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Malaria Journal
Published in: Malaria Journal 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Persistent Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections in a western Cambodian population: implications for prevention, treatment and elimination strategies

Authors: Rupam Tripura, Thomas J. Peto, Jeremy Chalk, Sue J. Lee, Pasathorn Sirithiranont, Chea Nguon, Mehul Dhorda, Lorenz von Seidlein, Richard J. Maude, Nicholas P. J. Day, Mallika Imwong, Nicholas J. White, Arjen M. Dondorp

Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Subclinical Plasmodium parasitaemia is an important reservoir for the transmission and persistence of malaria, particularly in low transmission areas.

Methods

Using ultrasensitive quantitative PCR (uPCR) for the detection of parasitaemia, the entire population of three Cambodian villages in Pailin province were followed for 1 year at three-monthly intervals. A cohort of adult participants found initially to have asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was followed monthly over the same period.

Results

The initial cross sectional survey in June 2013 (M0) of 1447 asymptomatic residents found that 32 (2.2 %) had Plasmodium falciparum, 48 (3.3 %) had P. vivax, 4 (0.3 %) had mixed infections and in 142/1447 (9.8 %) malaria was detected but there was insufficient DNA to identify the species (Plasmodium. species). Polymorphisms in the ‘K13-propeller’ associated with reduced susceptibility to artemisinin derivatives (C580Y) were found in 17/32 (51 %) P. falciparum strains. Monthly follow-up without treatment of 24 adult participants with asymptomatic mono or mixed P. falciparum infections found that 3/24 (13 %) remained parasitaemic for 2–4 months, whereas the remaining 21/24 (87 %) participants had cleared their parasitaemia after 1 month. In contrast, 12/34 (35 %) adult participants with P. vivax mono-infection at M0 had malaria parasites (P. vivax or P. sp.) during four or more of the following 11 monthly surveys.

Conclusions

This longitudinal survey in a low transmission setting shows limited duration of P. falciparum carriage, but prolonged carriage of P. vivax infections. Radical treatment of P. vivax infections by 8-aminoquinoline regimens may be required to eliminate all malaria from Cambodia.
Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01872702
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Persistent Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections in a western Cambodian population: implications for prevention, treatment and elimination strategies
Authors
Rupam Tripura
Thomas J. Peto
Jeremy Chalk
Sue J. Lee
Pasathorn Sirithiranont
Chea Nguon
Mehul Dhorda
Lorenz von Seidlein
Richard J. Maude
Nicholas P. J. Day
Mallika Imwong
Nicholas J. White
Arjen M. Dondorp
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Malaria Journal / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2875
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-016-1224-7

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