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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Spatio-temporal dynamics of asymptomatic malaria: Bridging the gap between annual malaria resurgences in a Sahelian environment

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Coulibaly D, Travassos MA, Tolo Y, Laurens MB, Kone AK, Traore K, Sissoko M, Niangaly A, Diarra I, Daou M, Guindo B, Rebaudet S, Kouriba B, Dessay N, Piarroux R, Plowe CV, Doumbo OK, Thera MA, Gaudart J
2017
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 97 (6): 1761-1769

In areas of seasonal malaria transmission, the incidence rate of malaria infection is presumed to be near zero at the end of the dry season. Asymptomatic individuals may constitute a major parasite reservoir during this time. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of clinical malaria and asymptomatic parasitemia over time in a Malian town to highlight these malaria transmission dynamics. For a cohort of 300 rural children followed over 2009-2014, periodicity and phase shift between malaria and rainfall were determined by spectral analysis. Spatial risk clusters of clinical episodes or carriage were identified. A nested-case-control study was conducted to assess the parasite carriage factors. Malaria infection persisted over the entire year with seasonal peaks. High transmission periods began 2-3 months after the rains began. A cluster with a low risk of clinical malaria in the town center persisted in high and low transmission periods. Throughout 2009-2014, cluster locations did not vary from year to year. Asymptomatic and gametocyte carriage were persistent, even during low transmission periods. For high transmission periods, the ratio of asymptomatic to clinical cases was approximately 0.5, but was five times higher during low transmission periods. Clinical episodes at previous high transmission periods were a protective factor for asymptomatic carriage, but carrying parasites without symptoms at a previous high transmission period was a risk factor for asymptomatic carriage. Stable malaria transmission was associated with sustained asymptomatic carriage during dry seasons. Control strategies should target persistent low-level parasitemia clusters to interrupt transmission.

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Resource Description

    Precipitation, Seasonality
    Rural
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Africa
    Infectious Disease
    • Infectious Disease: Vectorborne Disease
      • Vectorborne Disease: Mosquito-borne Disease
        • Mosquito-borne Disease: Malaria
        Mosquito-borne Disease
      Vectorborne Disease
    Research Article
    Vulnerable Population
    • Vulnerable Population: Children, Pregnant Women
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