Measurement of Plasmodium falciparum transmission intensity using serological cohort data from Indonesian schoolchildren.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As malaria transmission intensity approaches zero, measuring it becomes progressively more difficult and inefficient because parasite-positive individuals are hard to detect. This situation may arise shortly before achieving local elimination, or during surveillance post-elimination to prevent reintroduction. Antibody responses against the parasite last longer than the infections themselves. This "footprint" of infection may thus be used for assessing transmission intensity. A statistical approach is presented for measuring the seroconversion rate (SCR), a correlate of the force of infection, from individual-level longitudinal data on antibody titres in an area of low Plasmodium falciparum transmission.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 160 Indonesian scho

SUBMITTER: Bretscher MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3605132 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature