TY - JOUR
T1 - Asymptomatic and sub-microscopic malaria infection in Kayah State, eastern Myanmar
AU - Zaw, Myo Thiha
AU - Thant, Myo
AU - Hlaing, Tin Maung
AU - Aung, Naing Zin
AU - Thu, Min
AU - Phumchuea, Kanit
AU - Phusri, Kanokwan
AU - Saeseu, Teerawat
AU - Yorsaeng, Ritthideach
AU - Nguitragool, Wang
AU - Felger, Ingrid
AU - Kaewkungwal, Jaranit
AU - Cui, Liwang
AU - Sattabongkot, Jetsumon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).
PY - 2017/4/4
Y1 - 2017/4/4
N2 - Background: Myanmar has the heaviest burden of malaria in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infections are common in this region and may represent an important reservoir of transmission that must be targeted for malaria elimination. Methods: A mass blood survey was conducted among 485 individuals from six villages in Kayah State, an area of endemic but low transmission malaria in eastern Myanmar. Malaria infection was screened by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), light microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and its association with demographic factors was explored. Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infection was 2.3% (11/485) by real-time PCR. Plasmodium vivax accounted for 72.7% (8/11) and Plasmodium falciparum for 27.3% (3/11) of infections. Men were at greater risk of infection by Plasmodium spp. than women. Individuals who worked as farmers or wood and bamboo cutters had an increased risk of infection. Conclusion: A combination of RDT, light microscopy and PCR diagnostics were used to identify asymptomatic malaria infection, providing additional information on asymptomatic cases in addition to the routine statistics on symptomatic cases, so as to determine the true burden of disease in the area. Such information and risk factors can improve malaria risk stratification and guide decision-makers towards better design and delivery of targeted interventions in small villages, representative of Kayah State.
AB - Background: Myanmar has the heaviest burden of malaria in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infections are common in this region and may represent an important reservoir of transmission that must be targeted for malaria elimination. Methods: A mass blood survey was conducted among 485 individuals from six villages in Kayah State, an area of endemic but low transmission malaria in eastern Myanmar. Malaria infection was screened by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), light microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and its association with demographic factors was explored. Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium spp. infection was 2.3% (11/485) by real-time PCR. Plasmodium vivax accounted for 72.7% (8/11) and Plasmodium falciparum for 27.3% (3/11) of infections. Men were at greater risk of infection by Plasmodium spp. than women. Individuals who worked as farmers or wood and bamboo cutters had an increased risk of infection. Conclusion: A combination of RDT, light microscopy and PCR diagnostics were used to identify asymptomatic malaria infection, providing additional information on asymptomatic cases in addition to the routine statistics on symptomatic cases, so as to determine the true burden of disease in the area. Such information and risk factors can improve malaria risk stratification and guide decision-makers towards better design and delivery of targeted interventions in small villages, representative of Kayah State.
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U2 - 10.1186/s12936-017-1789-9
DO - 10.1186/s12936-017-1789-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 28376883
AN - SCOPUS:85016719239
SN - 1475-2875
VL - 16
JO - Malaria journal
JF - Malaria journal
IS - 1
M1 - 138
ER -