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Improving childhood malaria treatment and referral practices by training patent medicine vendors in rural south-east NigeriaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The remarkable change in knowledge and practices observed indicates that training of drug vendors, as a means of communication in the community, is feasible and strongly supports their inclusion in control strategies aimed at improving prompt effective treatment of malaria with referral of severe cases. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 20, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Theodora OkekeBenjamin Uzochukwu Source Type: journals

Population structure analyses and demographic history of the malaria vector Anopheles albimanus from the Caribbean and the Pacific regions of ColombiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The data provide evidence for limited past gene flow between the Caribbean and the Pacific regions, as estimated by mtDNA sequences and current gene flow patterns among An. albimanus populations as measured by MS loci which may be mainly influenced by semi-permeable natural barriers in each biogeographical region that lead to the genetic differences and effective population sizes detected. The relatively high genetic differentiation in the port city of Buenaventura may be the result of specific ecological conditions, human migration and activities and/or differences in effective population sizes. This knowledg...
Source: Malaria Journal - November 19, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lina GutierrezNelson NaranjoAstrid CienfuegosCarlos MuskusShirley LuckhartJan ConnMargarita Correa Source Type: journals

The relationship of Plasmodium falciparum humoral immunity with HIV-1 immunosuppression and treatment efficacy in ZambiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: HIV-1 affects humoral responses to AMA-1, but seems to marginally or not affect humoral responses to other merozoite antigens and VSAs. The latter were important for controlling parasite density and predict treatment outcome. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 18, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jean-Pierre Van geertruydenErika Van EijkFrancisca YosaatmadjaWebster KasongoModest MulengaUmberto D'AlessandroStephen Rogerson Source Type: journals

Self-reported data: a major tool to assess compliance with anti-malarial combination therapy among children in SenegalEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Self-reported data could provide useful quantitative information on drug intake and administration. Under strict methodological conditions this method, easy to implement, can be used to describe patients' behaviours and their use of new anti-malarial treatment. Self-reported data is a major tool for assessing compliance in resource poor countries. Blood and urine drug dosages provide qualitative results that confirm any drug intake. Urine assays for SP could be useful to obtain public health data, for example on chemoprophylaxis among pregnant women. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 17, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Aurelia SouaresPatricia MoulinSophie SarrassatMarie-Paule CarlottiRichard LalouJean-Yves Le Hesran Source Type: journals

Predicting the impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria transmission: the devil is in the detailEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: With variabilities of vector mosquitoes in host-seeking behaviours and the responses to treated nets, it is anticipated that scale-up applications of INTs might produce varying degrees of success dependent on local entomological and epidemiological contexts. This study highlights that increased ITN coverage led to significant reduction in risk exposure and malaria incidence only when treated nets concurred high killing effects. It is necessary to test efficacy of treated nets on local dominant vector mosquitoes, at least in laboratory, for monitoring and evaluation of ITN programmes. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 16, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Weidong GuRobert Novak Source Type: journals

Is flow cytometry better in counting malaria pigment-containing leukocytes compared to microscopy?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Novel, robust and affordable cytometric methods should be evaluated in the field as they may assist in utilizing Hz-containing cells as clinically useful parameter. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 16, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Thomas HanscheidRosangela FritaMatthias LanginPeter KremsnerMartin Grobusch Source Type: journals

Placental malaria among HIV-infected and uninfected women receiving anti-folates in a high transmission area of UgandaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Prevalence of placental malaria was similar in HIV-infected women on TS and HIV-uninfected women on IPT-SP. Nonetheless, while nearly all of the women in this study were prescribed anti-folates, the overall risk of placental malaria and LBW was unacceptably high. The population attributable risk of placental malaria on LBW was substantial, suggesting that future interventions that further diminish the risk of placental malaria may have a considerable impact on the burden of LBW in this population. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 14, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Patrick NewmanHumphrey WanziraGabriel TumwineEmmanuel ArinaitweSarah WaldmanJane AchanDiane HavlirPhilip RosenthalGrant DorseyTamara ClarkDeborah Cohan Source Type: journals

Hyperparasitaemia and low dosing are an important source of anti-malarial drug resistanceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Current dosing recommendations provide a resistance selection opportunity in those patients with low drug levels and high parasite burdens (often children or pregnant women). Patients with hyperparasitaemia who receive outpatient treatments provide the greatest risk of selecting de-novo resistant parasites. This emphasizes the importance of ensuring that only quality-assured anti-malarial combinations are used, that treatment doses are optimized on the basis of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic assessments in the target populations, and that patients with heavy parasite burdens are identified and receive suf...
Source: Malaria Journal - November 11, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nicholas WhiteWirichada Pan-NgumRichard MaudeSompob SaralambaRicardo AguasKasia StepniewskaSue LeeArjen DondorpLisa WhiteNicholas Day Source Type: journals

Spatial risk profiling of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in a high endemicity area in Cote d'IvoireEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: It is argued that a massive increase in bed net coverage, particularly in villages in close proximity to rivers, in concert with other control measures, is necessary to bring malaria endemicity down to intermediate or low levels. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 11, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Giovanna RasoKigbafori SiluePenelope VounatsouBurton SingerAhoua YapiMarcel TannerJuerg UtzingerEliezer N'Goran Source Type: journals

Plasmodium falciparum exposure in utero, maternal age and parity influence the innate activation of foetal antigen presenting cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: These data advocate a possible mechanism by which PAM may modulate foetal/neonatal innate immunity. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - November 5, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nadine FievetStefania VaraniSamad IbitokouValerie BriandStephanie LouisRene-Xavier PerrinAchille MassougbodjiAnne HosmalinMarita Troye-BlombergPhilippe Deloron Source Type: journals

Comparison of Plasmodium falciparum allelic frequency distribution in different endemic settings by high-resolution genotypingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: The diversity of genotyping markers of Plasmodium falciparum depends on transmission intensity. It has been reported that the diversity of the merozoite surface protein 2 (msp2) is greater in areas of high compared to low endemicity, however, results for msp1 were inconsistent. These previous reports relied on low resolution genotyping techniques. Methods: In the present study, a high-resolution capillary electrophoresis-based technique was applied to genotype samples from areas of different endemicity in Papua New Guinea and Tanzania. For both endemic settings, the diversity of msp1 and msp2 was investigated; ...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 30, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sonja SchoepflinFrancesca ValsangiacomoEnmoore LinBenson KiniboroIvo MuellerIngrid Felger Source Type: journals

Human Plasmodium knowlesi infections in young children in central VietnamEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Considering increasing reports on human infections by Plasmodium knowlesi in Southeast Asian countries, blood samples collected during two large cross-sectional malariometric surveys carried out in a forested area of central Vietnam in 2004 and 2005 were screened for this parasite. Methods: Blood samples collected at the 2004 survey and positive for Plasmodium malariae were randomly selected for PCR analysis detecting P. knowlesi. Blood samples collected in 2005 from the same individuals were screened again for P. knowlesi. Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. Family members of positive cases particip...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 30, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Peter Van den EedeHong Nguyen VanChantal Van OvermeirIndra VythilingamThang Ngo DucLe Xuan HungHung Nguyen ManhJozef AnneUmberto D'AlessandroAnnette Erhart Source Type: journals

The malaria candidate vaccine liver stage antigen-3 is highly conserved in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from diverse geographical areasEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The lack of correlation between allelic polymorphisms with a specific transmission pressure suggests that LSA-3 is a structurally constrained molecule. The unusual characteristics of the lsa-3 gene make the molecule an interesting candidate for a subunit vaccine against malaria. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 29, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Eric PrieurPierre Druilhe Source Type: journals

Impact of insecticide-treated nets on wild pyrethroid resistant Anopheles epiroticus population from southern Vietnam tested in experimental hutsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: This study shows that CTN and LLINs still protect individuals against a pyrethroid resistant malaria vector from the Mekong region, where insecticide resistance is caused by a metabolic mechanism. In the light of a possible elimination of malaria from the Mekong region these insights in operational consequences of the insecticide resistance on control tools is of upmost importance. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 29, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Wim Van BortelVu Duc ChinhDirk BerkvensNiko SpeybroeckHo Dinh TrungMarc Coosemans Source Type: journals

Malaria treatment perceptions, practices and influences on provider behaviour: comparing hospitals and non-hospitals in south-east NigeriaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: People seek treatment for malaria from a wide range of providers ranging from itinerant drug sellers to hospitals. However, there are lots of problems with treatment provision. Hence, factors influencing treatment provision in hospitals and non-hospitals require further investigation in order to remedy the situation.ObjectivesTo examine the knowledge, pattern of treatment provision and factors influencing the behaviour of hospitals and non-hospitals in the treatment of malaria, so as to identify loci for interventions to improve treatment of the disease. Methods: A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used t...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Obinna OnwujekweBenjamin UzochukwuNkem DikeNkoli UguruEmmanuel NwobiElvis Shu Source Type: journals

What you see is not what you get: implications of the brevity of antibody responses to malaria antigens and transmission heterogeneity in longitudinal studies of malaria immunityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: A major handicap in developing a malaria vaccine is the difficulty in pinpointing the immune responses that protect against malaria. The protective efficacy of natural or vaccine-induced immune responses against malaria is normally assessed by relating the level of the responses in an individual at the beginning of a follow-up period and the individual's experience of malaria infection or disease during the follow-up. This approach has identified a number of important responses against malaria, but their protective efficacies vary considerably between studies.HypothesisIt is likely that apart from differences i...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Samson KinyanjuiPhilip BejonFaith OsierPeter BullKevin Marsh Source Type: journals

Reviewing the literature on access to prompt and effective malaria treatment in Kenya: implications for meeting the Abuja targetsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Kenya, like many other African countries, is still far from achieving the Abuja targets. The government, with support from donors, should invest adequately in mechanisms that promote access to effective treatment. Such approaches should focus on factors influencing multiple dimensions of access and will require the cooperation of all stakeholders working in malaria control. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jane ChumaTimothy AbuyaDorothy MemusiElizabeth JumaWillis AkhwaleJanet NtwigaAndrew NyandigisiGladys TettehRima ShrettaAbdinasir Amin Source Type: journals

Comparison of different methods for delayed post-mortem diagnosis of falciparum malariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: In non-immune fatalities with unclear anamnesis, ICT can be recommended as a sensitive and specific tool for post-mortem malaria diagnosis, which is easier and faster than microscopy, and also applicable when microscopic examination is impossible due to autolysis. PCR is more expensive and time-consuming, but may be used as confirmatory test. In highly endemic areas where asymptomatic parasitaemia is common, confirmation of the diagnosis of malaria as the cause of death has to rely on histopathological findings. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nicole Berens-RihaInga SinicinaErna FleischmannThomas Loscher Source Type: journals

Assessing the burden of pregnancy-associated malaria under changing transmission settingsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The results presented here call for active intervention measures not only in highly endemic regions but also, or in particular, in areas where malaria transmission is low and seasonal. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Mario ReckerMenno BoumaPaul BamfordSunetra GuptaAndy Dobson Source Type: journals

Two treatments, one disease: childhood malaria management in Tanga, TanzaniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Results offer insight into current trends in malaria management and have implications in healthcare policy, educational campaigns, and the importance of integrating traditional and biomedical approaches. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Deshka FosterStacie Vilendrer Source Type: journals

Evaluation of three parasite lactate dehydrogenase-based rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of falciparum and vivax malariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: None of the pLDH-based RDTs evaluated was able to detect non-falciparum malaria with high sensitivity, particularly at low parasitaemia. OptiMAL-IT(R) performed best overall and would perform best in an area of high malaria prevalence among screened fever cases. However, heat stability was unacceptable and the number of steps to perform this test is a significant drawback in the field. A reliable, heat-stable, highly sensitive RDT, capable of diagnosing all Plasmodium species has yet to be identified. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Elizabeth AshleyMalek TouabiMargareta AhrerRobert HutagalungKhayae HtunJennifer LuchavezChristine DurezaStephane ProuxMara LeimanisMyo Min LwinAlena KoscalovaEric ComtePrudence HamadeAnne-Laure PageFrancois NostenPhilippe Guerin Source Type: journals

Seasonal distribution of Anopheles funestus chromosomal forms from Burkina FasoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The relative abundance of Folonzo and Kiribina forms of An. funestus likely reflects different larval ecologies that are linked to varying climatic conditions. Further analysis of the bionomics of these vectors is recommended in light of its relevance to vector control. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 26, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Wamdaogo GuelbeogoN'Fale SagnonOlga GrushkoMalgaouende YameogoDaniela BoccoliniNora BesanskyCarlo Costantini Source Type: journals

Presumptive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine versus weekly chloroquine for malaria prophylaxis in children with sickle cell anaemia in Uganda: a randomized controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Presumptive treatment with SP was more efficacious than weekly chloroquine in reducing prevalence of malaria in children with sickle cell anaemia. Continued use of chloroquine for malaria chemoprophylaxis in children with sickle cell anaemia in Uganda does not seem to be justified.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCTOO124267 (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 23, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Victoria NakibuukaGrace NdeeziDeborah NakibonekaChristopher NdugwaJames Tumwine Source Type: journals

Use of short message service (SMS) to improve malaria chemoprophylaxis compliance after returning from a malaria endemic areaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: SMS did not increase malaria chemoprophylaxis compliance above baseline, likely because the persons did not benefit from holidays after the return and stayed together. So the reminder by SMS was noted by all subjects enrolled to the study. Another study should be done to confirm these results on soldiers going on holidays from employment after return or with individual travellers. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 22, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lenaick OllivierOlivier RomandCatherine MarimoutouRemy MichelCorinne PognantAlain TodescoRene MiglianiDominique BaudonJean-Paul Boutin Source Type: journals

Characterization of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface antigen MB2 in malaria exposed individualsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: A preliminary analysis of the human humoral response against MB2 indicates that it may be an additional highly conserved target for immune intervention at the pre-erythrocytic stage of P. falciparum life cycle. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 22, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Thanh NguyenJohn SacciPatricia de la VegaChandy JohnAnthony JamesAngray Kang Source Type: journals

Habitat stability and occurrences of malaria vector larvae in western Kenya highlandsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The occurrence of malaria vector larvae in the hilltop area was uncommon as a result of the low availability and high instability of habitats. To optimize the cost-effectiveness of malaria interventions in the western Kenya highlands, larval control should be focused primarily along the streams, as these are likely the only productive habitats at high altitude. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 20, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yousif HimeidanGuofa ZhouLaith YakobYaw AfraneStephen MungaHarrysonne AtieliEl-Amin El-RayahAndrew GithekoGuiyun Yan Source Type: journals

Managing insecticide resistance in malaria vectors by combining carbamate-treated plastic wall sheeting and pyrethroid-treated bed netsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: These preliminary results should be confirmed, including evaluation of entomological, parasitological, and clinical parameters. Selective pressure on resistance mechanisms within the vector population, effects on other pest insects, and the acceptability of this management strategy in the community also need to be evaluated. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 19, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Armel DjenontinJoseph ChabiThierry BaldetSeth IrishCedric PennetierJean-Marc HougardVincent CorbelMartin AkogbetoFabrice Chandre Source Type: journals

Identification of a haplotype block in the 5q31 cytokine gene cluster associated with the susceptibility to severe malariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: A haplotype block in which a primary polymorphism associated with severe malaria is likely to be encoded was identified in Thai malaria patients. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 18, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Izumi NakaNao NishidaJintana PatarapotikulPornlada NuchnoiKatsushi TokunagaHathairad HananantachaiNaoyuki TsuchiyaJun Ohashi Source Type: journals

The use of schools for malaria surveillance and programme evaluation in AfricaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Effective malaria control requires information on both the geographical distribution of malaria risk and the effectiveness of malaria interventions. The current standard for estimating malaria infection and impact indicators are household cluster surveys, but their complexity and expense preclude frequent and decentralized monitoring. This paper reviews the historical experience and current rationale for the use of schools and school children as a complementary, inexpensive framework for planning, monitoring and evaluating malaria control in Africa. Consideration is given to (i) the selection of schools; (ii) diagnosis of ...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 18, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Simon BrookerJan KolaczinskiCarol GitongaAbdisalan NoorRobert Snow Source Type: journals

Malaria is associated with poor school performance in an endemic area of the Brazilian AmazonEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Non-severe malaria compromises the school performance of children even during a nine-month follow-up, potentially contributing to the maintenance of underdevelopment in countries endemic for malaria. This is the first evidence of such impact in Latin America, where P. vivax is responsible for the majority of the cases. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 15, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sheila Vitor-SilvaRoberto Reyes-LeccaTamam PinheiroMarcus Lacerda Source Type: journals

FlexiChip package: an universal microarray with a dedicated analysis software for high-thoughput SNPs detection linked to anti-malarial drug resistanceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Microarrays could be employed to monitor P. falciparum drug resistance markers with greater cost effectiveness and the possibility for high throughput analysis. The FlexiChip package is a promising tool for use in poor resource settings of malaria endemic countries. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 14, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nicolas SteenkesteMarie-Agnes DilliesNimol KhimOdile SismeiroSophy ChyPharath LimAndreas CrameriChristiane BouchierOdile Mercereau-PuijalonHans-Peter BeckMallika ImwongArjen DondorpDuong SocheatChristophe RogierJean-Yves CoppeeFrederic Ariey Source Type: journals

A new double-antibody sandwich ELISA targeting Plasmodium falciparum aldolase to evaluate anti-malarial drug sensitivityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: The standard in vitro test to assess anti-malarial activity of chemical compounds is the [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation assay. It is a radioactivity-based method to measure DNA replication of Plasmodium in red blood cells. The method is highly reproducible, however, the handling of radioactive material is costly, hazardous and requires the availability of appropriate technology and trained staff. Several other ways to evaluate in vitro anti-malarial activity do exist, all with their own assets and limitations. Methods: The newly developed double-antibody sandwich ELISA described here is based on the properties ...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 11, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lucienne TrittenHugues MatileReto BrunSergio Wittlin Source Type: journals

Patterns of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria underscore importance of data collection from private health care facilities in IndiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The proportion of P. falciparum malaria cases tends to be greatest during the post-monsoon season while the proportion of P. vivax malaria cases tends to be greatest in the monsoon season. Private hospital data demonstrate an under-reporting of malaria case incidences in the data from India's national surveillance programme during the same period for the national capital region. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 11, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sangeeta GuptaJames GunterRobert NovakJames Regens Source Type: journals

Anopheles mortality is both age- and Plasmodium-density dependent: implications for malaria transmissionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: These results contribute to understanding in greater detail the processes that influence sporogony in the mosquito, indicate the impact that parasite density could have on malaria transmission dynamics, and have implications for the design, development, and evaluation of transmission-blocking strategies. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 11, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Emma DawesThomas ChurcherShijie ZhuangRobert SindenMaria-Gloria Basanez Source Type: journals

Placental malaria and low birth weight in pregnant women living in a rural area of Burkina Faso following the use of three preventive treatment regimensEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was conducted to provide data to the National Malarial Control Programme for an evidence-based policy change decision making process. It compares the efficacy of two IPT regimens, using chloroquine (CQ) or sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP), with the classical chemoprophylaxis regimen using CQ in reducing the adverse outcomes of malaria infection, for the mother and the foetus. Methods: Pregnant women attending the first antenatal care visit were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment regimens. They were subsequently followed up till delivery. Maternal, placental and cord blood samples were obtained upon d...
Source: Malaria Journal - October 6, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Alfred TionoAlphonse OuedraogoEdith BougoumaAmidou DiarraAmadou KonateIssa NebieSodiomon Sirima Source Type: journals

A mechanistic approach for accurate simulation of village-scale malaria transmissionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Hydrological variability must be represented at high spatial and temporal resolution to achieve accurate predictive ability of malaria risk at the village scale, which can then be integrated appropriately to regional spatial scales and seasonal temporal scales. These results have important implications for models seeking to link the impacts of climate change and climate variability to malaria transmission. The highly focal nature of malaria in the Sahel makes detailed representation necessary to evaluate village-level risks associated with hydrology-related vector population variability. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - October 1, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Arne BombliesJean-Bernard DucheminElfatih Eltahir Source Type: journals

Window screening, ceilings and closed eaves as sustainable ways to control malaria in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: High coverage and spending on screens and ceilings implies that these techniques are highly acceptable and excellent uptake can be achieved in urban settings like Dar es Salaam. Effective models for promotion and subsidization should be developed and evaluated, particularly for installation of ceilings that prevent entry via the eaves, which are the most important entry point for mosquitoes that cause malaria, a variety of neglected tropical diseases and the nuisance which motivates uptake. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sheila OgomaKhadija KannadyMaggy SikuluProsper ChakiNicodem GovellaWolfgang MukabanaGerry Killeen Source Type: journals

Seasonal distribution of anti-malarial drug resistance alleles on the island of Sumba, IndonesiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a slighly higher distribution of drug-resistant alleles during the wet season and support the policy of replacing CQ with ACT in this area, but suggest that SP might still be effective either alone or in combination with other anti-malarials. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 28, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Puji AsihWilliam RogersAgustina SusantiAgus RahmatIsmail RoziMariska KusumaningtyasKrisin KrisinSekartuti SekartutiRita DewiFarah CoutrierAwalludin SutamihardjaAndre van der VenRobert SauerweinDin Syafruddin Source Type: journals

Epidemiology of malaria in the forest-savannah transitional zone of GhanaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The transmission of malaria in the forest-savannah region of central Ghana is high and perennial and this is an appropriate site for conducting clinical trials of anti-malarial drugs and vaccines. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 27, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Seth Owusu-AgyeiKwaku AsanteMartin AdjuikGeorge AdjeiElizabeth AwiniMohammed AdamsSam NewtonDavid DosooDominic DeryAkua Agyeman-BuduJohn GyapongBrian GreenwoodDaniel Chandramohan Source Type: journals

Socio-cultural predictors of health-seeking behaviour for febrile under-five children in Mwanza-Neno district, MalawiEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The study has demonstrated important social cultural factors that negatively influence health care-seeking for caregivers of children under five. To facilitate prompt and appropriate health-seeking behaviour, behavioural change messages must address the prevailing local beliefs about causes of fever and the socio-economic barriers to accessing health care. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 23, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Alinafe ChibwanaDon MathangaJobiba ChinkhumbaCarl Campbell Source Type: journals

Reliable enumeration of malaria parasites in thick blood films using digital image analysisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Using open-access software and avoiding custom programming or any special operator intervention, accurate digital counts were obtained, particularly at high parasite densities that are difficult to count conventionally. The technique is potentially useful for laboratories that routinely perform malaria parasite enumeration. The requirements of a digital microscope camera, personal computer and good quality staining of slides are potentially reasonably easy to meet. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 22, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: John Frean Source Type: journals

Geographic information system (GIS) maps and malaria control monitoring: intervention coverage and health outcome in distal villages of Khammouane province, LaosEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Based on the data and maps, it was demonstrated that malaria remained unevenly distributed within districts. Balancing the intervention coverage in the distal villages with the overall coverage and continued promotion of the proper use of ITNs are necessary for a further reduction of malaria cases in the province. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 21, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yoshihisa ShirayamaSamlane PhompidaKenji Shibuya Source Type: journals

An heteroskedastic error covariance matrix estimator using a first-order conditional autoregressive Markov simulation for deriving asympotical efficient estimates from ecological sampled Anopheles arabiensis aquatic habitat covariatesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: An autocorrelation error covariance matrix and a spatial filter analyses can prioritize mosquito control strategies by providing a computationally attractive and feasible description of variance uncertainty estimates for correctly identifying clusters of prolific An. arabiensis aquatic habitats based on larval/pupal productivity. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 20, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Benjamin JacobDaniel GriffithEphantus MuturiErick CaamanoJohn GithureRobert Novak Source Type: journals

Competitive endothelial adhesion between Plasmodium falciparum isolates under physiological flow conditionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Plasmodium falciparum variants will compete for adhesion to endothelia and variants can be ranked by their efficiency of binding. These findings suggest that variants from a mixed infection will not show uniform cytoadherence and so may vary in their ability to cause disease. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 20, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Happy PhiriJacqui MontgomeryMalcolm MolyneuxAlister Craig Source Type: journals

Inversion 2La is associated with enhanced desiccation resistance in Anopheles gambiaeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Variation in rates of water loss and response to acclimation are associated with alternative arrangements of the 2La inversion. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these traits will help explain how inversion polymorphisms permit exploitation of a heterogeneous environment by this disease vector. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 20, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Emilie GrayKyle RoccaCarlo CostantiniNora Besansky Source Type: journals

Use of the slide positivity rate to estimate changes in malaria incidence in a cohort of Ugandan childrenEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: As malaria control efforts intensify, it is critical to monitor trends in disease burden and measure the impact of interventions. A key surveillance indicator is the incidence of malaria. Yet measurement of incidence is challenging. The slide positivity rate (SPR) has been used as a surrogate measure of malaria incidence, but limited data exist on the relationship between SPR and the incidence of malaria. Methods: A cohort of 690 children aged 1-10 years at enrollment were followed for all their health care needs over a four-year period in Kampala, Uganda. All children with fever underwent laboratory testing, a...
Source: Malaria Journal - September 14, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Trevor JensenHasifa BukirwaDenise Njama-MeyaDamon FrancisMoses KamyaPhilip RosenthalGrant Dorsey Source Type: journals

The role of simple mathematical models in malaria elimination strategy designEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: A simple model structure for the elimination of malaria is suitable for situations where data are sparse yet strategy design requirements are urgent with the caveat that more complex models, populated with new data, would provide more information, especially in the long-term. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 13, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lisa WhiteRichard MaudeWirichada PongtavornpinyoSompob SaralambaRicardo AguasThierry EffelterreNicholas DayNicholas White Source Type: journals

PfHRP2 and PfLDH antigen detection for monitoring the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malariaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Although both RDTs are as sensitive as microscopy in detecting true malaria cases, the PfHRP2 RDT had very low specificity during follow-up until day 28. On the other hand, the PfLDH test could be used to detect failures and, therefore, to assess anti-malarial efficacy. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 6, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sandrine HouzeMainoumata Dicko BolyJacques Le BrasPhilippe DeloronJean-Francois Faucher Source Type: journals

Caution is required when using health facility-based data to evaluate the health impact of malaria control efforts in AfricaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, evaluations of malaria burden reduction using facility-based data could be very helpful, but those data should be collected, analysed, and interpreted with care, transparency, and a full recognition of their limitations. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 2, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Alexander RoweS Patrick KachurSteven YoonMatthew LynchLaurence SlutskerRichard Steketee Source Type: journals

Burden of malaria in pregnancy in Jharkhand State, IndiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The prevalence of malaria among pregnant women was relatively low. However, given the large at-risk population in this malaria-endemic region of India, there is a need to enhance ITN availability and use for prevention of malaria in pregnancy, and to improve case management of symptomatic pregnant women. (Source: Malaria Journal)
Source: Malaria Journal - September 2, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Davidson HamerMrigendra SinghBlair WylieKojo Yeboah-AntwiJordan TuchmanMeghna DesaiVenkatachalam UdhayakumarPriti GuptaMohamad BrooksManmohan ShuklaKiran AwasthyLora SabinWilliam MacLeodAditya DashNeeru Singh Source Type: journals