Prevalence and fragmented populations of submicroscopic Plasmodium vivax in Vanuatu from 2017 to 2019
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Vanuatu had experienced a remarkable decrease in malaria since the mid-2000s but transmission hotspots remained on several islands. We conducted cross-sectional surveys in known hotspots on seven islands between 2017 and 2019. Among 6,943 participants we found low prevalence of exclusively submicroscopic Plasmodium vivax infections on Epi (4.3%; 95% CI 3.0–6.0%), Malekula (4.8%; 95% CI 4.0-5.7%), Santo (6.5%; 95% CI 5.3–7.7%), Maewo (0.4%; 95% CI 0.1–1.2%), and Vanua Lava (1.2%; 95% CI 0.5–2.8%). Regression analysis revealed significant association between P. vivax infections and age (OR = 1.07, p = 0.007) and enlarged spleen (OR = 5.36, p < 0.001) among 2,407 children ≤ 12 years. Microsatellite genotyping of 53 P. vivax samples showed that parasites on Epi had lower heterozygosity ( H E = 0.173) and haplotype diversity ( h = 0.731) than those on Malekula ( H E = 0.638; h = 0.990) and Santo ( H E = 0.751; h = 0.984). P. vivax effective population size estimates on Epi were an order-of-magnitude smaller than those on Malekula and Santo. Significant genetic differentiation (F ST = 0.018–0.138, p < 0.01) and apparent population structure were observed among these three islands. P. vivax populations had shown evidence of fragmentation at the island level in Vanuatu by 2019.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Topic: Malaria Research and Control
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Awards: Sustainable malaria freedom on islands: the strategy for Plasmodium vivax elimination in Vanuatu, 熱帯アフリカのマラリア制圧：アルテミシニン耐性を封じ込める, Dual-active-ingredient insecticide-treated ceiling nets: a novel vector control approach to combat artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum towards malaria elimination in Africa, First malaria infection in infants on islands in Melanesia, Development of an e-learning-based parasitological education program for training clinical laboratory technologists, Area-specific human and parasite polymorphism in the context of global malaria eradication., Sweden-Melanesia research venture network: longevity of immunological memory in people on islands with different histories of malaria elimination in Vanuatu, Sweden-Melanesia collaborative research network to end malaria for good, End malaria on islands in Vanuatu: the rollout of innovative anti-Plasmodium vivax strategies, Systems biology approach on the transmission of asymptomatic malaria infection toward malaria eradication in tropical Africa
OpenAlex ID: W7223240111