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Filaria Journal - Latest Articles

Contribution of migrant coffee labourers infected with Onchocerca volvulus to the maintenance of the microfilarial reservoir in an ivermectin-treated area of Mexico.
Mario Rodriguez-PerezAldo Segura-CabreraCristian Lizarazo-OrtegaMaria-Gloria BasanezJohn Davies Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Background: Since 1991, in Mexico, ivermectin has been administered twice a year to all residents in the onchocerciasis endemic foci which are mainly located in the coffee growing areas. However, the presence of a potentially infected itinerant seasonal labour force which is not treated regularly could jeopardise the attainment of the 85% coverage which is the present target for elimination of the disease. Methods: The prevalence and intensity of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae (mf), as well as their transmission from humans to vectors, were assessed during the coffee planting-clearing and harvesting seasons of 1997–1998, and 1998–1999 in two localities (I and II) of Southern Chiapas, Mexico, which regularly receive an influx of untreated migrant coffee labourers. Results: Localities I and II had, respectively, an average of 391 (± 32) and 358 (± 14) resident inhabitants, and 70 (± 52) and 498 (± 289) temporary labourers. The ratio of migrants to residents ranged from 0.1:1 in locality I to 2.4:1 in locality II. The proportion of infected Simulium ochraceum s.l. parous flies was significantly lower in locality I than in locality II, and significantly higher during the stay of the migrants than before their arrival or after their departure. Parity and infection were higher in May-July than in November-February (in contrast with the latter being typically considered as the peak onchocerciasis transmission season by S. ochraceum s.l.). Conclusion: The presence of significant numbers of untreated and potentially infected migrants may contribute to ongoing transmission, and their incorporation into ivermectin programmes should be beneficial for the attainment of the elimination goals of the regional initiative. However, the possibility that the results also reflect transmission patterns for the area cannot be excluded and these should be analyzed further.
Epidemiology and psycho-social aspects Of onchocercal skin diseases in northeastern Nigeria
Ikem OkoyeCelestine Onwuliri Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Background: Observations were made on the prevalence of onchocerciasis and Onchocercal Skin Diseases (OSD); frequency of occurrence and anatomical distribution of OSD in the Hawal River Valley, an established onchocerciasis endemic focus in north-eastern Nigeria. Methods: Symptoms of OSD were diagnosed in 5 844 subjects using Rapid Assessment Method (RAM) while 1 479 of the subjects chosen from alternate households had their skin biopsies examined for active microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. Also, Focal Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted at the Health District levels. Results: O. volvulus was recorded in (19.0%) and OSD in (43.8%) of the subjects. The Mantel-Haenszel test for linear association showed a close agreement between onchocerciasis prevalence and the rate of OSD (χ2 = 3.93; p < 0.05). The various forms of OSD occurred in the order: CPOD (17.7%), APOD (9.9%), DPM (9.0%), LOD (7.0%) and ATR (3.1%). The overall frequency of occurrence of various symptoms of OSD on different anatomical locations showed the locations in descending order of occurrence as lower limbs (24.6%), upper limbs (21.3%), buttocks (19.9%), shoulder & neck (19.1%), abdomen and trunk (11.3%), backside (10.6), and 'other' sites (7.5%). The Focal Group Discussion (FGD) revealed the most worrisome consequences of OSD as social isolation of victims (31.3%), shame and low self esteem (22.7%) and high cost of medication (15.6%). Conclusion: It is recommended that Onchocerciasis control programmes in the Hawal River Valley and any other focus with high incidence of OSD should incorporate an aspect that would address the anxiety and depression caused by various OSD lesions since they carry lots of psycho-social implications. This would increase acceptance and compliance of the target population. The classification criteria of onchocerciasis endemicity should be based on either or both of the O. volvulus and onchocercal skin disease burden of any community and no longer on O. volvulus parasitic infection rate alone.
Contributions of different mosquito species to the transmission of lymphatic filariasis in central Nigeria: Implications for monitoring infection by PCR in mosquito pools
Audrey LenhartAbel EigegeAlphonsus KalD PamEmmanuel MiriGeorge GerlongJ OneykaY SamboJ DanboyiB IbrahimErica DahlD KumbakA DakulM JinaduJohn UmaruFrank RichardsTovi Lehmann Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Background: Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are important vectors of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in sub-Saharan Africa, but little is known about the relative contributions of all mosquitoes to lymphatic filariasis transmission in this area. Methods: Over a 28 month period, mosquitoes were collected from 13 villages in Plateau and Nasarawa states in central Nigeria and dissected to determine W. bancrofti infection status. Wings and legs from a subset of the mosquitoes visually identified as A. gambiae s.l. were identified by PCR as either A. gambiae s.s. or A. arabiensis. Results: A. gambiae s.s peaked in abundance during the rainy season while A. arabiensis predominated during drier parts of the year. Both species were found equally likely to be infected with the developing stages (L1-L3) of W. bancrofti (9.2% and 11.1%, respectively). Fewer A. funestus (1.1%, p < 0.001) were infected than A. gambiae s.l. Conclusion: Understanding the relative contributions of morphologically indistinguishable species to LF transmission is essential if PCR is to be performed on mosquito pools. In the study area, the use of mosquito pools composed of A. gambiae sibling species would not be problematic, as both A. gambiae s.s. and A. arabiensis contribute equally to LF transmission.
Monitoring lymphatic filariasis interventions: Adult mosquito sampling, and improved PCR - based pool screening method for Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Anopheles mosquitoes
Daniel BoakyeHelena BaidooEvans GlahCharles BrownMaxwell AppawuMichael Wilson Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Background: Monitoring and evaluation are essential to the successful implementation of mass drug administration programmes for LF elimination. Monitoring transmission when it is low requires both large numbers of mosquito vectors and sensitive methods for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti infections in them. PCR-based methods are preferred over classical dissections but the best protocol so far achieved detection of one L3 Wuchereria bancrofti larva in a pool of 35–50 Anopheles mosquitoes. It also lacks consistency and remains still a costly tool. Hence we decided to improve upon this to achieve detection in a pool of 100 or more by enhancing the quality of the template DNA. Prior to this we also evaluated three vector sampling methods in the context of numbers for monitoring. Methods: Human landing, pyrethrium spray and light traps catches were conducted concurrently at sites in an LF endemic district in Ghana and the numbers obtained compared. Two DNA extraction methods; Bender buffer and phenol/chloroform purification, and DNAeasy Tissue kit (Quaigen Inc) were used on pools of 25, 50, 75 100 and 150 mosquitoes each seeded with one L3 or its quivalent amount of DNA. Then another set of extracted DNA by the two methods was subjected to Dynal bead purification method (using capture oligonucleotide primers). These were used as template DNA in PCR to amplify W. bancrofti sequences. The best PCR result was then evaluated in the field at five sites by comparing its results (infections per 1000 mosquitoes) with that of dissection of roughly equal samples sizes. Results: The largest numbers of mosquitoes were obtained with the human landing catches at all the sites sampled. Although PCR detection of one L3 in pools of 25, 50 and 75 mosquitoes was consistent irrespective of the extraction method, that of one L3 in 100 was only achieved with the kit-extracted DNA/Dynal bead purification method. Infections were found at only two sites by both dissection and pool-screening being 14.3 and 19 versus 13.4 and 20.1 per 1000 Anopheles mosquitoes respectively, which were not statistically significantDiscussion and conclusionHLC still remains the best option for sampling for the large numbers of mosquitoes required for monitoring transmission during MDA programmes, when vector population densities are high and classical indices of transmission are required. One – in – 100 detection is an improvement on previous PCR pool-screening methods, which in our opinion was a result of the introduction of the extra step of parasite DNA capture using Dynal/beads. As pool sizes increase the insects DNA will swamp parasite DNA making the latter less available for an efficient PCR, therefore we propose either additional steps of parasite DNA capture or real-time PCR to improve further the pool screening method. The study also attests also to the applicability of Katholi et al's algorithm developed for determining onchocerciasis prevalence in LF studies.
The geographical distribution of lymphatic filariasis infection in Malawi
Bagrey NgwiraPhillimon TambalaA Maria PerezCameron BowieDavid Molyneux Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Mapping distribution of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a prerequisite for planning national elimination programmes. Results from a nation wide mapping survey for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Malawi are presented. Thirty-five villages were sampled from 23 districts excluding three districts (Karonga, Chikwawa and Nsanje) that had already been mapped and Likoma, an Island, where access was not possible in the time frame of the survey. Antigenaemia prevalence [based on immunochromatographic card tests (ICT)] ranged from 0% to 35.9%. Villages from the western side of the country and distant from the lake tended to be of lower prevalence. The exception was a village in Mchinji district on the Malawi-Zambia border where a prevalence of 18.2% was found. In contrast villages from lake shore districts [Salima, Mangochi, Balaka and Ntcheu (Bwanje valley)] and Phalombe had prevalences of over 20%.A national map is developed which incorporates data from surveys in Karonga, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts, carried out in 2000. There is a marked decline in prevalence with increasing altitude. Further analysis revealed a strong negative correlation (R2 = 0.7 p < 0.001) between altitude and prevalence. These results suggest that the lake shore, Phalombe plain and the lower Shire valley will be priority areas for the Malawi LF elimination programme. Implications of these findings as regards implementing a national LF elimination programme in Malawi are discussed.
Social mobilisation, drug coverage and compliance and adverse reactions in a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Sri Lanka
Mirani WeerasooriyaChanna YahathugodaDarshana WickramasingheKithsiri GunawardenaRohan DharmadasaKanchana VidanapathiranaSaman WeerasekaraWilfred Samarawickrema Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000
Background: In Sri Lanka filariasis is endemic in Southern, Western and North Western provinces covering eight districts designated as implementation units in the Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (PELF). Despite control activities over sixty years including multidose diethylcarbamazine, 6 mg/kg treatment microfilaria rates had persisted at low levels. Following systematic social mobilisation the first MDA with DEC albendazole combination was conducted in 2002. Methods: We investigated the extent social mobilisation had reached the people, their drug compliance and adverse reactions. Three localities were selected from each district to pick target population samples for pre-tested questionnaire. Three teams each with six people visited one district each day. One team worked from three starting points in one locality. A member applied eight part questionnaire to one family member totalling 150–160 people from one locality. Questions included social mobilisation, drug compliance and adverse reactions. Results: Information was disseminated by television, radio, banners and leaflets, to a lesser extent by people. Information reached more people in the periphery than in Colombo. 35.2% from Colombo municipality were unaware of the MDA. Drug coverage was 79.6%, home delivery 71.7% and delivery centres 7.9%. 35.6% in Colombo district and 53.4% from Colombo municipality did not receive drugs. Drugs were consumed by 71.4%. 28.6% who did not comply included 20.4% who did not receive them. 91.4% showed no adverse reactions, 7.5% were mild, 1.1% recovered with home remedies. Conclusion: Drug compliance showed significant positive correlation with awareness of the MDA. Door to door delivery was more successful than delivery from centres. More delivery centres conveniently located would have rectified this disparity. Poor awareness and compliance in Colombo and urban areas could be rectified with separate strategy for urban areas. More time for MDA and trained adequate manpower would ensure coverage to achieve elimination.

 

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Malaria Foundation International - Facilitates the development, education and implementation of solutions to the health, economic and social problems caused by malaria.
Meta Description: [ Malaria Foundation International ]

404 Malaria: Answers to Common Questions - The Stockholm Convention, signed by 91 countries and the European Community in 2001, will enter into force and become legally binding when it is ratified by 50 countries, raising the possibility of the 'loss' of DDT as a tool for malaria control. This IPEN document answers some common questions that arise in public discussions of the DDT issue.

Tropical Medicine Malaria Centre - The LSHTM Malaria Centre facilitates malaria research both in the School and in malaria endemic areas, offers training in various aspects of malaria research and control and contributes to global efforts to control malaria infection.
Meta Description: [ Malaria Centre Homepage ]

ACTMalaria - The Asian Collaborative Training Network for Malaria - ACTMalaria is an intercountry initiative between Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. ACTMalaria develops training materials and courses to meet the needs of malaria control programs in southeast Asia and the Mekong valley.
Meta Description: [ Asian Collaborative Training Network for Malaria is an inter-country training and communication network. ]

Africa Malaria Day - On the 25th of April, Africa celebrates Africa Malaria Day. The theme for the 2005 event was Unite Against Malaria, and the associated slogan was Together We Can Beat Malaria. This WHO site provides event info and resources, and supports community networking efforts.
Meta Description: [ This year's theme for Africa Malaria Day was Unite Against Malaria, and the associated slogan was Together We Can Beat Malaria. ]

Airport Malaria : Jet-Setting Mosquitos Spread Disease - Since 1977, when the disease was first documented, 75 cases of airport malaria have been observed in western Europe. People may be infected by the bite of an anopheles mosquito during a flight or stopover, or while opening containers or luggage all over the airport area. People who live near an airport or whose road transport brings them into the vicinity may also be affected.

Anamed Malaria Programme - Numerous studies in tropical countries have demonstrated the potential of artemisia-based medicines. The Anamed coordination in Germany has committed itself to making hybrid seeds available, providing information about cultivation in the tropics, recording the effectiveness and side-effects, and publishing the results in the national languages of southern countries, as an aid to decision-making.

AnoBase: The Anopheles Database - Database containing genomic/biological information on anopheline mosquitoes, with an emphasis on Anopheles gambiae, the world's most important malaria vector. AnoBase is the continuation of AnoDB, a database established and maintained since 1996 at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of the Foundation of Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Antimalarial Drug Resistance and its Assessment - A website dedicated to drug resistance in malaria and to drug sensitivity assays. Its aim is to provide researchers with all information and software required for drug sensitivity testing.
Meta Description: [ All information on malaria in vitro drug sensitivity tests, free statistical software, discussion forum, frequently asked questions, standard operating procedures... ]

Artemisinin Based Combination Therapies, Vietnam - Company producing antimalarial materials extracted from Artemisia annua. Products include artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), artesunate, artemether and arteether.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Presents an in-depth look at malaria.
Meta Description: [ Information on malaria. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. ]

DEET - Information from US Environmental Protection Agency - This page discusses EPA's actions concerning DEET, considered by many to be the most effective mosquito repellent currently available. Page also includes tips on how to use DEET products safely.
Meta Description: [ This page discusses EPA's actions concerning DEET, as well as tips on how to use DEET products safely. ]

eMedicine Health - Malaria - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this infection of the blood.
Meta Description: [ Malaria is an infection of the blood that is carried from person to person by mosquitoes. The disease has been recognized for thousands of years and once was found almost ... ]

404 Environmental Health Project - Malaria Resources - Sponsored by USAID's Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition. Resources available include regular bulletins and reports outlining anti-malaria strategies and policy recommendations, assessments of past programs, studies and conference proceedings.

European Malaria Vaccine Consortium - EUROMALVAC Consortium is a European Union-funded cluster of research groups working on developing a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
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Health Care Information: Relapsing Malaria - It is possible to develop a relapsing type of malaria months to even years after traveling to a malaria infected country, even if you were taking the appropriate malaria medications to prevent the illness.
Meta Description: [ It is possible to develop a relapsing type of malaria months to even years after traveling to a malaria infected country, even if you were taking the appropriate malaria medications to prevent the illness. ]

Health Link MCW - An article concerning Malarone, a new malaria medication with fewer side-effects.
Meta Description: [ Malarone is a new antimalarial that is more expensive but has fewer side effects than mefloquine or doxycycline. ]

Impact Malaria - An information database specially dedicated to healthcare professionals and the general public. Find scientific news and events, informations in real time about the fight against this disorder, and training tools for healthcare professionals.
Meta Description: [ Malaria news : this site is dedicated to residents living, and healthcare professionals practicing in malarial endemic areas - fight against malaria, plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial ]

Leiden Malaria Research Group - Malaria research in the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands). Detailed description of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, one of the four rodent parasites that infect African murine rodents.
Meta Description: [ Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum - Leiden University Medical Center ]

Malaria and Health - A resource for travel medicine health professionals and the public. Provides an overview of the disease, endemic areas, prevention measures including drug prophylaxis as well as links to other malaria and tropical medicine sites.

Malaria Consortium - An international non-profit organization with the aim of improving disease control at global, regional and local levels. Includes details of activities in Uganda and Ghana. Head office in London, UK.

404 Malaria Control - PATH Canada (Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health) promotes insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria and decrease childhood mortality and morbidity from the disease.

Malaria Database - Resources for scientists doing malaria research.

404 Malaria Diagnosis Prophylaxis Treatment - Online information on Malaria, presented by the Haematology department of Royal Perth Hospital.

404 Malaria Facts - An informational site which will help you learn about this disease and its prevention, so that you may reduce your risk of contracting it.

Malaria Facts - Factsheet with causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and prevention.

Malaria Research and Reference Reagent Resource Center (MR4) - Provides a central source of quality controlled malaria-related reagents and information to the international malaria research community.
Meta Description: [ The Malaria Research and Reference Reagent Resource Center (MR4) was established to provide a central source of quality controlled malaria-related reagents and information to the international malaria research community. ]

Malaria Vaccine Initiative - MVI's mission is to accelerate the development of promising malaria vaccine candidates and ensure their availability and accessibility for the developing world.

Malaria Web Site - This site provides information on history, pathology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, complications and control of malaria.

Manuel Patarroyo - Third World Traveler - Information about the Colombian researcher and developer of the malaria vaccine.

MARA/AMRA Project Home Page - Mapping malaria risk in Africa.

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) - MMV is a nonprofit foundation created to discover, develop and deliver new, affordable antimalarial drugs through effective public-private partnerships.
Meta Description: [ [MMV] « Medicines for Malaria Venture » ]

MEDLINEplus: Malaria - US National Institutes of Health directory of their extensive collection of malaria-related documents
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MIMCom Malaria Research Resources - Communications working group of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria, from the National Library of Medicine.
Meta Description: [ MIMCom - Communications Working Group of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria. ]

Monash University Department of Microbiology - Contains a Malaria database for scientists working in research.

404 Multilateral Initiative on Malaria - An alliance of organizations and individuals concerned with malaria. MIM aims to maximize the impact of scientific research against malaria in Africa, through promoting capacity building and facilitating global collaboration and coordination. MIM will hold the 3rd Pan-African Conference on Malaria in Arusha, Tanzania in November 2002.
Meta Description: [ The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) is an international collaboration and co-operation in scientific research against malaria. ]

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Malaria Research Activities - NIAID began investigating malaria over 50 years ago, and today the Institute is the world's leading supporter of malaria research. NIAID-supported scientists conduct laboratory and clinical research, including field-based studies of malaria in endemic areas of Africa and Southeast Asia, such as Mali, Ghana, Malawi and Papua New Guinea.
Meta Description: [ Malaria research topic ]

404 Navy Medical Department Pocket Guide to Malaria Prevention and Control - The U.S. Navy guide to preventing and controlling malaria.
Meta Description: [ A digital library of naval medicine and military medicine and humanitarian medicine ]

NetMark: A Regional Partnership for Sustainable Malaria Prevention - Managed by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. Goal is to make affordable, lifesaving insecticide-treated nets commercially available on a national scale in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia.

PHLS Malaria Reference Laboratory - This is the website of the Public Health Laboratories, Malaria Reference Laboratory, UK. It contains guidelines for travellers from UK for protection against malaria .
Meta Description: [ SimplyNet Forwarding ]

Preventing Malaria: Risk zones, Prevention and Treatment - This website is intended to help better inform travellers about malaria, the relative risks of infection, and the methods used to guard against it.
Meta Description: [ Preventing Malaria ]

Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Global Partnership - Launched in 1998 by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank, with the aim of halving the burden of malaria by 2010. Includes fact sheets and details of current programs.
Meta Description: [ Information on the global fight against malaria and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative. Provided by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. ]

Ronald Ross and the Transmission of Malaria - An article pertaining to Ronald Ross, who in 1897 discovered malarial parasites in mosquitoes.
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Rotary Against Malaria - Information about malaria and the Rotary Club's anti-malaria project.

500 Shoklo Malaria Research Unit - Malaria research along the Thai-Burmese border. Includes location, publications, malaria task force, and photograph album.
Meta Description: [ malaria research unit attached to the faculty of tropical medicine, mahidol university, bangkok, thailand and is part of the wellcome-oxford-mahidol-university-research programme ]

South Africa's War against Malaria: Lessons for the Developing World - Policy analysis by the Cato Institute describes malaria control techniques, and recommends indoor residual spraying of DDT to reduce the overall disease burden, so that countries can afford to purchase expensive, but effective, new drugs to treat the remaining cases.
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The European Malaria Vaccine Initiative - Established in 1998 by the European Commission and interested European Union Member States, in order to address identified structural deficiencies in public funded malaria vaccine development. News, calls, meetings, organization, and links.

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute - Outlines current research into a vaccine, with background details of the disease, FAQ, and details of other research projects.
Meta Description: [ The Hopkins Malaria Research Institute will focus on a single goal: the development of effective vaccines and drugs that can prevent and cure malaria. ]

WHO: Global Malaria Programme - Responsible for policy and strategy formulation, operations support and capacity development, and coordination of WHO's global efforts against the disease
Meta Description: [ The WHO Global Malaria Programme is responsible for malaria policy and strategy formulation, operations support and capacity development, and coordination of WHO's global efforts to roll back malaria. The Department establishes and promotes — based on evidence and expert consensus — WHO polic... ]

Antimalarial Drug Resistance and its Assessment - A website dedicated to drug resistance in malaria and to drug sensitivity assays. Its aim is to provide researchers with all information and software required for drug sensitivity testing.
Meta Description: [ All information on malaria in vitro drug sensitivity tests, free statistical software, discussion forum, frequently asked questions, standard operating procedures... ]