Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections
Abstract Background The recent scale-up in malaria control measures in Latin America has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of reported cases in several countries including Ecuador, where it presented a low malaria incidence in recent years (558 reported cases in 2015) with occasional...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-1947-0 |
| _version_ | 1829116934552027136 |
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| author | Fabián E. Sáenz Andrea Arévalo-Cortés Gabriela Valenzuela Andrés F. Vallejo Angélica Castellanos Andrea C. Poveda-Loayza Juan B. Gutierrez Alvaro Alvarez Yi Heng Yan Yoldy Benavides Luis Enrique Castro Myriam Arévalo-Herrera Sócrates Herrera |
| author_facet | Fabián E. Sáenz Andrea Arévalo-Cortés Gabriela Valenzuela Andrés F. Vallejo Angélica Castellanos Andrea C. Poveda-Loayza Juan B. Gutierrez Alvaro Alvarez Yi Heng Yan Yoldy Benavides Luis Enrique Castro Myriam Arévalo-Herrera Sócrates Herrera |
| author_sort | Fabián E. Sáenz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The recent scale-up in malaria control measures in Latin America has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of reported cases in several countries including Ecuador, where it presented a low malaria incidence in recent years (558 reported cases in 2015) with occasional outbreaks of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in the coastal and Amazonian regions. This success in malaria control in recent years has led Ecuador to transition its malaria policy from control to elimination. Results This study evaluated the general knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about malaria, as well as its prevalence in four communities of an endemic area in northwest Ecuador. A total of 258 interviews to assess KAP in the community indicated that most people in the study area have a basic knowledge about the disease but did not use to contribute to its control. Six hundred and forty-eight blood samples were collected and analysed by thick blood smear and real-time PCR. In addition, the distribution of the infections was mapped in the study communities. Although, no parasites were found by microscopy, by PCR the total malaria prevalence was 7.5% (6.9% P. vivax and 0.6% P. falciparum), much higher than expected and comparable to that reported in endemic areas of neighbouring countries with higher malaria transmission. Serology using ELISA and immunofluorescence indicated 27% respondents for P. vivax and 22% respondents for P. falciparum. Conclusions Results suggest that despite a great malaria reduction in Ecuador, transition from control to elimination would demand further improvement in malaria diagnostics, including active case detection to identify and treat parasite asymptomatic carriers, as well as community participation in its elimination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:18:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-166ac4d1f635460181e5d551a736972b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:18:49Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-166ac4d1f635460181e5d551a736972b2022-12-22T00:13:18ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752017-07-0116111010.1186/s12936-017-1947-0Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infectionsFabián E. Sáenz0Andrea Arévalo-Cortés1Gabriela Valenzuela2Andrés F. Vallejo3Angélica Castellanos4Andrea C. Poveda-Loayza5Juan B. Gutierrez6Alvaro Alvarez7Yi Heng Yan8Yoldy Benavides9Luis Enrique Castro10Myriam Arévalo-Herrera11Sócrates Herrera12Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorCentro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorCentro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorCaucaseco Scientific Research CenterCaucaseco Scientific Research CenterCentro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorDepartment of Mathematics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of GeorgiaMalaria Vaccine and Drug Development CenterDepartment of Mathematics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of GeorgiaMalaria Vaccine and Drug Development CenterMinisterio de Salud PúblicaCaucaseco Scientific Research CenterCaucaseco Scientific Research CenterAbstract Background The recent scale-up in malaria control measures in Latin America has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of reported cases in several countries including Ecuador, where it presented a low malaria incidence in recent years (558 reported cases in 2015) with occasional outbreaks of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in the coastal and Amazonian regions. This success in malaria control in recent years has led Ecuador to transition its malaria policy from control to elimination. Results This study evaluated the general knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about malaria, as well as its prevalence in four communities of an endemic area in northwest Ecuador. A total of 258 interviews to assess KAP in the community indicated that most people in the study area have a basic knowledge about the disease but did not use to contribute to its control. Six hundred and forty-eight blood samples were collected and analysed by thick blood smear and real-time PCR. In addition, the distribution of the infections was mapped in the study communities. Although, no parasites were found by microscopy, by PCR the total malaria prevalence was 7.5% (6.9% P. vivax and 0.6% P. falciparum), much higher than expected and comparable to that reported in endemic areas of neighbouring countries with higher malaria transmission. Serology using ELISA and immunofluorescence indicated 27% respondents for P. vivax and 22% respondents for P. falciparum. Conclusions Results suggest that despite a great malaria reduction in Ecuador, transition from control to elimination would demand further improvement in malaria diagnostics, including active case detection to identify and treat parasite asymptomatic carriers, as well as community participation in its elimination.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-1947-0Asymptomatic malariaEcuadorKnowledge attitude and practicesElimination |
| spellingShingle | Fabián E. Sáenz Andrea Arévalo-Cortés Gabriela Valenzuela Andrés F. Vallejo Angélica Castellanos Andrea C. Poveda-Loayza Juan B. Gutierrez Alvaro Alvarez Yi Heng Yan Yoldy Benavides Luis Enrique Castro Myriam Arévalo-Herrera Sócrates Herrera Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections Malaria Journal Asymptomatic malaria Ecuador Knowledge attitude and practices Elimination |
| title | Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| title_full | Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| title_fullStr | Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| title_short | Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| title_sort | malaria epidemiology in low endemicity areas of the northern coast of ecuador high prevalence of asymptomatic infections |
| topic | Asymptomatic malaria Ecuador Knowledge attitude and practices Elimination |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-1947-0 |
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