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PloS One 2021Multiple infections of genetically distinct clones of the same Plasmodium species are common in many malaria endemic settings. Mean multiplicity of infection (MOI) and...
Multiple infections of genetically distinct clones of the same Plasmodium species are common in many malaria endemic settings. Mean multiplicity of infection (MOI) and the proportion of polyclonal infections are often reported as surrogate marker of transmission intensity, yet the relationship with traditional measures such as parasite prevalence is not well understood. We have searched Pubmed for articles on P. falciparum and P. vivax multiplicity, and compared the proportion of polyclonal infections and mean MOI to population prevalence. The impact of the genotyping method, number of genotyping markers, method for diagnosis (microscopy/RDT vs. PCR), presence of clinical symptoms, age, geographic region, and year of sample collection on multiplicity indices were assessed. For P. falciparum, 153 studies met inclusion criteria, yielding 275 individual data points and 33,526 genotyped individuals. The proportion of polyclonal infections ranged from 0-96%, and mean MOI from 1-6.1. For P. vivax, 54 studies met inclusion criteria, yielding 115 data points and 13,325 genotyped individuals. The proportion of polyclonal infections ranged from 0-100%, and mean MOI from 1-3.8. For both species, the proportion of polyclonal infections ranged from very low to close to 100% at low prevalence, while at high prevalence it was always high. Each percentage point increase in prevalence resulted in a 0.34% increase in the proportion of polyclonal P. falciparum infections (P<0.001), and a 0.78% increase in the proportion of polyclonal P. vivax infections (P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, higher prevalence, typing multiple markers, diagnosis of infections by PCR, and sampling in Africa were found to result in a higher proportion of P. falciparum polyclonal infections. For P. vivax, prevalence, year of study, typing multiple markers, and geographic region were significant predictors. In conclusion, polyclonal infections are frequently present in all settings, but the association between multiplicity and prevalence is weak.
Topics: Humans; Laboratories; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Prevalence
PubMed: 34115783
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249382 -
Malaria Journal Jun 2023Vitamin D supplementation is recommended as an effective adjunct to counteract malaria pathogenesis, but the evidence on this point is limited and controversial. This... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D supplementation is recommended as an effective adjunct to counteract malaria pathogenesis, but the evidence on this point is limited and controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D administration on the survival rate of Plasmodium-infected animals in experimentally-induced malaria on days 6 and 10 post-infection.
METHODS
Five electronic databases were searched up to 20 December 2021. The pooled risks ratio (RR) and associated 95% confidence interval were estimated using the Restricted-maximum likelihood (REML) random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran's Q test and I value. Sub-group analyses were used to identify the sources of heterogeneity for several variables, such as type of vitamin D, type of intervention, and dose of vitamin D.
RESULTS
Out of 248 articles found in the electronic database, six were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The current study found that the pooled random effect of risks ratio favored a statistically significant effect of vitamin D administration on survival rate in infected mice on day 6 post Plasmodium infection (RR = 1.08, 95%CI 1.03, 1.15, p < 0.99; I = 0%). It also found that vitamin D administration significantly affected the survival rate on day 10 post-infection (RR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.39, 2.71, p < 0.001; I = 69.02%). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a significant pooled RRs of the positive effect of vitamin D administration for cholecalciferol (RR = 3.11, 95%CI 2.41, 4.03, p < 0.001; I = 0%), doses higher than 50 µg/kg (RR = 3.37, 95%CI 2.55, 4.27, p < 0.001; I = 0%), and oral administration (RR = 3.01, 95%CI 2.37, 3.82, p < 0.001; I = 0%).
CONCLUSION
This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that vitamin D administration positively affects the survival rate in Plasmodium-infected mice. Since, the mouse model may not accurately reproduce the clinical and pathological features of human malaria, future research should investigate the impact of vitamin D in human malaria.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Cholecalciferol; Malaria
PubMed: 37277818
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04612-4 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jun 2022In areas with both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria, interventions can reduce the burden of both species but the impact may vary due to their different...
BACKGROUND
In areas with both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria, interventions can reduce the burden of both species but the impact may vary due to their different biology. Knowing the expected relative impact on the two species over time for vector- and drug-based interventions, and the factors affecting this, could help plan and evaluate intervention strategies.
METHODS
For three interventions (treated bed nets (ITN), mass drug administration (MDA) and indoor residual spraying (IRS)), we identified studies providing information on the proportion of clinical illness and patent infections attributed to P. vivax over time using a literature search. The change in the proportion of malaria attributed to P. vivax up to two years since implementation was estimated using logistic regression accounting for clustering with random effects. Potential factors (intervention type, coverage, relapse pattern, transmission intensity, seasonality, initial proportion of P. vivax and round of intervention) were assessed.
RESULTS
In total there were 55 studies found that led to 72 series of time-points for clinical case data and 69 series for patent infection data. The main reason of study exclusion was insufficient information on interventions. There was considerable variation in the proportion of malaria attributed to P. vivax over time by study and location for all of the interventions. Overall, there was an increase apart from MDA in the short-term. The potential factors could not be ruled in or out. Although not consistently significant, coverage, transmission intensity and relapse pattern are possible factors that explain some of the variation found.
CONCLUSION
While there are reports of an increase in the proportion of malaria due to P. vivax following interventions in the long-term, there was substantial variation for the shorter time-scales considered in this study (up to 24 months for IRS and ITN, and up to six months for MDA). The large variability points to the need for the monitoring of both species after an intervention. Studies should report intervention timing and characteristics to allow inclusion in systematic reviews.
Topics: Humans; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Recurrence
PubMed: 35767578
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010541 -
Malaria Journal Dec 2016Levels of both angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) correlate with malaria disease severity and are proposed as biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Levels of both angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) correlate with malaria disease severity and are proposed as biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets. To establish their role in malaria, a systematic review was performed of the literature on Ang-1 and Ang-2 with regard to their potential as biomarkers in malaria and discuss their possible place in adjuvant treatment regimens.
METHODS
Ten electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies investigating Ang-1 and Ang-2 in human and murine malaria in both clinical and experimental settings. Information about the predictive value of Ang-1 and Ang-2 for disease severity and their regulatory changes in interventional studies were extracted.
RESULTS
Some 579 studies were screened; 26 were included for analysis. In all five studies that determined Ang-1 levels and in all 11 studies that determined Ang-2 in different disease severity states in falciparum malaria, a decline in Ang-1 and an increase of Ang-2 levels was associated with increasing disease severity. All nine studies that determined angiopoietin levels in Plasmodium falciparum patients to study their ability as biomarkers could distinguish between multiple disease severity states; the more the disease severity states differed, the better they could be distinguished. Five studies differentiating malaria survivors from non-survivors with Ang-2 as marker found an AUROC in a range of 0.71-0.83, which performed as well or better than lactate. Prophylactic administration of FTY720, rosiglitazone or inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) during malaria disease in mice resulted in an increase in Ang-1, a decrease in Ang-2 and an increased survival. For rosiglitazone, a decrease in Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio was observed after post-infection treatment in mice and humans with malaria, but for inhalation of NO, an effect on Ang-1 and survival was only observed in mice.
CONCLUSION
Both Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels correlate with and can distinguish between malaria disease severity states within the group of malaria-infected patients. However, distinct comparisons of disease severity states were made in distinct studies and not all distinctions made had clinical relevance. Changes in levels of Ang-1 and Ang-2 might also reflect treatment effectiveness and are promising therapeutic targets as part of multi-targeted therapy.
Topics: Angiopoietin-1; Angiopoietin-2; Animals; Biomarkers; Disease Models, Animal; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Malaria, Falciparum; Mice; Predictive Value of Tests; ROC Curve; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 27905921
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1624-8 -
PloS One 2021Knowledge about malaria associated with pregnancy is scarce in Latin America, and in Colombia, little is known about the magnitude of this infection. A systematic review... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Knowledge about malaria associated with pregnancy is scarce in Latin America, and in Colombia, little is known about the magnitude of this infection. A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria associated with pregnancy (MAP) and each of its three forms: gestational (GM), placental (PM), and congenital (CM) tested using thick blood smear (TBS) and PCR. Also to compare the proportion of cases due to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in Colombia from the year 2000-2020. We searched in Pubmed, Science Direct, EMBASE, EMCare, Cochrane Library, Scielo, Lilacs, Google Scholar, libraries, and repositories of Colombian universities, to obtain data on prevalence of GM, PM and CM with their respective testing method. We performed a meta-analysis with a random-effects model to obtain pooled prevalence of MAP and its three forms categorized by testing methods (TBS and PCR). We used data from 14 studies (out of 258 screened) contributing 7932, 2506 women for GM and PM respectively, also data on 1143 umbilical cord blood samples, and 899 peripheral blood of neonates. We found prevalence by TBS as, MAP 4.5% (95%CI = 2.9-6.9), GM 5.8% (95%CI = 3.8-8.7), PM 3.4% (95%CI = 1.7-6.7) and CM 1.3% (95%CI = 0.6-3.0). With PCR the prevalence was, MAP 14.4% (95%CI = 7.6-25.5), GM 16.7% (95%CI = 9.0-28.8), PM 11.0% (95%CI = 4.1-26.3) and CM 16.2% (95%CI = 8.2-29.5). The prevalence of submicroscopic infection was 8.5% (95%CI = 3.4-19.7) in GM, 10.1% (95%CI = 3.5-25.5) in PM and 22.0% (95%CI = 13.2-34.3) in CM. Infections by P. vivax was dominant over P. falciparum when tested with TBS, the PCR test gave similar proportions of P. falciparum and P. vivax. This meta-analysis has demonstrated high prevalence of MAP in Colombia, and highlights the urgent need to increase attention of researchers, research funding institutions, government agencies, and health authorities to study and intervene MAP, that has currently been under investigated.
Topics: Colombia; Female; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic
PubMed: 34329329
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255028 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have become a mainstay of malaria diagnosis in endemic countries since their implementation in the 1990s. We conducted a 30-year systematic... (Review)
Review
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have become a mainstay of malaria diagnosis in endemic countries since their implementation in the 1990s. We conducted a 30-year systematic review and meta-analysis on malaria RDTs performance in India. Outcomes of interest were sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive/negative likelihood ratio (PLR/NLR), and diagnostic odd ratio (DOR). Among the 75 studies included, most of the studies were cross-sectional (65.3%), hospital-based (77.3%), and targeted febrile patients (90.6%). Nearly half of RDTs were designed for detecting only (47.5%) while the rest were for and (11.9%), and /Pan- except for (32.3%). When compared to light microscopy (gold standard), pooled estimates of performances were: Se = 97.0%, Sp = 96.0%, PLR = 22.4, NLR = 0.02 and DOR = 1080. In comparison to polymerase chain reaction, the RDTs showed Se = 89.0% and Sp = 99.0%. Performance outcomes (Se and Sp) were similar for RDT targeting only, but decreased for mixed and non-falciparum infections. Performances of malaria RDTs are still high India. However, there is a need for developing RDTs with regard to targeting minor malarial species, individuals carrying only mature gametocytes, and -deleted parasites.
PubMed: 33806066
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11040590 -
BMJ Global Health Dec 2023The optimal dosing of primaquine to prevent relapsing malaria in South Asia remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy and safety of different primaquine regimens to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The optimal dosing of primaquine to prevent relapsing malaria in South Asia remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy and safety of different primaquine regimens to prevent relapse.
METHODS
A systematic review identified efficacy studies from South Asia published between 1 January 2000 and 23 August 2021. In a one-stage meta-analysis of available individual patient data, the cumulative risks of recurrence at day 42 and 180 were assessed by primaquine total mg/kg dose and duration. The risk of recurrence by day 180 was also determined in a two-stage meta-analysis. Patients with a >25% drop in haemoglobin to <70 g/L, or an absolute drop of >50 g/L between days 1 and 14 were categorised by daily mg/kg primaquine dose.
RESULTS
In 791 patients from 7 studies in the one-stage meta-analysis, the day 180 cumulative risk of recurrence was 61.1% (95% CI 42.2% to 80.4%; 201 patients; 25 recurrences) after treatment without primaquine, 28.8% (95% CI 8.2% to 74.1%; 398 patients; 4 recurrences) following low total (2 to <5 mg/kg) and 0% (96 patients; 0 recurrences) following high total dose primaquine (≥5 mg/kg). In the subsequent two-stage meta-analysis of nine studies (3529 patients), the pooled proportions of recurrences by day 180 were 12.1% (95% CI 7.7% to 17.2%), 2.3% (95% CI 0.3% to 5.4%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0% to 6.1%), respectively. No patients had a >25% drop in haemoglobin to <70 g/L.
CONCLUSIONS
Primaquine treatment led to a marked decrease in recurrences following low (~3.5 mg/kg) and high (~7 mg/kg) total doses, with no reported severe haemolytic events.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022313730.
Topics: Humans; Primaquine; Malaria, Vivax; Antimalarials; Plasmodium vivax; Recurrence; Asia, Southern; Hemoglobins
PubMed: 38123228
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012675 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2022The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Concerns about... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Concerns about artemisinin resistance have led to global initiatives to develop new partner drugs to protect artemisinin derivatives in ACT. Pyronaridine-artesunate is a novel ACT.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy of pyronaridine-artesunate compared to alternative ACTs for treating people with uncomplicated P falciparum malaria, and to evaluate the safety of pyronaridine-artesunate and other pyronaridine treatments compared to alternative treatments.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), published in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE; Embase; and LILACS. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the ISRCTN registry for ongoing or recently completed trials. The date of the last search was 27 October 2021.
SELECTION CRITERIA
For the efficacy analysis, we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pyronaridine-artesunate for treating uncomplicated P falciparum malaria. For the safety analysis, we included RCTs that used pyronaridine alone or in combination with any other antimalarials. In addition to these analyses, we conducted a separate systematic review summarizing data on safety from non-randomized studies (NRS) of any patient receiving pyronaridine (NRS safety review). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted all data and assessed the certainty of the evidence. We meta-analysed data to calculate risk ratios (RRs) for treatment failures between comparisons, and for safety outcomes between and across comparisons.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 10 relevant RCTs. Seven RCTs were co-funded by Shin Poong Pharmaceuticals, and three were funded by government agencies. Efficacy analysis (RCTs) For the efficacy analysis, we identified five RCTs comprising 5711 participants. This included 4465 participants from 13 sites in Africa, and 1246 participants from five sites in Asia. The analysis included 541 children aged less than five years. Overall, pyronaridine-artesunate had a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-adjusted treatment failure rate of less than 5%. We evaluated pyronaridine-artesunate versus the following. • Artemether-lumefantrine. Pyronaridine artesunate may perform better for PCR-adjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 1.31; 4 RCTs, 3068 participants, low-certainty evidence); for unadjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.58; 4 RCTs, 3149 participants, low-certainty evidence); and for unadjusted failures at day 42 (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.82; 4 RCTs, 3080 participants, low-certainty evidence). For PCR-adjusted failures at day 42, there may be little or no difference between groups (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.51; 4 RCTs, 2575 participants, low-certainty evidence). • Artesunate-amodiaquine. Pyronaridine artesunate may perform better for PCR-adjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.11 to 2.77; 1 RCT, 1245 participants, low-certainty evidence); probably performs better for unadjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.81; 1 RCT, 1257 participants, moderate-certainty evidence); may make little or no difference for PCR-adjusted failures at day 42 (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.20 to 4.83; 1 RCT, 1091 participants, low-certainty evidence); and probably makes little or no difference for unadjusted failures at day 42 (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.23; 1 RCT, 1235 participants, moderate-certainty evidence). • Mefloquine plus artesunate. Pyronaridine artesunate may perform better for PCR-adjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.05; 1 RCT, 1117 participants, low-certainty evidence); probably performs better for unadjusted failures at day 28 (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.78; 1 RCT, 1120 participants, moderate-certainty evidence); may make little or no difference for unadjusted failures at day 42 (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.31; 1 RCT, 1059 participants, low-certainty evidence); but may lead to higher PCR-adjusted failures at day 42 (RR 1.80, 95% CI 0.90 to 3.57; 1 RCT, 1037 participants, low-certainty evidence). Safety analysis (RCTs) For the RCT safety analysis, we identified eight RCTs, one of which was delineated by study site, comparing pyronaridine-artesunate to other antimalarials. Pyronaridine-artesunate was associated with raised liver enzymes compared to other antimalarials: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (RR 3.59, 95% CI 1.76 to 7.33; 8 RCTS, 6669 participants, high-certainty evidence) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (RR 2.22, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.41; 8 RCTs, 6669 participants, moderate-certainty evidence). No such effect was demonstrated with bilirubin (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.49 to 2.18; 7 RCTs, 6384 participants, moderate-certainty evidence). There was one reported case in which raised ALT occurred with raised bilirubin. No study reported severe drug-induced liver injury. Electrocardiograph (ECG) abnormalities were less common with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to other antimalarials. We identified no other safety concerns. NRS safety review A review on safety in NRS allowed us to increase the population within which safety was assessed. We included seven studies with 9546 participants: five single-arm observational studies, one cohort event monitoring study, and one dose-escalation study. All studies provided data on adverse event frequency, with a small number of participants experiencing serious adverse events and adverse effects related to pyronaridine: serious adverse events average 0.37%; drug-related 9.0%. In two studies reporting elevations in liver enzymes, small percentages of participants (2.4% and 14.1% respectively) experienced increases in either ALT, AST, or bilirubin on day 7; however, these were small increases that returned to normal by day 42. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Pyronaridine-artesunate was efficacious against uncomplicated P falciparum malaria; achieved a PCR-adjusted treatment failure rate of less than 5% at days 28 and 42; and may be at least as good as, or better than, other marketed ACTs. Pyronaridine-artesunate increases the risk of episodes of abnormally raised ALT. The observational data did not signal an excess of clinically important adverse effects.
Topics: Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Artesunate; Bilirubin; Child; Drug Combinations; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Naphthyridines
PubMed: 35726133
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006404.pub4 -
Malaria Journal Jun 2021Deletion of pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 genes cause false negatives in malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and threating malaria control strategies. This systematic review aims... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Deletion of pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 genes cause false negatives in malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and threating malaria control strategies. This systematic review aims to assess the main methodological aspects in the study of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions and its global epidemiological status, with special focus on their distribution in Africa; and its possible impact in RDT.
METHODS
The systematic review was conducted by examining the principal issues of study design and methodological workflow of studies addressing pfhrp2 deletion. Meta-analysis was applied to represent reported prevalences of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 single and double deletion in the World Health Organization (WHO) region. Pooled-prevalence of deletions was calculated using DerSimonnian-Laird random effect model. Then, in-deep analysis focused on Africa was performed to assess possible variables related with these deletions. Finally, the impact of these deletions in RDT results was analysed combining reported information about RDT sensitivity and deletion prevalences.
RESULTS
49 articles were included for the systematic review and 37 for the meta-analysis, 13 of them placed in Africa. Study design differs significantly, especially in terms of population sample and information reported, resulting in high heterogeneity between studies that difficulties comparisons and merged conclusions. Reported prevalences vary widely in all the WHO regions, significantly higher deletion were reported in South-Central America, following by Africa and Asia. Pfhrp3 deletion is more prevalent (43% in South-Central America; 3% in Africa; and 1% in Asia) than pfhrp2 deletion (18% in South-Central America; 4% in Africa; and 3% in Asia) worldwide. In Africa, there were not found differences in deletion prevalence by geographical or population origin of samples. The prevalence of deletion among false negatives ranged from 0 to 100% in Africa, but in Asia and South-Central America was only up to 90% and 48%, respectively, showing substantial relation between deletions and false negatives.
CONCLUSION
The concerning prevalence of pfhrp2, pfhrp3 and pfhrp2/3 gene deletions, as its possible implications in malaria control, highlights the importance of regular and systematic surveillance of these deletions. This review has also outlined that a standardized methodology could play a key role to ensure comparability between studies to get global conclusions.
Topics: Antigens, Protozoan; Gene Deletion; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Prevalence; Protozoan Proteins
PubMed: 34158065
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03812-0 -
Value in Health Regional Issues Dec 2015The objective of this study was to evaluate the burden of malaria in Latin America and the Caribbean countries through a systematic review and meta-analysis of published... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the burden of malaria in Latin America and the Caribbean countries through a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature, gray literature, and information from countries' public health authorities for the period 1990 to 2009.
METHODS
The random-effects meta-analysis of the prospective studies, carried out in very highly endemic areas, showed an annual incidence rate of 409.0 malaria episodes/1000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 263.1-554.9), considering all ages, which was 40-fold the one estimated from areas with passive surveillance only.
RESULTS
Overall, the most prevalent species was Plasmodium vivax (77.5%; 95% CI 75.6-79.4) followed by Plasmodium falciparum (20.8%; 95% CI 19.0-22.6) and Plasmodium malariae (0.08%; 95% CI 0.07-0.010). Data from regional ministries of health yielded an estimated pooled crude annual mortality rate of 6 deaths/100,000 people, mainly associated with P. falciparum.
CONCLUSION
This study represents the first systematic review of the burden of malaria in Latin America and the Caribbean, with data from 21 countries.
PubMed: 29698174
DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2015.05.002