Under the Radar: Epidemiology of Plasmodium ovale in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
J Infect Dis
; 223(6): 1005-1014, 2021 03 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32766832
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Plasmodium ovale is an understudied malaria species prevalent throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about the distribution of ovale malaria and risk factors for infection in areas of high malaria endemicity.METHODS:
Using the 2013 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Demographic and Health Survey, we conducted a risk factor analysis for P. ovale infections. We evaluated geographic clustering of infections and speciated to P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri through deep sequencing.RESULTS:
Of 18 149 adults tested, we detected 143 prevalent P. ovale infections (prevalence estimate 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], .59%-.98%). Prevalence ratios (PR) for significant risk factors were male sex PRâ =â 2.12 (95% CI, 1.38-3.26), coprevalent P. falciparum PRâ =â 3.52 (95% CI, 2.06-5.99), and rural residence PRâ =â 2.19 (95% CI, 1.31-3.66). P. ovale was broadly distributed throughout the DRC; an elevated cluster of infections was detected in the south-central region. Speciation revealed P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri circulating throughout the country.CONCLUSIONS:
P. ovale persists broadly in the DRC, a high malaria burden country. For successful elimination of all malaria species, P. ovale needs to be on the radar of malaria control programs.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plasmodium ovale
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
J Infect Dis
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: