Plasmodium vivax gametocyte infectivity in sub-microscopic infections

Malaria Journal

Research

Myriam Arévalo-Herrera¹  Andrés B. Amado-Garavito²  Jhon García²  Andrés F. Vallejo²  Sócrates Herrera³ 

[1] Caucaseco Scientific Research Centre (CSRC)/Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria (CLAIM), Cali, Colombia;Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia;Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Centre (MVDC), Cali, Colombia;Malaria Vaccine and Drug Development Centre (MVDC), Cali, Colombia;Caucaseco Scientific Research Centre (CSRC)/Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria (CLAIM), Cali, Colombia;

关键词: Plasmodium vivax;    Infectivity;    Asymptomatic infections;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-016-1104-1

 received in 2015-09-18, accepted in 2016-01-14,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe use of molecular techniques has put in the spotlight the existence of a large mass of malaria sub-microscopic infections among apparently healthy populations. These sub-microscopic infections are considered an important pool for maintained malaria transmission.MethodsIn order to assess the appearance of Plasmodium vivax gametocytes in circulation, gametocyte density and the parasite infectivity to Anopheles mosquitoes, a study was designed to compare three groups of volunteers either experimentally infected with P. vivax sporozoites (early infections; n = 16) or naturally infected patients (acute malaria, n = 16 and asymptomatic, n = 14). In order to determine gametocyte stage, a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) assay targeting two sexual stage-specific molecular markers was used. Parasite infectivity was assessed by membrane feeding assays (MFA).ResultsIn early infections P. vivax gametocytes could be detected starting at day 7 without giving rise to infected mosquitoes during 13 days of follow-up. Asymptomatic carriers, with presumably long-lasting infections, presented the highest proportion of mature gametocytes and were as infective as acute patients.ConclusionsThis study shows the potential role of P. vivax asymptomatic carriers in malaria transmission should be considered when new policies are envisioned to redirect malaria control strategies towards targeting asymptomatic infections as a tool for malaria elimination.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Vallejo et al. 2016