Occurrence and Distribution of Nonfalciparum Malaria Parasite Species Among Adolescents and Adults in Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium falciparum malaria dominates throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but the prevalence of Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale spp., and Plasmodium vivax increasingly contribute to infection in countries that control malaria using P. falciparum-specific diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Methods

We performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on 2987 dried blood spots from the 2015-2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey to identify presence and distribution of nonfalciparum infection. Bivariate models were used to determine species-specific associations with demographic and environmental risk factors.

Results

Nonfalciparum infections had broad spatial distributions. Weighted prevalence was 0.025 (SE, 0.004) for P. malariae, 0.097 (SE, 0.

SUBMITTER: Gumbo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8763954 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature