Publication: Longitudinal study of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in a Karen population in Thailand
Issued Date
2008-07-14
Resource Type
ISSN
14752875
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-46749154271
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Malaria Journal. Vol.7, (2008)
Suggested Citation
Waraphon Phimpraphi, Richard E. Paul, Surapon Yimsamran, Supalarp Puangsa-Art, Nipon Thanyavanich, Wanchai Maneeboonyang, Sutthiporn Prommongkol, Samarn Sornklom, Wutthichai Chaimungkun, Irwin F. Chavez, Herve Blanc, Sornchai Looareesuwan, Anavaj Sakuntabhai, Pratap Singhasivanon Longitudinal study of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in a Karen population in Thailand. Malaria Journal. Vol.7, (2008). doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-99 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19312
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Longitudinal study of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in a Karen population in Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background. Clinical case treatment of malaria infections where Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are sympatric has achieved effective reductions in P. falciparum prevalence and incidence rates, but has been less successful for P. vivax. The high transmissibility of P. vivax and its capacity to relapse have been suggested to make it a harder parasite species to control. Methods. A clinical malaria case treatment programme was carried out over a decade in a Karen community composed of seven hamlets on the Thai-Myanmar border. Results. From 1994 to 2004, prevalence rates of both P. falciparum and P. vivax decreased by 70-90% in six of the seven study hamlets, but were unchanged in one hamlet. Overall, incidence rates decreased by 72% and 76% for P. falciparum and P. vivax respectively over the period 1999-2004. The age-incidence and prevalence curves suggested that P. vivax was more transmissible than P. falciparum despite a greater overall burden of infection with P. falciparum. Male gender was associated with increased risk of clinical presentation with either parasite species. Children (< 15 years old) had an increased risk of presenting with P. vivax but not P. falciparum. Conclusion. There was a considerable reduction in incidence rates of both P. vivax and P. falciparum over a decade following implementation of a case treatment programme. The concern that intervention methods would inadvertently favour one species over another, or even lead to an increase in one parasite species, does not appear to be fulfilled in this case. © 2008 Phimpraphi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.