Exposure and infection to < i > Plasmodium knowlesi < /i > in case study communities in Northern Sabah, Malaysia and Palawan, The Philippines

by Kimberly M. Fornace, Lou S. Herman, Tommy R. Abidin, Tock Hing Chua, Sylvia Daim, Pauline J. Lorenzo, Lynn Grignard, Nor Afizah Nuin, Lau Tiek Ying, Matthew J. Grigg, Timothy William, Fe Espino, Jonathan Cox, Kevin K. A. Tetteh, Chris J. Drakeley BackgroundPrimarily impacting poor, rural populations, the zoonotic malariaPlasmodium knowlesi is now the main cause of human malaria within Malaysian Borneo. While data is increasingly available on symptomatic cases, little is known about community-level patterns of exposure and infection. Understanding the true burden of disease and associated risk factors within endemic communities is critical for informing evidence-based control measures. Methodology/Principal findingsWe conducted comprehensive surveys in three areas whereP.knowlesi transmission is reported: Limbuak, Pulau Banggi and Matunggung, Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia and Bacungan, Palawan, the Philippines. Infection prevalence was low with parasites detected by PCR in only 0.2% (4/2503) of the population.P.knowlesi PkSERA3 ag1 antibody responses were detected in 7.1% (95% CI: 6.2 –8.2%) of the population, compared with 16.1% (14.6–17.7%) and 12.6% (11.2–14.1%) forP.falciparum andP.vivax. Sero-prevalence was low in individuals
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research