5 years or more in RC was 57,3% that was more than in RF. Conclusions. The rates reflecting early diagnostics of GC in RC are worse than all-Russian ones, which makes it necessary to develop medical examination program for the population of RC for this malignancy. The growth of ratio index, the lower mortality rates and the greater proportion of people who have been observed for 5 years or more indicates the best results of treatment of patients with GC in RC compared with similar data in RF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Jiang ◽  
Hongmei Liu ◽  
Dongling Sun ◽  
Haixin Sun ◽  
Xiaojuan Ru ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and purpose Epidemiological data on primary brain tumours (PBTs) are lacking due to the difficulty in case ascertainment among the population. Thus, we aimed to estimate mortality due to PBTs in China nationwide and the detection rate in people with suspected symptoms. Methods A multistage, complex sampling survey regarding mortality due to PBTs in Chinese individuals was carried out by reviewing all causes of death within a year. The detection rates in people with suspected symptoms were estimated based on PBT symptom screening and neurologist reviews and compared between groups by logistic regression analysis. Results Weighted mortality due to PBT was 1.6 (0.8–3.3) per 100,000 population in Chinese individuals, 1.8 (0.7–4.6) per 100,000 population in men, and 1.5 (0.5–4.5) per 100,000 population in women. Among 14,990 people with suspected symptoms, the PBT detection rate was 306.9 (95% CI 224.7–409.3) per 100,000 population in the total population, 233.0 (95% CI 135.7–373.1) per 100,000 population in men, and 376.9 (95% CI 252.4–546.3) per 100,000 population in women. People with an unsteady gait (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.09–5.51; P=0.029), visual anomalies (3.84; 1.88–7.85; P<0.001), and headache (2.06; 1.10–3.86; P=0.023) were more likely to have a brain tumour than those without corresponding symptoms, while people with dizziness/vertigo were less likely to have a brain tumour than those without corresponding symptoms (0.45; 0.23–0.87; P=0.017). Conclusions Mortality due to PBT in China was low, with a nationwide estimate of 21,215 (10,427–43,165) deaths attributable to PBTs annually. However, the detection rate of PBTs can be greatly improved based on symptom screening in the population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Getu Abeje ◽  
Woyneshet Gelaye ◽  
Getaneh Alemu

Abstract Background Both capillary and venous blood samples have been interchangeably used for the diagnosis of malaria in Ethiopia. However, Plasmodium parasites are thought to be more concentrated in capillary than in venous blood. Hence, selecting a sample source where parasites are more concentrated is indispensable approach in order to maximize the accuracy of blood film microscopy. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the detection rate and the parasitemia level of Plasmodium species from conventional capillary and venous blood films, and buffy coat preparations. Methods A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feburary to March 2020 among 210 febrile patients attending Hamusite health center, northwest Ethiopia. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected and buffy coat was prepared from each sample. Thin and thick blood films were prepared, stained, and examined microscopically following standard protocol. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software version 20 and Med-Calc software version 19.3. Results Capillary blood buffy coat (61/210, 29.0%) had significantly higher detection rate as compared to capillary (48/210, 22.9%) and venous (42/210, 20.0%) blood films (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between capillary and venous blood films (p = 0.070) in detecting Plasmodium species. The highest and the lowest mean asexual stage parasite counts were found in capillary blood buffy coat (4692.88) and venous blood (631.43) films, respectively showing significant variations (p < 0.001). Mean gametocyte count was also highest in capillary blood buffy coat (3958.44). As compared to capillary blood buffy coat, the sensitivity of venous blood buffy coat, capillary blood film and venous blood film were 73.8, 78.7, 68.9%, respectively. Conclusion Capillary blood buffy coat samples showed the highest sensitivity in detecting and quantitating malaria parasites that its use should be promoted in clinical settings. However, conventional capillary and venous blood films could be used interchangeably.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizuki Sata ◽  
Renzhe Cui ◽  
Chifa Chiang ◽  
Singeru Travis Singeo ◽  
Berry Moon Watson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aimed to describe the status of alcohol consumption and drug use among young adults as well as their determinants. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 356 young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) living in Palau in 2013. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol and marijuana usage were compared within and between sexes, age groups, ethnicities, and education levels. Results The proportion of current drinking was higher in people aged 21–24 than in those aged 18–20 (73.2% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.09 in men and 48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02 in women), while that of marijuana use did not differ between the age groups. The proportions of current drinking and marijuana use were higher in Palauan than in other ethnicities (current drinking: 70.6% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.005 in men and 38.8% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.04 in women; lifetime marijuana use: 80.0% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.02 in men and 56.1% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.09 in women). The proportion of frequent (3 times or more) marijuana users was higher for the lower educated than for the higher educated (62.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001 in men and 33.9% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.12 in women). Conclusions Sex, age, ethnicity, and education were significant determinants of alcohol and marijuana use.


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