Malaria Surveillance and Research Studies in Liberia and Guinea-Conakry

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

We have no published findings this year. We have the following findings that we are reporting at the ASTMH 2023 Meeting in Chicago with similar results reported at the 2022 ASTMH Meeting in Seattle, based on progress made in the clinical study under the approved Protocol 19-I-N141 Cross-Sectional Survey of Plasmodium and Other Parasites in Pregnant Women and Infants Around Mafrinyah, Guinea: A cross-sectional survey of Plasmodium falciparum infection is ongoing in Guinea, a sub-Saharan nation in West Africa. The study is being conducted at the Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Sant Rurale in Maferinyah, Forcariah Prefecture, a Partnership of Clinical Research in Guinea (PREGUI) site. Two study populations were recruited from January 2020 for a single study visit: pregnant women (PW) at routine antenatal care (ANC) appointments and infants aged 6 to 12 months at routine Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) visits. Participants were generally asymptomatic during their study visit. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical information was surveyed followed by a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) with results provided to the participants on site and referred for appropriate treatment if positive. In addition, blood smears and dried blood spot cards were prepared from a single finger (or heel) stick blood sample. As of 27 June, 2023, 1996 PW and 1337 infants have enrolled (total 3333). 301 PW (15.1%) had a positive RDT as did 125 (9.3%) infants; 368 (18.4%) PW had a positive BS as did 101 (7.6%) infants. Overall, 426 (12.5%) of total participants had a positive RDT and 469 (14.1%) had a positive BS. These results demonstrate a concerning rate of malaria infection among asymptomatic pregnant women and infants in Maferinyah, Guinea. Continued efforts are needed to increase coverage of effective preventive measures. Future planned assays include malaria PCRs, evaluation of hrp2/3 deletions and antimalarial resistance markers in parasites, parasite binding assays, and serological assays for helminths.