Publication: Very high carriage of gametocytes in asymptomatic low-density Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections in western Thailand
Issued Date
2017-10-24
Resource Type
ISSN
17563305
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85041235924
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Parasites & vectors. Vol.10, No.1 (2017), 512
Suggested Citation
Wang Nguitragool, Ivo Mueller, Chalermpon Kumpitak, Teerawat Saeseu, Sirasate Bantuchai, Ritthideach Yorsaeng, Surapon Yimsamran, Wanchai Maneeboonyang, Patiwat Sa-Angchai, Wutthichai Chaimungkun, Prasert Rukmanee, Supalarp Puangsa-Art, Nipon Thanyavanich, Cristian Koepfli, Ingrid Felger, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Pratap Singhasivanon Very high carriage of gametocytes in asymptomatic low-density Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections in western Thailand. Parasites & vectors. Vol.10, No.1 (2017), 512. doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2407-y Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/42719
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Very high carriage of gametocytes in asymptomatic low-density Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections in western Thailand
Author(s)
Wang Nguitragool
Ivo Mueller
Chalermpon Kumpitak
Teerawat Saeseu
Sirasate Bantuchai
Ritthideach Yorsaeng
Surapon Yimsamran
Wanchai Maneeboonyang
Patiwat Sa-Angchai
Wutthichai Chaimungkun
Prasert Rukmanee
Supalarp Puangsa-Art
Nipon Thanyavanich
Cristian Koepfli
Ingrid Felger
Jetsumon Sattabongkot
Pratap Singhasivanon
Ivo Mueller
Chalermpon Kumpitak
Teerawat Saeseu
Sirasate Bantuchai
Ritthideach Yorsaeng
Surapon Yimsamran
Wanchai Maneeboonyang
Patiwat Sa-Angchai
Wutthichai Chaimungkun
Prasert Rukmanee
Supalarp Puangsa-Art
Nipon Thanyavanich
Cristian Koepfli
Ingrid Felger
Jetsumon Sattabongkot
Pratap Singhasivanon
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low-density asymptomatic infections of Plasmodium spp. are common in low endemicity areas worldwide, but outside Africa, their contribution to malaria transmission is poorly understood. Community-based studies with highly sensitive molecular diagnostics are needed to quantify the asymptomatic reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections in Thai communities.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 4309 participants was conducted in three endemic areas in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces of Thailand in 2012. The presence of P. falciparum and P. vivax parasites was determined using 18S rRNA qPCR. Gametocytes were also detected by pfs25 / pvs25 qRT-PCRs.RESULTS: A total of 133 individuals were found infected with P. vivax (3.09%), 37 with P. falciparum (0.86%), and 11 with mixed P. vivax/ P. falciparum (0.26%). The clear majority of both P. vivax (91.7%) and P. falciparum (89.8%) infections were not accompanied by any febrile symptoms. Infections with either species were most common in adolescent and adult males. Recent travel to Myanmar was highly associated with P. falciparum (OR = 9.0, P = 0.001) but not P. vivax infections (P = 0.13). A large number of P. vivax (71.5%) and P. falciparum (72.0%) infections were gametocyte positive by pvs25/pfs25 qRT-PCR. Detection of gametocyte-specific pvs25 and pfs25 transcripts was strongly dependent on parasite density. pvs25 transcript numbers, a measure of gametocyte density, were also highly correlated with parasite density (r 2 = 0.82, P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic infections with Plasmodium spp. were common in western Thai communities in 2012. The high prevalence of gametocytes indicates that these infections may contribute substantially to the maintenance of local malaria transmission.