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Ngasala B, Chiduo MG, Bushukatale S, Mmbando BP, Makene T, Kamugisha E, Ahmed M, Mandara CI, Francis F, Mahende MK, Kavishe RA, Muro F, Ishengoma DS, Mandike R, Molteni F, Chacky F, Kitojo C, Greer G, Bishanga D, Chadewa J, Njau R, Warsame M, Kabula B, Nyinondi SS, Reaves E, Mohamed A. Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania, 2018. Malar J 2024; 23:95. [PMID: 38582830 PMCID: PMC10998292 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04926-x] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the most widely adopted first-line ACT for uncomplicated malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including mainland Tanzania, where it was introduced in December 2006. The WHO recommends regular assessment to monitor the efficacy of the first-line treatment specifically considering that artemisinin partial resistance was reported in Greater Mekong sub-region and has been confirmed in East Africa (Rwanda and Uganda). The main aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of AL for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in mainland Tanzania. METHODS A single-arm prospective anti-malarial drug efficacy trial was conducted in Kibaha, Mlimba, Mkuzi, and Ujiji (in Pwani, Morogoro, Tanga, and Kigoma regions, respectively) in 2018. The sample size of 88 patients per site was determined based on WHO 2009 standard protocol. Participants were febrile patients (documented axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 °C and/or history of fever during the past 24 h) aged 6 months to 10 years. Patients received a 6-dose AL regimen by weight twice a day for 3 days. Clinical and parasitological parameters were monitored during 28 days of follow-up to evaluate the drug efficacy and safety. RESULTS A total of 653 children were screened for uncomplicated malaria and 349 (53.7%) were enrolled between April and August 2018. Of the enrolled children, 345 (98.9%) completed the 28 days of follow-up or attained the treatment outcomes. There were no early treatment failures, but recurrent infections were higher in Mkuzi (35.2%) and Ujiji (23%). By Kaplan-Meier analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) uncorrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) ranged from 63.4% in Mkuzi to 85.9% in Mlimba, while PCR-corrected ACPR on day 28 varied from 97.6% in Ujiji to 100% in Mlimba. The drug was well tolerated; the commonly reported adverse events were cough, runny nose, and abdominal pain. No serious adverse event was reported. CONCLUSION This study showed that AL had adequate efficacy and safety for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The high number of recurrent infections were mainly due to new infections, indicating the necessity of utilizing alternative artemisinin-based combinations, such as artesunate amodiaquine, which provide a significantly longer post-treatment prophylactic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billy Ngasala
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Mercy G Chiduo
- Tanga Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Bushukatale
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Bruno P Mmbando
- Tanga Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Twilumba Makene
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Erasmus Kamugisha
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences/Bugando Medical Centre, P. O Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Maimuna Ahmed
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences/Bugando Medical Centre, P. O Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Celine I Mandara
- Tanga Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania
- National Institute for Medical Research, Headquarters, P.O. Box 9653, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Filbert Francis
- Tanga Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Muhidin K Mahende
- Ifakara Health Institute Dar es Salaam Office, P. O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Florida Muro
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P.O. Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Deus S Ishengoma
- National Institute for Medical Research, Headquarters, P.O. Box 9653, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Renata Mandike
- National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), P.O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Fabrizio Molteni
- National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), P.O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Frank Chacky
- National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), P.O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Chonge Kitojo
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - George Greer
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Dunstan Bishanga
- Department of Community Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65011, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jasmine Chadewa
- Jhpiego, Boresha Afya, P.O. Box 9170, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ritha Njau
- World Health Organization Country Office, P.O Box 9292, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | - Erik Reaves
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ally Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), P.O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
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Bakari C, Mandara CI, Madebe RA, Seth MD, Ngasala B, Kamugisha E, Ahmed M, Francis F, Bushukatale S, Chiduo M, Makene T, Kabanywanyi AM, Mahende MK, Kavishe RA, Muro F, Mkude S, Mandike R, Molteni F, Chacky F, Bishanga DR, Njau RJA, Warsame M, Kabula B, Nyinondi SS, Lucchi NW, Talundzic E, Venkatesan M, Moriarty LF, Serbantez N, Kitojo C, Reaves EJ, Halsey ES, Mohamed A, Udhayakumar V, Ishengoma DS. Trends of Plasmodium falciparum molecular markers associated with resistance to artemisinins and reduced susceptibility to lumefantrine in Mainland Tanzania from 2016 to 2021. Malar J 2024; 23:71. [PMID: 38461239 PMCID: PMC10924419 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04896-0] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic efficacy studies (TESs) and detection of molecular markers of drug resistance are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to monitor the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). This study assessed the trends of molecular markers of artemisinin resistance and/or reduced susceptibility to lumefantrine using samples collected in TES conducted in Mainland Tanzania from 2016 to 2021. METHODS A total of 2,015 samples were collected during TES of artemether-lumefantrine at eight sentinel sites (in Kigoma, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pwani, Tabora, and Tanga regions) between 2016 and 2021. Photo-induced electron transfer polymerase chain reaction (PET-PCR) was used to confirm presence of malaria parasites before capillary sequencing, which targeted two genes: Plasmodium falciparum kelch 13 propeller domain (k13) and P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (pfmdr1). RESULTS Sequencing success was ≥ 87.8%, and 1,724/1,769 (97.5%) k13 wild-type samples were detected. Thirty-seven (2.1%) samples had synonymous mutations and only eight (0.4%) had non-synonymous mutations in the k13 gene; seven of these were not validated by the WHO as molecular markers of resistance. One sample from Morogoro in 2020 had a k13 R622I mutation, which is a validated marker of artemisinin partial resistance. For pfmdr1, all except two samples carried N86 (wild-type), while mutations at Y184F increased from 33.9% in 2016 to about 60.5% in 2021, and only four samples (0.2%) had D1246Y mutations. pfmdr1 haplotypes were reported in 1,711 samples, with 985 (57.6%) NYD, 720 (42.1%) NFD, and six (0.4%) carrying minor haplotypes (three with NYY, 0.2%; YFD in two, 0.1%; and NFY in one sample, 0.1%). Between 2016 and 2021, NYD decreased from 66.1% to 45.2%, while NFD increased from 38.5% to 54.7%. CONCLUSION This is the first report of the R622I (k13 validated mutation) in Tanzania. N86 and D1246 were nearly fixed, while increases in Y184F mutations and NFD haplotype were observed between 2016 and 2021. Despite the reports of artemisinin partial resistance in Rwanda and Uganda, this study did not report any other validated mutations in these study sites in Tanzania apart from R622I suggesting that intensified surveillance is urgently needed to monitor trends of drug resistance markers and their impact on the performance of ACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Bakari
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Celine I Mandara
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rashid A Madebe
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Misago D Seth
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Billy Ngasala
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Erasmus Kamugisha
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Maimuna Ahmed
- Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Filbert Francis
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Samwel Bushukatale
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mercy Chiduo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Twilumba Makene
- Department of Parasitology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Muhidin K Mahende
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam Office, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Florida Muro
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Molteni
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Frank Chacky
- National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Dunstan R Bishanga
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam Office, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Maternal and Child Survival Program, Jhpiego, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ritha J A Njau
- Malariologist and Public Health Specialist, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Bilali Kabula
- PMI/Okoa Maisha Dhibiti Malaria, RTI International, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Research Centre, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Ssanyu S Nyinondi
- PMI/Okoa Maisha Dhibiti Malaria, RTI International, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Naomi W Lucchi
- Malaria Branch, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eldin Talundzic
- Malaria Branch, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Leah F Moriarty
- Malaria Branch, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Naomi Serbantez
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, USAID, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Chonge Kitojo
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, USAID, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Erik J Reaves
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Eric S Halsey
- Malaria Branch, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ally Mohamed
- National Malaria Control Program, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Venkatachalam Udhayakumar
- Malaria Branch, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Independenant Consultant, Decatur, Georgia
| | - Deus S Ishengoma
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Kampala International University, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Mkali HR, Lalji SM, Al-Mafazy AW, Joseph JJ, Mwaipape OS, Ali AS, Abbas FB, Ali MH, Hassan WS, Reaves EJ, Kitojo C, Serbantez N, Kabula BI, Nyinondi SS, McKay M, Cressman G, Ngondi JM, Reithinger R. How Real-Time Case-Based Malaria Surveillance Helps Zanzibar Get a Step Closer to Malaria Elimination: Description of Operational Platform and Resources. Glob Health Sci Pract 2023; 11:e2200522. [PMID: 37903584 PMCID: PMC10615242 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Testing and treating asymptomatic populations have the potential to reduce the population's parasite reservoir and reduce malaria transmission. Zanzibar's malaria case notification (MCN) platform collects detailed sociodemographic and epidemiological data from all confirmed malaria cases to inform programmatic decision-making. We describe the design and operationalization process of the platform and other malaria surveillance resources that are enabling Zanzibar's progress toward malaria elimination.The MCN platform consists of an interactive short message service (SMS) system for case notification, a software application for Android mobile devices, a visual question set and workflow manager, a back-end database server, and a web browser-based application for data analytics, configuration, and management. Malaria case data were collected from August 2012 to December 2021 and reported via SMS from all public and private health facilities to a central database and then to district malaria surveillance officers' mobile devices. Data included patient names, shehia (administrative area), and date of diagnosis, enabling officers to track patients, ideally within 24 hours of reporting. Patients' household members were tested for malaria using conventional rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Treatment using artemisinin-based combination therapy was provided for persons testing positive.Between 2012 and 2021, a total of 48,899 index malaria cases were confirmed at health facilities, 22,152 (45.3%) within 24 hours of reporting; 41,886 (85.7%) cases were fully investigated and followed up to the household level. A total of 111,811 additional household members were tested with RDTs, of whom 10,602 (9.5%) were malaria positive.The MCN platform reports malaria case data in near real time, enabling prompt follow-up of index cases and prompt testing and treatment of members in index case households. Along with routine testing and treatment and other preventive interventions, the MCN platform is foundational to the programmatic efforts in further reducing malaria and ultimately eliminating autochthonous malaria transmission in Zanzibar.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shabbir M Lalji
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Joseph J Joseph
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Osia S Mwaipape
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Abdullah S Ali
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Faiza B Abbas
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Mohamed H Ali
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Wahida S Hassan
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Erik J Reaves
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Chonge Kitojo
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Naomi Serbantez
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Bilali I Kabula
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Mike McKay
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA
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4
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Mkali HR, Reaves EJ, Lalji SM, Al-Mafazy AW, Joseph JJ, Ali AS, Abbas FB, Ali MH, Hassan WS, Kitojo C, Serbantez N, Kabula BI, Nyinondi SS, Bisanzio D, McKay M, Eckert E, Reithinger R, Ngondi JM. Risk factors associated with malaria infection identified through reactive case detection in Zanzibar, 2012-2019. Malar J 2021; 20:485. [PMID: 34952596 PMCID: PMC8710018 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-04025-1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past two decades, Zanzibar substantially reduced malaria burden. As malaria decreases, sustainable improvements in control interventions may increasingly depend on accurate knowledge of malaria risk factors to further target interventions. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with malaria infection in Zanzibar. METHODS Surveillance data from Zanzibar's Malaria Case Notification system from August 2012 and December 2019 were analyzed. This system collects data on malaria cases passively detected and reported by all health facilities (index cases), and household-based reactive case detection (RCD) activities linked to those primary cases. All members of households of the index cases were screened for malaria using a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Individuals with a positive RDT were treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to investigate the association between RDT positivity among the household members and explanatory factors with adjustment for seasonality and clustering at Shehia level. RESULTS A total of 30,647 cases were reported of whom household RCD was completed for 21,443 (63%) index case households and 85,318 household members tested for malaria. The findings show that younger age (p-value for trend [Ptrend] < 0.001), history of fever in the last 2 weeks (odds ratio [OR] = 35.7; 95% CI 32.3-39.5), travel outside Zanzibar in the last 30 days (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 2.3-2.8) and living in Unguja (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.5) were independently associated with increased odds of RDT positivity. In contrast, male gender (OR=0.8; 95% CI 0.7-0.9), sleeping under an LLIN the previous night (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.7-0.9), having higher household net access (Ptrend < 0.001), and living in a household that received IRS in the last 12 months (OR = 0.8; 95% CI 0.7-0.9) were independently associated with reduced odds of RDT positivity. A significant effect modification of combining IRS and LLIN was also noted (OR = 0.7; 95% CI 0.6-0.8). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that vector control remains an important malaria prevention intervention: they underscore the need to maintain universal access to LLINs, the persistent promotion of LLIN use, and application of IRS. Additionally, enhanced behavioural change and preventive strategies targeting children aged 5-14 years and travellers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik J Reaves
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Shabbir M Lalji
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Joseph J Joseph
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Abdullah S Ali
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Faiza B Abbas
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Mohamed H Ali
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Wahida S Hassan
- Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Chonge Kitojo
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Naomi Serbantez
- U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Bilali I Kabula
- RTI International, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
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