Dataset Information

Spatial clustering and risk factors of malaria infections in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria incidence worldwide has steadily declined over the past decades. Consequently, increasingly more countries will proceed from control to elimination. The malaria distribution in low incidence settings appears patchy, and local transmission hotspots are a continuous source of infection. In this study, species-specific clusters and associated risk factors were identified based on malaria prevalence data collected in the north-east of Cambodia. In addition, Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity, population structure and gene flows were studied.

Method

In 2012, blood samples from 5793 randomly selected individuals living in 117 villages were collected from Ratanakiri province, Cambodia. Malariometric data of each participant were simultaneously accumulated using a standard questionnaire. A two-step PCR allowed for species-specific detection of malaria parasites, and SNP-genotyping of P. falciparum was performed. SaTScan was used to determine species-specific areas of elevated risk to infection, and univariate and multivariate risk analyses were carried out.

Result

PCR diagnosis found 368 positive individuals (6.4%) for malaria parasites, of which 22% contained mixed species infections. The occurrence of these co-infections was more frequent than expected. Specific areas with elevated risk of infection were detected for all Plasmodium species. The clusters for Falciparum, Vivax and Ovale malaria appeared in the north of the province along the main river, while the cluster for Malariae malaria was situated elsewhere. The relative risk to be a malaria parasite carrier within clusters along the river was twice that outside the area. The main risk factor associated with three out of four malaria species was overnight stay in the plot hut, a human behaviour associated with indigenous farming. Haplotypes did not show clear geographical population structure, but pairwise Fst value comparison indicated higher parasite flow along the river.

Discussion

Spatial aggregation of malaria parasite carriers, and the identification of malaria species-specific risk factors provide key insights in malaria epidemiology in low transmission settings, which can guide targeted supplementary interventions. Consequently, future malaria programmes in the province should implement additional specific policies targeting households staying overnight at their farms outside the village, in addition to migrants and forest workers.

SUBMITTER: Sluydts V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4190307 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Spatial clustering and risk factors of malaria infections in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

Sluydts Vincent V Heng Somony S Coosemans Marc M Van Roey Karel K Gryseels Charlotte C Canier Lydie L Kim Saorin S Khim Nimol N Siv Sovannaroth S Mean Vanna V Uk Sambunny S Grietens Koen Peeters KP Tho Sochantha S Menard Didier D Durnez Lies L

Malaria journal 20140930

<h4>Background</h4>Malaria incidence worldwide has steadily declined over the past decades. Consequently, increasingly more countries will proceed from control to elimination. The malaria distribution in low incidence settings appears patchy, and local transmission hotspots are a continuous source of infection. In this study, species-specific clusters and associated risk factors were identified based on malaria prevalence data collected in the north-east of Cambodia. In addition, Plasmodium falc ...[more]

PMID: 25269827

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Project description:BACKGROUND:After a marked reduction in malaria burden in Cambodia over the last decades, case numbers increased again in 2017-2018. In light of the national goal of malaria elimination by 2025, remaining pockets of high risk need to be well defined and strategies well-tailored to identify and target the persisting burden cost-effectively. This study presents species-specific prevalence estimates and risk stratification for a remote area in Cambodia. METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 17 villages in the high-incidence province Mondulkiri in the dry season (December 2017 to April 2018). 4200 randomly selected participants (2-80 years old) were tested for Plasmodium infection by PCR. Risk of infection was associated with questionnaire-derived covariates and spatially stratified based on household GPS coordinates. RESULTS:The prevalence of PCR-detectable Plasmodium infection was 8.3% (349/4200) and was more than twice as high for Plasmodium vivax (6.4%, 268) than for Plasmodium falciparum (3.0%, 125, p?<?0.001). 97.8% (262/268) of P. vivax and 92.8% (116/125, p?<?0.05) of P. falciparum infections were neither accompanied by symptoms at the time of the interview nor detected by microscopy or RDT. Recent travels to forest sites (aOR 2.17, p?<?0.01) and forest work (aOR 2.88, p?<?0.001) were particularly strong risk factors and risk profiles for both species were similar. Large village-level differences in prevalence of Plasmodium infection were observed, ranging from 0.6% outside the forest to 40.4% inside. Residing in villages at the forest fringe or inside the forest compared to outside was associated with risk of infection (aOR 2.14 and 12.47, p?<?0.001). Villages inside the forest formed spatial hotspots of infection despite adjustment for the other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS:Persisting pockets of high malaria risk were detected in forested areas and in sub-populations engaging in forest-related activities. High levels of asymptomatic infections suggest the need of better case detection plans and the predominance of P. vivax the implementation of radical cure. In villages inside the forest, within-village exposure was indicated in addition to risk due to forest activities. Village-level stratification of targeted interventions based on forest proximity could render the elimination efforts more cost-effective and successful.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Malaria transmission is highly heterogeneous, especially in low endemic countries, such as Cambodia. This results in geographical clusters of residual transmission in the dry, low transmission season, which can fuel the transmission to wider areas or populations during the wet season. A better understanding of spatial clustering of malaria can lead to a more efficient, targeted strategy to reduce malaria transmission. This study aims to evaluate the potential of the use of serological markers to define spatial patterns in malaria exposure. METHODS:Blood samples collected in a community-based randomized trial performed in 98 high endemic communities in Ratanakiri province, north-eastern Cambodia, were screened with a multiplex serological assay for five serological markers (three Plasmodium falciparum and two Plasmodium vivax). The antibody half-lives range from approximately six months until more than two years. Geographical heterogeneity in malaria transmission was examined using a spatial scan statistic on serology, PCR prevalence and malaria incidence rate data. Furthermore, to identify behavioural patterns or intrinsic factors associated with malaria exposure (antibody levels), risk factor analyses were performed by using multivariable random effect logistic regression models. The serological outcomes were then compared to PCR prevalence and malaria incidence data. RESULTS:A total of 6502 samples from two surveys were screened in an area where the average parasite prevalence estimated by PCR among the selected villages is 3.4 %. High-risk malaria pockets were observed adjacent to the 'Tonle San River' and neighbouring Vietnam for all three sets of data (serology, PCR prevalence and malaria incidence rates). The main risk factors for all P. falciparum antigens and P. vivax MSP1.19 are age, ethnicity and staying overnight at the plot hut. CONCLUSION:It is possible to identify similar malaria pockets of higher malaria transmission together with the potential risk factors by using serology instead of PCR prevalence or malaria incidence data. In north-eastern Cambodia, the serological markers show that malaria transmission occurs mainly in adults staying overnight in plot huts in the field. Pf.GLURP.R2 showed a shrinking pocket of malaria transmission over time, and Pf.MSP1.19, CSP, PvAMA1 were also informative for current infection to a lesser extent. Therefore, serology could contribute in future research. However, further in-depth research in selecting the best combination of antigens is required.

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Project description:BackgroundArtemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria has recently been identified on the Thailand-Cambodia border and more recently in parts of Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. There is concern that if this resistance were to spread, it would severely hamper malaria control and elimination efforts worldwide. Efforts are currently underway to intensify malaria control activities and ultimately eliminate malaria from Cambodia. To support these efforts, it is crucial to have a detailed picture of disease burden and its major determinants over time.MethodsAn analysis of spatial and temporal data on clinical malaria in Cambodia collected by the National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) and the Department of Planning and Health Information, Ministry of Health Cambodia from 2004 to 2013 is presented.ResultsThere has been a marked decrease of 81% in annual cases due to P. falciparum since 2009 coinciding with a rapid scale-up in village malaria workers (VMWs) and insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). Concurrently, the number of cases with Plasmodium vivax has greatly increased. It is estimated that there were around 112,000 total cases in 2012, 2.8 times greater than the WHO estimate for that year, and 68,000 in 2013 (an annual parasite incidence (API) of 4.6/1000). With the scale-up of VMWs, numbers of patients presenting to government facilities did not fall and it appears likely that those who saw VMWs had previously accessed healthcare in the private sector. Malaria mortality has decreased, particularly in areas with VMWs. There has been a marked decrease in cases in parts of western Cambodia, especially in Pailin and Battambang Provinces. In the northeast, the fall in malaria burden has been more modest, this area having the highest API in 2013.ConclusionThe clinical burden of falciparum malaria in most areas of Cambodia has greatly decreased from 2009 to 2013, associated with roll-out of ITNs and VMWs. Numbers of cases with P. vivax have increased. Possible reasons for these trends are discussed and areas requiring further study are highlighted. Although malaria surveillance data are prone to collection bias and tend to underestimate disease burden, the finding of similar trends in two independent datasets in this study greatly increased the robustness of the findings.

Dataset Information

Spatial clustering and risk factors of malaria infections in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

Background

Method

Result

Discussion

Publications

Spatial clustering and risk factors of malaria infections in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

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