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Journée Mondiale contre le Paludisme
7.04.2008
Where ‘Idol’s’ Charitable Arm Reaches [New York Times - United States] — (English)
Five organizations received pledges of $6 million each for work in Africa: the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the United States Fund for Unicef; Nothing but Nets and Malaria No More, which work on malaria prevention; and Save the Children...
Combate à doença melhora vida no continente [Jornal de Angola] — (Portuguesa)
O vice-ministro da Saúde, José Van-Dúnem, considerou a luta contra o paludismo uma forma de contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida nos países africanos...
An expedition for life [The Post - Zambia] — (English)
This is a team of men that have decided to take a journey to among others sensitise people in Africa on Malaria a disease without borders...
Awareness vital to eradicate [The News - International - Pakistan] — (English)
Integrated awareness programme is vital to eradiate malaria because this fatal virus has no boundaries and the residents of malaria free areas were also becoming the victims of this dreadful disease...
0.13m malaria patients, 3.5m suspects in Pakistan [Daily Times - Lahore,Pakistan] — (English)
Pakistan reported 3.5 million suspected malaria cases in 2007 and 0.13 million of them were later confirmed, says an official of Directorate of Malaria Control (DOMC)...
6.04.2008
Zambia's fight against malaria [StarExponent.com - USA ] — (English)
There is a great need in Africa to combat this deadly disease...
His party in N.C. raises money to curb disease in West Africa [News & Observer - Raleigh,NC,USA] — (English)
Five years ago, Bouna Ndiaye was listening to National Public Radio when he heard a gloomy report about malaria killing people in sub-Saharan Africa...
Mosquitoes spread to new areas in warmer India [Thaindian.com - Bangkok,Bangkok,Thailand] — (English)
The incidence of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya is rising in India due to climate change...
5.04.2008
Football Team to Volunteer with Chip Away Malaria Football Camp [Central Michigan University Chippewas - Mount Pleasant,MI,USA] — (English)
Students in Central Michigan University's sport studies program are uniting with members of the CMU football team to host a free football clinic on Saturday, April 26 at 8:30 a.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium...
World Swim Against Malaria [SwimNews.com - Geneva,Switzerland] — (English)
One million people swimming on 5th April...
Plympton man continues campaign to save African orphans from malaria [Enterprise News - Brockton,MA,USA] — (English)
Local resident Ryan Kuja has already provided more than 190 bed nets to protect orphans from malaria-carrying mosquitoes...
MACEPA News — (English)
'Net flashes: News from Zambia and beyond, Zambia partners' voices: Richard Harrison, Society for Family Health, MACEPA in Zambia: Country director's perspectives, Vistas: David Brandling-Bennett, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MACEPA in Africa: Learning Community director's perspectives. Feature focus: MACEPA's partnership with Ethiopia...
4.04.2008
Assessment of the efficacy of antimalarial drugs recommended by the National Malaria Control Programme in Madagascar: Up-dated baseline data from randomized and multi-site clinical trials [Malaria Journal 2008, 7:55 (4 April 2008)] — (English)
A study that provides important updated antimalarial drug efficacy surveillance data in an area of Africa where such data was previously limited. After setting up a high quality sentinel site surveillance system, the study was conducted using widely accepted standardized guidelines...
Long-haul travel ups Irish malaria cases [Irish Independent - Dublin,Ireland] — (English)
THERE has been a sharp increase in the number of cases of malaria being seen in Ireland thanks to an increase in long-haul travel...
Malaria warning from climate change [Irish Health - Ireland] — (English)
Malaria and other infectious diseases not usually experienced by the UK could reach our shores as a result of climate change, doctors have warned...
Climate change seen conducive to breeding of more mosquitoes [Inquirer.net - Philippines] — (English)
Mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites and other deadly diseases that afflict Palawan primarily and most of the country’s 79 other provinces are adapting to the changing environment caused by global warming, medical practitioners here have observed...
Youssou N'Dour, Sénégal Inc. [Libération - France] — (English)
En ces années world music et bands aid, Youssou N’Dour aurait pu tourner en orbite, une maison à Londres, une autre à New York. Au lieu de quoi, s’il globe-trotte toujours d’un concert à une conférence sur le paludisme, il ne se pose qu’à Dakar, son territoire. Et s’il a beaucoup de biens, tous ont une seule adresse : le Sénégal. Siège de la Youssou Inc...
Intercontinental Bank launches malaria prevention scheme [Nigerian Tribune - Ibadan,Nigeria] — (English)
As the World Malaria Day draws near, Intercontinental Bank Plc has pioneered a crusade tagged: Malaria Prevention Scheme (IBMPS) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme...
Uganda: DDT Spraying Will Harm Our Exports [The Monitor (Kampala) via allAfrica.com] — (English)
Response is made to the article DDT Indoor Spraying Will Not Harm Agricultural Exports (New Vision, April 3) by Dr Myers Lugemwa. He indicates that the Ministry of Health (MoH) is aware of the alternatives to DDT but does not explain to what extent they have utilised those alternatives...
Gabon: Mères de familles et puéricultrices s'arment contre le paludisme [Gabonews (Libreville) via allAfrica.com] — (Français)
Les mères de familles, et l'ensemble des puéricultrices des haltes garderies de Libreville, viennent de bénéficier d'une formation sur la prise en charge des cas de paludisme simple à domicile, initiée par l'Association des sages femmes du Gabon, en partenariat avec le Fonds mondial de lutte contre le Sida, la tuberculose et le paludisme, qui s'est tenue mardi, dans les locaux du centre national de nutrition de la peyrie, a constaté GABONEWS...
3.04.2008
GenVec Receives Grant for Malaria Vaccine Program [FOXBusiness - USA] — (English)
GenVec, Inc. (Nasdaq:GNVC) announced today that it has received a Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the company's malaria vaccine program...
Global Warming Raises Malaria, Cancer Risk in U.K. [Bloomberg - USA] — (English)
Global warming will bring added health risks to the U.K., including the possibility of malaria infections and higher cancer rates, the British Medical Association said...
Smith, Colleagues Expand Critical Program to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria [Trading Markets (press release) - Los Angeles,CA,USA] — (English)
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives today voted in favor of H.R. 5501, Lantos-Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, & Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008...
Can changes in malaria transmission intensity explain prolonged protection and contribute to high protective efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants? [Malaria Journal 2008, 7:54 (3 April 2008)] — (English)
A decrease in malaria transmission during the study period may explain part of the difference in observed PEs of IPTi between sites and the extended period of protection into the second year of life observed in the Ifakara study. This finding of continued benefit of interventions in settings of decreasing transmission may explain why rebound of clinical malaria was absent in the large scale trials of insecticide-treated bed nets...
Chobe registers fewer malaria cases [Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana] — (English)
The Chobe District continue to record declining trend of malaria cases over the years, says Mr Machana Shamukuni, the chairperson of the Chobe District Council...
Malaria Expert Job in Zambia [The Zambian - Zambia] — (English)
Abt Associates seeks a Malaria Expert in Zambia. The Senior Associate/ Malaria Expert - Indoor Residual Spray Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance to the National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC) on programmatic and scientific issues in support of the expanded national Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) Program...
Cuba, Delta govts to fight malaria, blindness [The Tide - Port Harcourt,Niger Delta,Nigeria] — (English)
The Cuban government has indicated interest to partner with the Delta State Government in its health programme to exterminate mosquitoes and to cure blindness through its optical miracle programme in oil-bearing communities of the state...
2.04.2008
CNN founder who once derided Christianity joins it to fight malaria [Ecumenical News International - Geneva,Switzerland] — (English)
Ted Turner, who once called Christianity "a religion for losers" has launched a joint initiative with Lutherans and Methodists in the United States to raise US$200 million to fight malaria in Africa...
General Dynamics Itronix Donates Computers to Humanitarian Expedition Fighting Malaria in Africa [FOXBusiness - USA] — (English)
General Dynamics Itronix, an industry leading maker of rugged notebook computers, has donated several rugged GoBook XR-1 notebooks to the Zambezi Expedition 2008: Fighting Malaria on the "River of Life." ...
Land rover helps highlight malaria prevention, connect africa [Al-Bawaba - Amman,Jordan] — (English)
Land rover helps highlight malaria prevention, connect Africa Adel Labib, governor of Alexandria, signs the Scroll of Peace and Goodwill for the Outside Edge Expedition Team...
Guidelines and mindlines: why do clinical staff over-diagnose malaria in Tanzania? A qualitative study [Malaria Journal] — (English)
An important topic in malaria control at a time when new and costly drugs regimens are chosen for first line treatment of uncomplicated malaria in many endemic countries. In-depth understanding of the reasons for the common practice of over-diagnosis of malaria is pertinent in trying to change inappropriate habits...
Uganda: Malaria Drug Launched [The Monitor (Kampala) via allAfrica.com] — (English)
THE government has inaugurated a new malaria herbal drug that reportedly kills mosquito larvae within a short time...
Nandos fights malaria [Malawi's Daily Times - Malawi] — (English)
A Nandos franchise owner based in South Africa is in the country to help in the fight against malaria by distributing mosquito nets to residents of Chintheche and Cape Maclear along the lakeshore...
RI, Australia studying effectiveness of Chinese anti-Malaria drugs [Antara - Antara,Indonesia] — (English)
Around 70 to 80 percent of malaria sufferers treated with the Chinese drugs had recovered more quickly than patients taking other anti-malaria medicines...
Sénégal: Lutte contre le paludisme - Mieux assurer la qualité du diagnostic [Le Soleil (Dakar) via allAfrica.com] — (Fran¸ais)
Au Sénégal, la lutte contre le paludisme connaît des avancées significatives et les Etats-unis, à travers l'initiative du Président américain, soutiennent ces efforts...
1.04.2008
UN Foundation Charity Launches Faith-Based Malaria Eradication Drive [Voice of America - USA] — (English)
Ted Turner, head of the public charity organization UN Foundation, has announced a new partnership with two Protestant churches to raise $200 million for the eradication of malaria in Africa. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more...
Algae study unveils new approach to malaria vaccine design [LabTechnologist.com - London,UK] — (English)
Researchers have found two key proteins at the centre of sexual reproduction which allow two sex cells to merge and form a zygote. The discovery suggests a new way of preventing the spread of malaria by inhibiting its reproduction in the belly of the mosquito...
ISAF delivers mosquito nets to fight malaria [Blackanthem.com - Clinton Township,MI,USA] — (English)
ISAF logistics teams in southern Afghanistan airlifted six tons of mosquito nets to Helmand and Uruzgan Provinces Friday to help fight malaria...
Hepatocyte Permissiveness to Plasmodium Infection Is Conveyed by a Short and Structurally Conserved Region of the CD81 Large Extracellular Domain [PLOS Pathogens] — (English)
Minutes after the bite of a female mosquito, the malaria parasite Plasmodium enters the liver where it invades liver-specific cells called hepatocytes and undergoes one round of multiplication. This stage is a prerequisite to the blood stages of the life cycle which cause the malaria symptoms. The invasion of hepatocytes probably requires a series of interaction between the host cell and the parasite, but the exact mechanisms are still elusive. CD81, a protein of the tetraspanin superfamily, is the only hepatocyte surface protein that has been shown to be strictly required for the infection by the malaria parasite. We have here studied the regions of CD81 that are important for infection, by exchanging segments with the corresponding parts of a closely related molecule, or by mutating discrete residues. This study has uncovered a new functionally important region of CD81 and, by comparing the ability of several CD81 antibodies to block infection, has strengthened the hypothesis that CD81 might regulate the function of another molecule present at the hepatocyte surface during Plasmodium infection. The region of CD81 identified here is different from the region involved in the binding of the hepatitis C virus...
Adenylyl Cyclase alpha and cAMP Signaling Mediate Plasmodium Sporozoite Apical Regulated Exocytosis and Hepatocyte Infection [PLOS Pathogens] — (English)
Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that deposits Plasmodium sporozoites under the skin. These sporozoites migrate from the skin into the circulation and then enter the liver to start a new infection inside hepatocytes. Sporozoites have the capacity to traverse mammalian cells. They breach their membranes and migrate through their cytosol. This process is required for infection of the liver and triggers the exposure of adhesive proteins in the apical end of sporozoites, a process that facilitates invasion of hepatocytes. We found that elevations of cAMP inside sporozoites mediate the exposure of adhesive proteins and therefore the infection process. Mutant sporozoites that do not express adenylyl cyclase, the enzyme that synthesizes cAMP, are not able to expose the adhesive proteins and their infectivity is reduced by half. Reinsertion of adenylyl cyclase gene in the mutant sporozoites recovers their capacity to expose adhesive proteins and to infect hepatocytes, confirming the specific role of this protein in infection. These results demonstrate the importance of cAMP and the exposure of adhesive proteins in sporozoites, but also show that Plasmodium sporozoites have other mechanisms to invade host hepatocytes that are not inhibited in the mutant parasites...
Traffic accidents deadly as malaria, tuberculosis [Modesto Bee - Modesto,CA,USA] — (English)
A few years ago, I led a U.S. delegation to Bangkok for a high-level meeting on aviation safety. At the end of the meeting, the Thai transportation minister brought up an issue that had not been on our agenda...
IRAQ: Blackwater Fever [IPSNEWS.NET] — (English)
Iraqi doctors in al-Anbar province warn of the spread of Blackwater fever, a complication of malaria. Many Iraqis see that name as ominously one with Blackwater Worldwide, the U.S. mercenary company operating in Iraq...
Get malaria test, Limpopo says [News24 - South Africa] — (English)
Limpopo health officials recorded 1 098 cases of malaria in the province in March...
Malaria fears allayed [NEWSFOOD.com Primo piano - Alessandria,Piemonte,Italy] — (English)
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 40% of the global population, mostly those living in the world's poorest countries, are at risk of malaria, every year, more than 500 million people become severely ill with the disease...
Bionomics of Anopheles latens in Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo in relation to the transmission of zoonotic simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi [Malaria Journal 2008, 7:52 (31 March 2008)] — (English)
This paper is about the bionomics of Anopheles latens, which is well described. This information is important for our understanding of the parasite transmission dynamics and, in particular, for transmission to humans...
Articles requiring subscription
Measuring malaria endemicity from intense to interrupted transmission [The Lancet Infectious Diseases, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 2 April 2008] — (English)
The quantification of malaria transmission for the classification of malaria risk has long been a concern for epidemiologists. During the era of the Global Malaria Eradication Programme, measurements of malaria endemicity were institutionalised by their incorporation into rules outlining defined action points for malaria control programmes. We review the historical development of these indices and their contemporary relevance. This is at a time when many malaria-endemic countries are scaling-up their malaria control activities and reconsidering their prospects for elimination. These considerations are also important to an international community that has recently been challenged to revaluate the prospects for malaria eradication...
Lessons from the past: managing insecticide resistance in malaria control and eradication programmes [The Lancet Infectious Diseases, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 31 March 2008 ] — (English)
The distribution of insecticide-treated bednets to help combat the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa has accelerated in the past 5 years. Additionally, many countries are also considering, or have already begun, indoor residual spraying campaigns. These are positive developments, since vector control has repeatedly proven to be an effective means of reducing malaria transmission. However, the sustainability of these insecticide-based interventions relies on the continuing susceptibility of the anopheles vectors to the limited number of available insecticides. Continual monitoring for early signs of insecticide resistance and the adoption of carefully considered resistance management strategies are therefore required. Regrettably, this essential monitoring component is frequently given a low priority in the push to meet ambitious coverage targets. We outline the key requirements for establishing an insecticide resistance surveillance system and urge all those involved in malaria vector control, either directly or as facilitators, to ensure that these measures are incorporated into control programmes. Failure to act now will inevitably lead to a future breakdown in disease control and jeopardise hopes of eradicating this major public-health problem...
Failure of atovaquone/proguanil to prevent Plasmodium ovale malaria in traveler returning from Cameroon [Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 2 April 2008] — (English)
We report a case of a patient returning from Cameroon who developed Plasmodium ovale malaria, despite atovaquone/proguanil (AP, Malarone) prophylaxis, which is widely used for the prevention of chloroquine-resistant malaria. AP is indeed active only on schizont blood forms of P. ovale but not against liver-stage hypnozoites and does not realize effective prophylaxis against delayed onset of P. ovale malaria. Hence, this case illustrates the risk of failure with Malarone for the prophylaxis of P. ovale infection for travelers in endemic regions. Travelers returned from risk areas with symptoms suggestive of malaria, should not have the diagnosis of P. ovale (or P. vivax) infection discounted, despite a history of compliance with a standard chemoprophylactic regimen...
Adjuvant formulations possess differing efficacy in the potentiation of antibody and cell mediated responses to a human malaria vaccine under selective immune genes knockout environment [International Immunopharmacology, In Press, Uncorrected Proof, Available online 3 April 2008] — (English)
Formulated adjuvants had characteristics distinct from their individual components, and multi-components formulations were not necessarily superior. We conclude that perturbation of immune environments will have measurable impact on adjuvants' potency. Evaluation of adjuvants in immune knockout models may be a supplementary approach to measure and compare adjuvants' efficacy, and to further unveil their distinct biological activities...
Principales pathologies des enfants revenant de vacances dans leur pays d’origine [Journal de Pédiatrie et de Puériculture, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 2 April 2008 ] — (Français)
Résumé
De nombreux enfants, migrants ou issus de migrants, partent chaque année en vacances dans le pays d’origine de leurs parents ou grands-parents ; certains d’entre eux rentrent en France atteints de pathologies dont la présentation clinique peut être déroutante. La suspicion de paludisme chez un enfant revenant d’une zone d’endémie est de diagnostic clinique difficile et nécessite la réalisation rapide d’un frottis, d’une antigénémie et d’une goutte épaisse. Le traitement en cas de positivité de ces examens est urgent. La bilharziose urinaire est souvent révélée par une hématurie ; l’absence d’œufs dans les urines ne permet pas d’éliminer le diagnostic. Le traitement des diarrhées bactériennes de retour ne ressortit pas toujours à une antibiothérapie ; dans la fièvre typhoïde, le relais rapide de l’antibiothérapie parentérale par l’azithromycine per os peut être envisagé. Le traitement des nématodoses intestinales (en dehors de l’anguillulose) fait désormais plus appel à l’albendazole qu’au flubendazole. La vaccination contre l’hépatite A devrait être la règle chez les enfants partant en zone d’endémie ; le portage inapparent ou paucisymptomatique à cet âge peut, en effet, conduire à la contamination d’un adulte, aux conséquences parfois redoutables. Les conditions climatiques, épidémiologiques et environnementales favorisent, chez l’enfant, des dermatoses dont la présentation est inhabituelle et dont les différents diagnostics sont discutés
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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Japanese travelers towards malaria prevention during overseas travel [Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 1 April 2008] — (English)
Japanese travel medicine providers and general practitioners who engage in pre-travel consultation should raise awareness of travelers about the seriousness of malaria, the need for improved compliance with chemoprophylaxis, and the importance of being properly prepared prior to departure...
Changing pattern of malaria in Bissau, Guinea Bissau [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 410-417] — (English)
In Bissau, the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in the community is now low and malaria is over-diagnosed in health facilities. Laboratory support will be essential to avoid unnecessary use of the artemisinin combination therapy which is now being introduced as first-line treatment in Bissau with support from the Global Fund...
End-user errors in applying two malaria rapid diagnostic tests in a remote area of Sudan [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 406-409] — (English)
We assessed end-user practice for numerous procedural steps of two types of RDTs: Core Malaria Pf™ (the cassette format) and OptiMAL IT™ (the dipstick format). Two types of errors occurred: generic errors common to both types of test and specific errors caused by the test design and manufacturer’s instructions. End-user errors were more frequent with OptiMAL IT™ than Core Pf™ tests. To improve malaria diagnosis with rapid tests, users require training and better manufacturer’s instructions that take into account local condition...
Clinical diagnosis of malaria and the risk of chloroquine self-medication in rural health centres in Burkina Faso [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 418-426] — (English)
As long as artemisinin-based combination therapy remains unavailable or unaffordable for most people in rural areas of Burkina Faso, self-medication with and prescription of CQ are likely to continue despite increasing resistance. Apart from considering more pragmatic first-line regimens for malaria treatment such as the combination of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine with amodiaquine, more and better training on careful clinical management of febrile children including an appropriate consideration of other illnesses than malaria should be made available in the frame of the IMCI initiative in sub-Saharan Africa...
Use of proxy measures in estimating socioeconomic inequalities in malaria prevalence [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 354-364] — (English)
An asset index is an effective alternative to consumption in measuring the socioeconomic gradient in malaria parasitaemia, but self-report may be an unreliable measure of malaria prevalence for this purpose...
Knockdown resistance mutations (kdr) and insecticide susceptibility to DDT and pyrethroids in Anopheles gambiae from Equatorial Guinea [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 430-433] — (English)
The co-occurrence of both kdr mutations and reduced susceptibility to DDT found in A. gambiae highlights the importance of implementing efficient surveillance of insecticide resistance in Equatorial Guinea...
Assessing the validity of health facility-based data on insecticide-treated bednet possession and use: comparison of data collected via health facility and household surveys – Lindi region and Rufiji district, Tanzania, 2005 [Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 13, Issue 3, Page 396-40 — (English)
Information bias rather than selection bias appears to be a key cause for the overestimation of bednet and insecticide-treated bednet use (e.g. social desirability bias: caretakers of under-5s attending health facilities might be more likely to report using bednets and insecticide-treated bednets). Additional studies of the validity, cost and utility of HF-based data to monitor insecticide-treated bednet use are needed before recommending this monitoring strategy for widespread use. Overestimating insecticide-treated bednet use could lead to inappropriate public health actions and missed opportunities for achieving local and global public health goals...
Malaria and Hepatocystis Species in Wild Macaques, Southern Thailand [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 646 - 653] — (English)
Southeast Asian macaques are natural hosts for a number of nonhuman primate malaria parasites; some of these can cause diseases in humans. We conducted a cross-sectional survey by collecting 99 blood samples from Macaca fascicularis in southern Thailand. Giemsa-stained blood films showed five (5.1%) positive samples and six (6.1%) isolates had positive test results by polymerase chain reaction. A phylogenetic tree inferred from the A-type sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene confirmed Plasmodium inui in five macaques; one of these macaques was co-infected with P. coatneyi. Hepatocystis, a hemoprotozoan parasite transmitted by Culicoides, was identified in an isolate that was confirmed by analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. All malaria-infected monkeys lived in mangrove forests, but no infected monkeys were found in an urban area. These findings indicate regional differences in malaria distribution among these macaques, as well as differences in potential risk of disease transmission to humans...
Impaired Clinical Response in a Patient with Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria Who Received Poor-Quality and Underdosed Intramuscular Artemether [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 552 - 555] — (English)
We describe an adult with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria who did not improve clinically despite 5 days of intramuscular artemether therapy. He was prescribed a lower dose (kg body weight) than that recommended, and a vial from the packet contained only 74% of the artemether dose as stated by the manufacturer. The combination of underdosing, poor-quality drug, and the intrinsic low bioavailability of artemether may have contributed to his poor clinical response. Analysis of the packaging and chemical "fingerprinting" of the artemether suggested that the drug was genuine but was either substandard or had deteriorated after manufacture...
Pharmacokinetics of Dihydroartemisinin in a Murine Malaria Model [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 641 - 642] — (English)
Pharmacokinetic properties of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were determined in mice given 100 mg/kg intraperitoneal DHA. Half-life, CL/F, and V/F were 25 min, 61.3 L/hr/kg, and 36.3 L/kg in malaria-infected mice and 19 min, 50.9 L/hr/kg, and 23.0 L/kg in controls. These data are valuable for pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic evaluations of DHA in murine models...
Malaria Vector Management: Where Have We Come From and Where Are We Headed? [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 536 - 537] — (English)
Considering the global prevalence of malaria and the ease with which it has evaded the global control and eradication efforts, we can arguably say it is one of the successful human diseases. In our opinion, it seems the fight against the increasing burden of malaria will require adoption of multiple approaches that have proven effective now or in the past. The results of larval control earlier in the last century were spectacular but were not good enough to rid the world of malaria—so were the DDT during World War II and ITNs currently. In view of proven effectiveness of each of these vector control approaches, it would be interesting to see how they would impact malaria burden if they were applied in an integrated fashion relying on field-derived evidence-based information about the vector, parasite, and human host: the so-called integrated vector management (IVM) philosophy. This concept involves combining several vector control tactics, which if applied separately or not used at the right time or place would not achieve the desired results, but together with the correct information are mutually complementary. An IVM program involving source reduction, IRS (especially with DDT), and ITNs is now practical after the recent approval by the World Health Organization of DDT use in malaria control where the vectors are still susceptible to this chemical12 and the renewed interest in larval control. It is worth noting that challenges such as civil unrest, tribal wars, and lack of political goodwill need to be addressed, because effective malaria control is only possible under a stable civil setting...
Dihydroartemisinin—Piperaquine Rescue Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Pregnancy: A Preliminary Report [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 543 - 545] — (English)
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is a promising new artemisinin combination treatment. There are no published data on the intentional use of the drug in pregnancy. Between June 2006 and January 2007, 50 Karen pregnant women with recurrent P. falciparum infections, despite 7-day treatments with quinine or artesunate (+/–clindamycin) or both, were treated with DHA-PPQ. This rescue treatment was effective and well tolerated and there was no evidence of toxicity for the mothers or the fetus. The PCR adjusted cure rate by Kaplan Meier analysis at day 63 was 92.2% (95% CI: 76.9–97.4)...
Association of pfcrt But Not pfmdr1 Alleles with Chloroquine Resistance in Iranian Isolates of Plasmodium falciparum [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 633 - 640] — (English)
This study was designed to analyze the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) and P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (pfmdr1) mutations as markers of chloroquine (CQ) resistance in 200 blood samples collected from malaria patients in south-eastern Iran during 2002–2005...
Detection of New Babesia microti-like Parasites in a Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) with a Suppressed Plasmodium cynomolgi Infection [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 643 - 645] — (English)
A new type of piroplasm, phylogenetically closest to Babesia microti-like parasites previously detected in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris orientis), was identified in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) imported from China. After challenge with Plasmodium cynomolgi M strain blood-stage parasites, the rhesus monkey repeatedly showed markedly reduced levels of Plasmodium parasitemia when compared with animals not infected with this organism...
Encephalopathy after Ivermectin Treatment in a Patient Infected with Loa Loa and Plasmodium spp [Am J Trop Med Hyg, Apr 2008; 78: 546 - 551] — (English)
Despite over 350 million people being safely treated with ivermectin, there have been rare cases of death post-treatment; these events are most often associated with high Loa loa microfilaremia. This first autopsy description of an encephalopathy case following the administration of ivermectin involves a 45-year-old male who became comatose 3 days after treatment. He slowly deteriorated over 5 weeks and died at 54 days after the anthelminthic treatment, probably as a result of a secondary skin or pulmonary infection exacerbated by malnutrition. The major pre- and post-autopsy findings included the presence of high loads of Loa loa, positivity for Plasmodium, the presence of a longstanding respiratory condition, and vascular pathology in the brain. The central nervous system lesions have similarities with those described in previously reported cases of Loa loa-associated death following diethylcarbamazine treatment...
Rethinking global access to vaccines [BMJ, Apr 2008; 336: 750 - 753] — (English)
Barriers to dissemination of life saving vaccines in low income countries can and should be overcome, argue Dave Chokshi and Aaron Kesselheim ...
Local Adaptation and Vector-Mediated Population Structure in Plasmodium vivax Malaria [Mol Biol Evol. 2008 Apr 2] — (English)
Plasmodium vivax in southern Mexico exhibits different infectivities to two local mosquito vectors, Anopheles pseudopunctipennis and Anopheles albimanus. Previous work has tied these differences in mosquito infectivity to variation in the central repeat motif of the malaria parasite's circumsporozoite (csp) gene, but subsequent studies have questioned this view. Here we present evidence that P. vivax in southern Mexico is comprised of three genetic populations whose distributions largely mirror those of the two mosquito vectors. Additionally, laboratory colony feeding experiments indicate that parasite populations are most compatible with sympatric mosquito species. Our results suggest that reciprocal selection between malaria parasites and mosquito vectors has led to local adaptation of the parasite. Adaptation to local vectors may play an important role in generating population structure in Plasmodium. A better understanding of co-evolutionary dynamics between sympatric mosquitoes and parasites will facilitate the identification of molecular mechanisms relevant to disease transmission in nature, and provide crucial information for malaria control...
CXCR3 determines strain susceptibility to murine cerebral malaria by mediating T lymphocyte migration toward IFN-gamma-induced chemokines [European Journal of Immunology, Volume 38, Issue 4 , Pages 1082 - 1095] — (English)
Cerebral malaria (CM) results from the binding of infected erythrocytes and leukocytes to brain endothelia. The precise mechanisms underlying lymphocyte recruitment and activation in CM remain unclear. Therefore, the expression of various chemokines was quantified in brains of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)...
Malaria: progress, perils, and prospects for eradication [J. Clin. Invest. 118(4): 1266-1276 (2008). doi:10.1172/JCI33996.] — (English)
There are still approximately 500 million cases of malaria and 1 million deaths from malaria each year. Yet recently, malaria incidence has been dramatically reduced in some parts of Africa by increasing deployment of anti-mosquito measures and new artemisinin-containing treatments, prompting renewed calls for global eradication. However, treatment and mosquito control currently depend on too few compounds and thus are vulnerable to the emergence of compound-resistant parasites and mosquitoes. As discussed in this Review, new drugs, vaccines, and insecticides, as well as improved surveillance methods, are research priorities. Insights into parasite biology, human immunity, and vector behavior will guide efforts to translate parasite and mosquito genome sequences into novel interventions...
Detection of Malaria Parasites in Mosquitoes from the Malaria-Endemic Area of Chakaria, Bangladesh [Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Apr;31(4):703-8] — (English)
Malaria is one of the major public health problems of Bangladesh. We investigated the mosquito populations infected with malaria parasites in a malaria-endemic area Chakaria, Bangladesh, where Anopheles dirus and Anopheles minimus are the principal vectors. Anopheles mosquitoes were collected with a CDC miniature light trap from inside households in June 2007. A total of 868 mosquitoes were collected, among which females numbered 669 (77.1%). The species of female Anopheles mosquitoes were identified morphologically, and 651 were A. minimus and the remaining 18 were other Anopheles species. Malaria parasite DNA from individual female mosquitoes was extracted and distinguished using the microtiter plate hybridization (MPH) technique targeting the 18S rRNA of human malaria parasites. Nineteen mosquitoes were malaria parasite positive: 12 for Plasmodium falciparum, 1 for Plasmodium vivax, and 6 for both P. falciparum and P. vivax. This is the first time that the MPH technique was used for distinguishing malaria parasites in mosquitoes and the first report from Chakaria. Our results may contribute to planning and assessing malaria control strategies in Chakaria...
A diversity-covering approach to immunisation with Plasmodium falciparum AMA1 induces broader allelic recognition and growth inhibition responses in rabbits [Infect. Immun. doi:10.1128/IAI.00170-08] — (English)
Plasmodium falciparum AMA1 (PfAMA1), a candidate malaria vaccine, is polymorphic. This polymorphism is believed to be generated predominantly under immune selection pressure, and as a result may compromise attempts at vaccination. Alignment of 355 PfAMA1 sequences shows that around 10% of the 622 amino acid residues can vary between alleles and that linkages between polymorphic residues occur. Using this analysis we have designed three Diversity-Covering (DiCo) PfAMA1 sequences that take account of these linkages and, when taken together, on average incorporate 97% of amino acid variability observed. For each of the three DiCo sequences a synthetic gene was constructed and used to transform the methylothrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, allowing recombinant expression. All three DiCo proteins were reactive with the reduction sensitive monoclonal antibody 4G2, suggesting the DiCo's had a similar conformation to naturally occurring PfAMA1...
An experimental model for fatal malaria due to TNF-alpha-dependent hepatic damage [Parasitology. 2008 Apr 1;:1-8] — (English)
While BALB/c mice survive infection with blood stages of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS), 70% of DBA/2 mice die by day 9–11 of infection, both strains controlling parasitaemia. We describe here that infection of DBA/2 mice results in extensive, multifocal hepatocyte death. Antibody neutralization of TNF-α prevents both liver damage and death...
Worms and malaria: blind men feeling the elephant? [Parasitology. 2008 Apr 1;:1-8] — (English)
For thousands of years the deadliest human parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has been evolving in populations also infected by the most prevalent parasites, worms. This is likely to have shaped the genome of all 3 protagonists – man, worms and malaria. Observational studies in Thailand have shown that although P. falciparum malaria incidence increased two-fold in helminth-infected patients, there was a 64% reduction of cerebral malaria and an 84% reduction of acute renal failure in helminth-infected patients relative to those without helminths. In addition, it was suggested that mixed infections, anaemia and gametocyte carriage were more frequent in helminth-infected patients. On the contrary, fever was lower in helminth-infected patients. The present hypotheses, their implications and the limitations of the results described and of those from studies in Africa are discussed...
Possible Risk Factors for Congenital Malaria at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sagamu, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria [J Trop Pediatr. 2008 Mar 29] — (English)
Congenital malaria, defined as the presence of malaria parasites in the erythrocytes of newborns aged <7 days, was considered rare in endemic areas until recent studies started reporting high prevalence rates. Various theories have been postulated to explain this phenomenon, but they are not proven conclusively from research. Against this background, a prospective study was designed with the following objectives. To determine the prevalence of congenital malaria parasitaemia and identify possible risk factors amongst newborns delivered in O.O.U.T.H Sagamu, Ogun State...
A composite management intervention plus financial incentives reduced mortality from malaria in children <5 years of age [Evidence-Based Medicine 2008;13:59] — (English)
Strict implementation of a standardised protocol plus financial incentives for health workers (n = 460 children) or usual care (n = 491 children). On the intervention ward, staff rigorously followed recommended procedures in national standardised guidelines on management of malaria...
Interaction between artemisinin and heme. A Density Functional Theory study of structures and interaction energies [Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Mar 16] — (English)
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the unicellular parasite Plasmodium sp. Currently, the malaria parasite is becoming resistant to the traditional pharmacological alternatives, which are ineffective. Artemisinin is the most recent advance in the chemotherapy of malaria. Since it has been proven that artemisinin may act on intracellular heme, we have undertaken a systematic study of several interactions and arrangements between artemisinin and heme. Density Functional Theory calculations were employed to calculate interaction energies, electronic states, and geometrical arrangements for the complex between the heme group and artemisinin. The results show that the interaction between the heme group and artemisinin at long distances occurs through a complex where the iron atom of the heme group retains its electronic features, leading to a quintet state as the most stable one. However, for interaction at short distances, due to artemisinin reduction by the heme group, the most stable complex has a septet spin state. These results suggest that a thermodynamically favorable interaction between artemisinin and heme may happen...
A novel semi-automatic image processing approach to determine Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia in Giemsa-stained thin blood smears [BMC Cell Biol. 2008 Mar 28;9(1):15] — (English)
The automatic analysis has proven to be comparable with manual evaluations in terms of accuracy. Moreover, the test results have shown that the proposed comparison-based approach, by exploiting the interrelation between different images and color channels, has successfully overcome most of the inherent limitations possibly occurring during the sample preparation and image acquisition phase. Eventually, this can be seen as an opportunity for developing low-cost solutions for mass screening...
Rectal artemisinins for malaria: a review of efficacy and safety from individual patient data in clinical studies [BMC Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 28;8(1):39] — (English)
Artemisinin and artesunate suppositories rapidly eliminate parasites and appear to be safe. There are less data on artemether and dihydroartemisinin suppositories. The more rapid parasite clearance of single high-dose regimens suggests that achieving immediate high drug concentrations may be the optimal strategy...
High frequency of Plasmodium falciparum CICNI/SGEAA and CVIET haplotypes without association with resistance to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine and chloroquine combination in the Daraweesh area, in Sudan [Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 29] — (English)
Estimation of the prevalence of the molecular markers of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) and chloroquine (CQ) resistance and validation of the association of mutations with resistance in different settings is needed for local policy guidance and for contributing to a global map for anti-malarial drug resistance. In this study, malaria patients treated with SP alone (60) and SP with CQ (194) had a total treatment failure (TF) of 35.4%, with no difference between the two arms. The polymerase chain reaction–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) method was used to identify polymorphisms in 15 loci in the dhfr, dhps and pfcrt genes in a subset of 168 infections. The results revealed a similar frequency of all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the two arms, except dhps 581G, which was over-represented in infections that failed to respond to SP alone (TF). In all infections, a high frequency of dhfr CICNI haplotype (51I and 108N) was found, but without discrimination between the adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR, 75.6%) and TF (82.9%). Similarly, the dhps SGEAA haplotype (437G and 540E) (ACPR, 60.5%; TF, 65.9%) and the combined CICNI/SGEAA haplotype (ACPR, 50%; TF 55%) were not associated with TF. In contrast to other studies in Africa, the triple 51I/59R/108N mutation was rare (0.6%). In addition, the pfcrt CVIET haplotype (93%) was found to be associated with the CICNI/SGEAA haplotype. Finally, these data represent a baseline for SP resistance molecular markers needed before the deployment of SP/artesunate combination therapy in the Sudan...
Construct validity of the bidding game, binary with follow-up, and a novel structured haggling question format in determining willingness to pay for insecticide-treated mosquito nets [Med Decis Making. 2008 Jan-Feb;28(1):90-101] — (English)
This study examines Whether making question formats better fit the cultural context of markets Would improve the construct validity of estimates of Willingness to pay (WTP). WTP for insecticide-treated mosquito nets Was elicited using the bidding game, binary With follow-up (BWFU), and a novel structured haggling technique (SH) that mimicked price taking in market places in the study area...
Wash resistance of PermaNets in comparison to hand-treated nets [Acta Trop. 2008 Feb;105(2):154-7. Epub 2007 Oct 22] — (English)
The wash resistance of factory produced PermaNets (with deltamethrin bonded to the netting with a resin) was studied by bioassays with Anopheles stephensi. Commercial detergent powders were used to wash the nets. For comparison, conventionally treated nets were washed and bio-assayed. Nets were washed under laboratory conditions using a Rotary shaker for 10 min. Mosquito bioassays used standard WHO plastic cones with an exposure time of 3 min. The PermaNet caused almost a 100% mortality of An. stephensi after up to 18 washes and >80% mortality up to 26 washes but after 30 washes mortality declined. The differences between the mortality of An. stephensi on treated nets washed with detergent or soap (uncoloured, non-perfumed) were not significant. When conventional nets dipped in deltamethrin (25 mg/m2) or lambdacyhalothrin (10 mg/m2) were washed under similar laboratory conditions, the wash resistance was markedly less than that of the PermaNet. In the case of deltamethrin, mosquito mortality remained >80% up to 12 washes and with lambdacyhalothrin mortality remained above 80% up to 11 washes. The relationship of 80% mortality from a 3 min bioassay to effectiveness against free flying mosquitoes remains to be determined...
Prepared in cooperation with WHO ANGOLA INFO.
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