Non-falciparum malaria infections are as prevalent as P. falciparum among Tanzanian schoolchildren (original) (raw)

Abstract

Efforts to achieve malaria elimination need to consider both falciparum and non-falciparum infections. The prevalence and geographic distribution of four Plasmodium species were determined by real-time PCR using dried blood spots collected during the 2017 School Malaria Parasitological Survey of eight regions of Tanzania. Among 3,456 schoolchildren, 22% had P. falciparum, 24% P. ovale spp., 4% P. malariae, and 0.3% P. vivax. Ninety-one percent of P. ovale infections had very low parasite densities, based on amplification at later cycle thresholds. Sixty-four percent of P. ovale infections were single-species, and 35% of these were detected in low malaria endemicity regions. P. malariae infections were predominantly co-infections with P. falciparum (73%). P. vivax was largely detected in northern and eastern regions. Overall, 43% of children with P. falciparum were co-infected with at least one non-falciparum species. A large, previously under-appreciated burden of P. ovale spp. infe...

Bilali KABULA hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Bilali know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.