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Ali R, Wan Mohamad Ali WN, Wilson Putit P. Updating the Data on Malaria Vectors in Malaysia: Protocol for a Scoping Review. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e39798. [PMID: 36877567 PMCID: PMC10028518 DOI: 10.2196/39798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is still a public health threat. From 2015 to 2021, a total of 23,214 malaria cases were recorded in Malaysia. Thus, effective intervention and key entomological information are vital for interrupting or preventing malaria transmission. Therefore, the availability of malaria vector information is desperately needed. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study is to update the list of human and zoonotic malaria vectors in Malaysia. This work will include (1) the characterization of the key behavioral traits and breeding sites of malaria vectors and (2) the determination of new and potential malaria vectors in Malaysia. The findings of our scoping review will serve as decision-making evidence that stakeholders and decision makers can use to strengthen and intensify malaria surveillance in Malaysia. METHODS The scoping review will be conducted based on the following four electronic databases: Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. A search strategy was conducted for articles published from database inception to March 2022. The criteria for article inclusion were any malaria vector-related studies conducted in Malaysia (with no time frame restrictions) and peer-reviewed studies. The PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) will be used to guide our systematic approach. Data from published research literature will be extracted by using a standardized data extraction framework, including the titles, abstracts, characteristics, and main findings of the included studies. To assess the risk of bias, articles will be screened independently by 2 reviewers, and a third reviewer will make the final decision if disagreements occur. RESULTS The study commenced in June 2021, and it is planned to be completed at end of 2022. As of early 2022, we identified 631 articles. After accessing and evaluating the articles, 48 were found to be eligible. Full-text screening will be conducted in mid-2022. The results of the scoping review will be published as an open-access article in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS Our novel scoping review of malaria vectors in Malaysia will provide a comprehensive evidence summary of updated, relevant information. An understanding of the status of Anopheles as malaria vectors and the knowledge generated from the behavioral characteristics of malaria vectors are the key components in making effective interventions for eliminating malaria. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/39798.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafidah Ali
- Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wan Najdah Wan Mohamad Ali
- Medical Entomology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Perada Wilson Putit
- Entomology and Pest Sector, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia
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Nguyen AHL, Pattaradilokrat S, Kaewlamun W, Kaneko O, Asada M, Kaewthamasorn M. Myzomyia and Pyretophorus series of Anopheles mosquitoes acting as probable vectors of the goat malaria parasite Plasmodium caprae in Thailand. Sci Rep 2023; 13:145. [PMID: 36599869 PMCID: PMC9812981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike malaria parasites in humans, non-human primates, rodents, and birds, ungulate malaria parasites and their vectors have received little attention. As a result, understanding of the hosts, vectors, and biology of ungulate malaria parasites has remained limited. In this study, we aimed to identify the vectors of the goat malaria parasite Plasmodium caprae. A total of 1019 anopheline and 133 non-anopheline mosquitoes were collected from goat farms in Thailand, where P. caprae-infected goats were discovered. Anopheline mosquitoes were identified using molecular biological methods that target the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) genes, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Pool and individual mosquitoes were tested for P. caprae using the head-thorax parts that contain the salivary glands, with primers targeting three genetic markers including cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA genes. Additionally, goat blood samples were collected concurrently with mosquito surveys and screened to determine the status of malaria infection. This study revealed nine mosquito species belonging to six groups on goat farms, including Hyrcanus, Barbirostris, Subpictus, Funestus, Tessellatus, and Annularis. The DNA of P. caprae was detected in Anopheles subpictus and Anopheles aconitus. This is the first time An. subpictus and An. aconitus have been implicated as probable vectors of P. caprae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Hoang Lan Nguyen
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875The International Graduate Program of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand ,grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
| | - Sittiporn Pattaradilokrat
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
| | - Winai Kaewlamun
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875School of Agricultural Resources, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- grid.174567.60000 0000 8902 2273Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523 Japan
| | - Masahito Asada
- grid.412310.50000 0001 0688 9267National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Department of Global Cooperation, Research Unit for Global Infection Control, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555 Japan
| | - Morakot Kaewthamasorn
- grid.7922.e0000 0001 0244 7875Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
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Escobar D, Archaga O, Reyes A, Palma A, Larson RT, Vásquez GM, Fontecha G. A Follow-Up to the Geographical Distribution of Anopheles Species in Malaria-Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas of Honduras. Insects 2022; 13:insects13060548. [PMID: 35735885 PMCID: PMC9225189 DOI: 10.3390/insects13060548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Malaria is a tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of the female mosquito Anopheles. Honduras is close to the goal of eliminating malaria, but the region called La Moskitia continues to concentrate almost all of the country’s malaria cases. One of the key factors in achieving malaria elimination is a thorough understanding of the mosquito vectors that transmit the disease. There are few studies related to malaria vectors in Honduras. This study aims to contribute to knowing which are the species of vector mosquitoes, mainly in the Department of Gracias a Dios and in other departments in which cases of malaria occur, in addition to describing molecularly for the first time the anophelines of the Bay Islands. The most abundant species found here were Anopheles albimanus, but seven other species were also identified, some of which may contribute to parasite transmission. Abstract Anopheles species are the vectors of malaria, one of the diseases with the greatest impact on the health of the inhabitants of the tropics. Due to their epidemiological relevance and biological complexity, monitoring of anopheline populations in current and former malaria-endemic areas is critical for malaria risk assessment. Recent efforts have described the anopheline species present in the main malaria foci in Honduras. This study updates and expands knowledge about Anopheles species composition, geographical distribution, and genetic diversity in the continental territory of Honduras as in the Bay Islands. Outdoor insect collections were carried out at 25 sites in eight municipalities in five departments of Honduras between 2018 and 2021. Specimens were identified using taxonomic keys. Partial COI gene sequences were used for molecular species identification and phylogenetic analyses. In addition, detection of Plasmodium DNA was carried out in 255 female mosquitoes. Overall, 288 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from 8 municipalities. Eight species were morphologically identified. Anopheles albimanus was the most abundant and widely distributed species (79.5%). A subset of 175 partial COI gene sequences from 8 species was obtained. Taxonomic identifications were confirmed via sequence analysis. Anopheles albimanus and An. apicimacula showed the highest haplotype diversity and nucleotide variation, respectively. Phylogenetic clustering was found for An. argyritarsis and An. neomaculipalpus when compared with mosquitoes from other Neotropical countries. Plasmodium DNA was not detected in any of the mosquitoes tested. This report builds upon recent records of the distribution and diversity of Anopheles species in malaria-endemic and non-endemic areas of Honduras. New COI sequences are reported for three anopheline species. This is also the first report of COI sequences of An. albimanus collected on the island of Roatán with apparent gene flow relative to mainland populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Escobar
- Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras; (D.E.); (O.A.)
| | - Osman Archaga
- Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras; (D.E.); (O.A.)
| | - Allan Reyes
- Unidad de Entomología, Región Sanitaria de Gracias a Dios, Secretaría de Salud de Honduras, Puerto Lempira, Gracias a Dios 33101, Honduras;
| | - Adalid Palma
- Vysnova Partners, Inc., Landover, MD 20785, USA;
| | - Ryan T. Larson
- Department of Entomology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Bellavista 07006, Peru; (R.T.L.); (G.M.V.)
| | - Gissella M. Vásquez
- Department of Entomology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Bellavista 07006, Peru; (R.T.L.); (G.M.V.)
| | - Gustavo Fontecha
- Microbiology Research Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras; (D.E.); (O.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +504-33935443
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Nugraheni YR, Arnuphapprasert A, Nguyen TT, Narapakdeesakul D, Nguyen HLA, Poofery J, Kaneko O, Asada M, Kaewthamasorn M. Myzorhynchus series of Anopheles mosquitoes as potential vectors of Plasmodium bubalis in Thailand. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5747. [PMID: 35388073 PMCID: PMC8987089 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ungulate malaria parasites and their vectors are among the least studied when compared to other medically important species. As a result, a thorough understanding of ungulate malaria parasites, hosts, and mosquito vectors has been lacking, necessitating additional research efforts. This study aimed to identify the vector(s) of Plasmodium bubalis. A total of 187 female mosquitoes (133 Anopheles spp., 24 Culex spp., 24 Aedes spp., and 6 Mansonia spp. collected from a buffalo farm in Thailand where concurrently collected water buffalo samples were examined and we found only Anopheles spp. samples were P. bubalis positive. Molecular identification of anopheline mosquito species was conducted by sequencing of the PCR products targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2), and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers. We observed 5 distinct groups of anopheline mosquitoes: Barbirostris, Hyrcanus, Ludlowae, Funestus, and Jamesii groups. The Barbirostris group (Anopheles wejchoochotei or Anopheles campestris) and the Hyrcanus group (Anopheles peditaeniatus) were positive for P. bubalis. Thus, for the first time, our study implicated these anopheline mosquito species as probable vectors of P. bubalis in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni
- The International Graduate Program of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.,Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Apinya Arnuphapprasert
- Veterinary Pathobiology Graduate Program, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Trang Thuy Nguyen
- The International Graduate Program of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Duriyang Narapakdeesakul
- Veterinary Pathobiology Graduate Program, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Hoang Lan Anh Nguyen
- The International Graduate Program of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Juthathip Poofery
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Masahito Asada
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Department of Global Cooperation, Research Unit for Global Infection Control, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
| | - Morakot Kaewthamasorn
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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Obaldía N, Barahona I, Lasso J, Avila M, Quijada M, Nuñez M, Marti M. Comparison of PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays for the detection of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved at ambient temperature from remote malaria endemic regions of Panama. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010327. [PMID: 35394999 PMCID: PMC9020738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the elimination of malaria in Mesoamerica progresses, detection of Plasmodium vivax using light microscopy (LM) becomes more difficult. Highly sensitive molecular tools have been developed to help determine the hidden reservoir of malaria transmission in low transmission settings. In this study we compare the performance of PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays to LM for the detection of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved at ambient temperature from malaria endemic regions of Panama. METHODS For this purpose, we collected a total of 83 malaria field samples during 2017-2020 preserved in RNAprotect (RNAp) of which 63 (76%) were confirmed P. vivax by LM and selected for further analysis. Additionally, 16 blood samples from local healthy malaria smear negative volunteers, as well as, from 15 malaria naïve lab-bred Aotus monkeys were used as controls. To optimize the assays, we first determined the minimum blood volume sufficient for detection of PvLAP5 and Pv18SrRNA using P. vivax infected Aotus blood that was preserved in RNAp and kept either at ambient temperature for up to 8 days before freezing or was snap-frozen at -80° Celsius at the time of bleeding. We then compared the mean differences in gametocyte detection rates of both qRT-PCR assays to LM and performed a multivariate correlation analysis of study variables. Finally, we determined the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the assays at detecting gametocytes compared to LM. RESULTS Blood volume optimization indicated that a blood volume of at least 60 μL was sufficient for detection of PvLAP5 and Pv18SrRNA and no significant differences were found between RNA storage conditions. Both PvLAP5 and Pvs25 qRT-PCR assays showed a 37-39% increase in gametocyte detection rate compared to LM respectively. Strong positive correlations were found between gametocytemia and parasitemia and both PvLAP5 and Pvs25 gametocyte markers. However, no significant differences were detected in the Se and Sp of the Pvs25 and PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assays, even though data from control samples suggested Pvs25 to be more abundant than PvLAP5. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay is as Se and Sp as the gold standard Pvs25 assay and is at least 37% more sensitive than LM at detecting P. vivax gametocytes in field samples preserved in RNAp at ambient temperature from malaria endemic regions of Panama. AUTHOR SUMMARY Plasmodium vivax is one of the five species of malaria (P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi) that are transmitted to man by the bite of female anopheles mosquitoes. It causes ~14.3 million cases mainly in Southeast Asia, India, the Western Pacific and the Americas annually. In the Americas, malaria remains a major problem in underdeveloped areas and indigenous communities in the Amazon region and eastern Panama, where it is endemic and difficult to eliminate. As malaria elimination progresses, detection of P. vivax by light microscopy (LM) becomes more difficult. Therefore, highly sensitive molecular tools have been developed that use genetic markers for the parasite to help determine the hidden reservoir of malaria transmission. This study compares the performance of two molecular assays based on the genetic markers of mature gametocytes PvLAP5 and Pvs25 with LM. The study shows that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay is as sensitive and specific as the gold standard Pvs25 assay and is at least 37% more sensitive than LM at detecting P. vivax gametocytes. These data suggest that the PvLAP5 qRT-PCR assay can be a useful tool to help determine the hidden reservoir of transmission in endemic foci approaching elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicanor Obaldía
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Itza Barahona
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - José Lasso
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Mario Avila
- Departamento de Control de Vectores, Dirección General de Salud Pública, Ministerio de Salud de Panamá, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Mario Quijada
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Marlon Nuñez
- Departamento de Investigaciones en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá City, Panamá, Republic of Panamá
| | - Matthias Marti
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Ortiz DI, Piche-Ovares M, Romero-Vega LM, Wagman J, Troyo A. The Impact of Deforestation, Urbanization, and Changing Land Use Patterns on the Ecology of Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases in Central America. Insects 2021; 13:20. [PMID: 35055864 PMCID: PMC8781098 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Central America is a unique geographical region that connects North and South America, enclosed by the Caribbean Sea to the East, and the Pacific Ocean to the West. This region, encompassing Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua, is highly vulnerable to the emergence or resurgence of mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases due to a combination of key ecological and socioeconomic determinants acting together, often in a synergistic fashion. Of particular interest are the effects of land use changes, such as deforestation-driven urbanization and forest degradation, on the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, which are not well understood. In recent years, parts of Central America have experienced social and economic improvements; however, the region still faces major challenges in developing effective strategies and significant investments in public health infrastructure to prevent and control these diseases. In this article, we review the current knowledge and potential impacts of deforestation, urbanization, and other land use changes on mosquito-borne and tick-borne disease transmission in Central America and how these anthropogenic drivers could affect the risk for disease emergence and resurgence in the region. These issues are addressed in the context of other interconnected environmental and social challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana I. Ortiz
- Biology Program, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172, USA
| | - Marta Piche-Ovares
- Laboratorio de Virología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
- Departamento de Virología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 40104, Costa Rica
| | - Luis M. Romero-Vega
- Departamento de Patología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 40104, Costa Rica;
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVe), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
| | - Joseph Wagman
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Center for Malaria Control and Elimination, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA;
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVe), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
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Santamaría AM, Vásquez V, Rigg C, Samudio F, Moreno D, Romero L, Saldaña A, Chaves LF, Calzada JE. Plasmodium vivax Genetic Diversity in Panama: Challenges for Malaria Elimination in Mesoamerica. Pathogens 2021; 10:989. [PMID: 34451452 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Panama and all nations within the Mesoamerican region have committed to eliminate malaria within this decade. With more than 90% of the malaria cases in this region caused by Plasmodium vivax, an efficient national/regional elimination plan must include a comprehensive study of this parasite's genetic diversity. Here, we retrospectively analyzed P. vivax genetic diversity in autochthonous and imported field isolates collected in different endemic regions in Panama from 2007 to 2020, using highly polymorphic markers (csp, msp-1, and msp-3α). We did the analysis using molecular techniques that are cost-effective for malaria molecular surveillance within Mesoamerica. Thus, we used molecular analyses that are feasible for malaria molecular surveillance within the region, and that can provide useful information for policy and decision making about malaria elimination. We also evaluated if haplotypes established by combining the genotypes found in these genes were associated with relevant epidemiological variables and showed structure across the transmission foci that have been observed in Panama. Ten different haplotypes were identified, some of them strongly associated with geographical origin, age, and collection year. Phylogenetic analysis of csp (central repeat domain) revealed that both major variant types (vk210 and vk247) were circulating in Panama. Variant vk247 was restricted to the eastern endemic regions, while vk210 was predominant (77.3%) and widespread, displaying higher diversity (14 alleles) and geographically biased alleles. The regional implications of these molecular findings for the control of P. vivax malaria to achieve elimination across Mesoamerica are discussed.
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