Publication: Application of 23 Novel Serological Markers for Identifying Recent Exposure to Plasmodium vivax Parasites in an Endemic Population of Western Thailand
Issued Date
2021-06-29
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1664302X
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2-s2.0-85110551596
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Frontiers in Microbiology. Vol.12, (2021)
Suggested Citation
Sadudee Chotirat, Narimane Nekkab, Chalermpon Kumpitak, Jenni Hietanen, Michael T. White, Kirakorn Kiattibutr, Patiwat Sa-angchai, Jessica Brewster, Kael Schoffer, Eizo Takashima, Takafumi Tsuboi, Matthias Harbers, Chetan E. Chitnis, Julie Healer, Wai Hong Tham, Wang Nguitragool, Ivo Mueller, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Rhea J. Longley Application of 23 Novel Serological Markers for Identifying Recent Exposure to Plasmodium vivax Parasites in an Endemic Population of Western Thailand. Frontiers in Microbiology. Vol.12, (2021). doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.643501 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/77269
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Title
Application of 23 Novel Serological Markers for Identifying Recent Exposure to Plasmodium vivax Parasites in an Endemic Population of Western Thailand
Author(s)
Sadudee Chotirat
Narimane Nekkab
Chalermpon Kumpitak
Jenni Hietanen
Michael T. White
Kirakorn Kiattibutr
Patiwat Sa-angchai
Jessica Brewster
Kael Schoffer
Eizo Takashima
Takafumi Tsuboi
Matthias Harbers
Chetan E. Chitnis
Julie Healer
Wai Hong Tham
Wang Nguitragool
Ivo Mueller
Jetsumon Sattabongkot
Rhea J. Longley
Narimane Nekkab
Chalermpon Kumpitak
Jenni Hietanen
Michael T. White
Kirakorn Kiattibutr
Patiwat Sa-angchai
Jessica Brewster
Kael Schoffer
Eizo Takashima
Takafumi Tsuboi
Matthias Harbers
Chetan E. Chitnis
Julie Healer
Wai Hong Tham
Wang Nguitragool
Ivo Mueller
Jetsumon Sattabongkot
Rhea J. Longley
Abstract
Thailand is aiming for malaria elimination by the year 2030. However, the high proportion of asymptomatic infections and the presence of the hidden hypnozoite stage of Plasmodium vivax are impeding these efforts. We hypothesized that a validated surveillance tool utilizing serological markers of recent exposure to P. vivax infection could help to identify areas of ongoing transmission. The objective of this exploratory study was to assess the ability of P. vivax serological exposure markers to detect residual transmission “hot-spots” in Western Thailand. Total IgG levels were measured against a panel of 23 candidate P. vivax serological exposure markers using a multiplexed bead-based assay. A total of 4,255 plasma samples from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2012 of endemic areas in the Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces were assayed. We compared IgG levels with multiple epidemiological factors that are associated with an increased risk of P. vivax infection in Thailand, including age, gender, and spatial location, as well as Plasmodium infection status itself. IgG levels to all proteins were significantly higher in the presence of a P. vivax infection (n = 144) (T-test, p < 0.0001). Overall seropositivity rates varied from 2.5% (PVX_097625, merozoite surface protein 8) to 16.8% (PVX_082670, merozoite surface protein 7), with 43% of individuals seropositive to at least 1 protein. Higher IgG levels were associated with older age (>18 years, p < 0.05) and males (17/23 proteins, p < 0.05), supporting the paradigm that men have a higher risk of infection than females in this setting. We used a Random Forests algorithm to predict which individuals had exposure to P. vivax parasites in the last 9-months, based on their IgG antibody levels to a panel of eight previously validated P. vivax proteins. Spatial clustering was observed at the village and regional level, with a moderate correlation between PCR prevalence and sero-prevalence as predicted by the algorithm. Our data provides proof-of-concept for application of such surrogate markers as evidence of recent exposure in low transmission areas. These data can be used to better identify geographical areas with asymptomatic infection burdens that can be targeted in elimination campaigns.