BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of malaria cases in regions where the malaria burden has decreased significantly and prevalence is very low is more challenging, in part because of reduced clinical presumption of malaria. The appearance of a cluster of malaria cases with atypical symptoms in Mbounguiel, a village in northern Senegal where malaria transmission is low, in September 2018 exemplifies this scenario. The collaboration between the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) at the Senegal Ministry of Health and the Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology at Cheikh Anta Diop University worked together to evaluate this cluster of malaria cases using molecular and serological tools. METHODS: Malaria cases were diagnosed primarily by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and confirmed by photo-induced electron transfer-polymerase chain reaction (PET-PCR). 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) barcoding was used for Plasmodium falciparum genotyping. Unbiased metagenomic sequencing and Luminex-based multi-pathogen antibody and antigen profiling were used to assess exposure to other pathogens. RESULTS: Nine patients, of 15 suspected cases, were evaluated, and all nine samples were found to be positive for P. falciparum only. The 24 SNPs molecular barcode showed the predominance of polygenomic infections, with identifiable strains being different from one another. All patients tested positive for the P. falciparum antigens. No other pathogenic infection was detected by either the serological panel or metagenomic sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: This work, undertaken locally within Senegal as a collaboration between the NMCP and a research laboratory at University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) revealed that a cluster of malaria cases were caused by different strains of P. falciparum. The public health response in real time demonstrates the value of local molecular and genomics capacity in affected countries for disease control and elimination.
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of malaria cases in regions where the malaria burden has decreased significantly and prevalence is very low is more challenging, in part because of reduced clinical presumption of malaria. The appearance of a cluster of malaria cases with atypical symptoms in Mbounguiel, a village in northern Senegal where malaria transmission is low, in September 2018 exemplifies this scenario. The collaboration between the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) at the Senegal Ministry of Health and the Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology at Cheikh Anta Diop University worked together to evaluate this cluster of malaria cases using molecular and serological tools. METHODS: Malaria cases were diagnosed primarily by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and confirmed by photo-induced electron transfer-polymerase chain reaction (PET-PCR). 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) barcoding was used for Plasmodium falciparum genotyping. Unbiased metagenomic sequencing and Luminex-based multi-pathogen antibody and antigen profiling were used to assess exposure to other pathogens. RESULTS: Nine patients, of 15 suspected cases, were evaluated, and all nine samples were found to be positive for P. falciparum only. The 24 SNPs molecular barcode showed the predominance of polygenomic infections, with identifiable strains being different from one another. All patients tested positive for the P. falciparum antigens. No other pathogenic infection was detected by either the serological panel or metagenomic sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: This work, undertaken locally within Senegal as a collaboration between the NMCP and a research laboratory at University of Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) revealed that a cluster of malaria cases were caused by different strains of P. falciparum. The public health response in real time demonstrates the value of local molecular and genomics capacity in affected countries for disease control and elimination.
Authors: G Marano; M Franchini; B Farina; V Piccinini; S Pupella; S Vaglio; G Grazzini; G M Liumbruno Journal: Acta Virol Date: 2017 Impact factor: 1.162
Authors: Rachel F Daniels; Stephen F Schaffner; Edward A Wenger; Joshua L Proctor; Hsiao-Han Chang; Wesley Wong; Nicholas Baro; Daouda Ndiaye; Fatou Ba Fall; Medoune Ndiop; Mady Ba; Danny A Milner; Terrie E Taylor; Daniel E Neafsey; Sarah K Volkman; Philip A Eckhoff; Daniel L Hartl; Dyann F Wirth Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2015-05-04 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Danielle I Stanisic; Freya J I Fowkes; Melanie Koinari; Sarah Javati; Enmoore Lin; Benson Kiniboro; Jack S Richards; Leanne J Robinson; Louis Schofield; James W Kazura; Christopher L King; Peter Zimmerman; Ingrid Felger; Peter M Siba; Ivo Mueller; James G Beeson Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2014-11-24 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: Teun Bousema; Randa M Youssef; Jackie Cook; Jonathan Cox; Victor A Alegana; Jamal Amran; Abdisalan M Noor; Robert W Snow; Chris Drakeley Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Naomi W Lucchi; Jothikumar Narayanan; Mara A Karell; Maniphet Xayavong; Simon Kariuki; Alexandre J DaSilva; Vincent Hill; Venkatachalam Udhayakumar Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-02-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Sungano Mharakurwa; Rachel Daniels; Alan Scott; Dyann F Wirth; Philip Thuma; Sarah K Volkman Journal: Malar J Date: 2014-03-12 Impact factor: 2.979