1. Dynamics of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections and their infectiousness to mosquitoes in a low transmission setting of Ethiopia: a longitudinal observational study
- Author
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Elifaged Hailemeskel, Surafel K. Tebeje, Jordache Ramjith, Temesgen Ashine, Kjerstin Lanke, Sinknesh W. Behaksra, Tadele Emiru, Tizita Tsegaye, Abrham Gashaw, Soria Kedir, Wakweya Chali, Endashaw Esayas, Temesgen Tafesse, Haile Abera, Mikiyas Gebremichael Bulto, Girma Shumie, Beyene Petros, Hassen Mamo, Chris Drakeley, Endalamaw Gadisa, Teun Bousema, and Fitsum G. Tadesse
- Subjects
Asymptomatic ,Longitudinal ,Membrane feeding assay ,Infectiousness ,Transmission ,P. falciparum, P. vivax ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
Objective: A 15-month longitudinal study was conducted to determine the duration and infectivity of asymptomatic qPCR-detected Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections in Ethiopia. Method: Total parasite and gametocyte kinetics were determined by molecular methods; infectivity to Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes by repeated membrane feeding assays. Infectivity results were contrasted with passively recruited symptomatic malaria cases. Results: For P. falciparum and P. vivax infections detected at enrolment, median durations of infection were 37 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 15-93) and 60 days (95% CI, 18-213), respectively. P. falciparum and P. vivax parasite densities declined over the course of infections. From 47 feeding assays on 22 asymptomatic P. falciparum infections, 6.4% (3/47) were infectious and these infected 1.8% (29/1579) of mosquitoes. No transmission was observed in feeding assays on asymptomatic P. vivax mono-infections (0/56); one mixed-species infection was highly infectious. Among the symptomatic cases, 4.3% (2/47) of P. falciparum and 73.3% (53/86) of P. vivax patients were infectious to mosquitoes. Conclusion: The majority of asymptomatic infections were of short duration and low parasite density. Only a minority of asymptomatic individuals were infectious to mosquitoes. This contrasts with earlier findings and is plausibly due to the low parasite densities in this population.
- Published
- 2024
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