Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution
Abstract Background The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a common cause of human malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with a particularly high incidence in Kudat, Sabah. Little is known however about the epidemiology in this substantially deforested region. Methods Malaria microscopy records at Kudat...
Published in: | Malaria Journal |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2012
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 https://doaj.org/article/3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 2023-05-15T15:16:49+02:00 Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution Barber Bridget E William Timothy Dhararaj Prabakaran Anderios Fread Grigg Matthew J Yeo Tsin W Anstey Nicholas M 2012-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 https://doaj.org/article/3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/401 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 401 (2012) Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Epidemiology Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 2022-12-31T02:37:54Z Abstract Background The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a common cause of human malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with a particularly high incidence in Kudat, Sabah. Little is known however about the epidemiology in this substantially deforested region. Methods Malaria microscopy records at Kudat District Hospital were retrospectively reviewed from January 2009-November 2011. Demographics, and PCR results if available, were recorded for each positive result. Medical records were reviewed for patients suspected of representing family clusters, and families contacted for further information. Rainfall data were obtained from the Malaysian Meteorological Department. Results “Plasmodium malariae” mixed or mono-infection was diagnosed by microscopy in 517/653 (79%) patients. Of these, PCR was performed in 445 (86%) and was positive for P. knowlesi mono-infection in 339 (76%). Patients with knowlesi malaria demonstrated a wide age distribution (median 33, IQR 20–50, range 0.7-89 years) with P. knowlesi predominating in all age groups except those <5 years old, where numbers approximated those of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax . Two contemporaneous family clusters were identified: a father with two children (aged 10–11 years); and three brothers (aged one-11 years), all with PCR-confirmed knowlesi malaria. Cases of P. knowlesi demonstrated significant seasonal variation, and correlated with rainfall in the preceding three to five months. Conclusions Plasmodium knowlesi is the most common cause of malaria admissions to Kudat District Hospital. The wide age distribution and presence of family clusters suggest that transmission may be occurring close to or inside people’s homes , in contrast to previous reports from densely forested areas of Sarawak. These findings have significant implications for malaria control. Prospective studies of risk factors, vectors and transmission dynamics of P. knowlesi in Sabah, including potential for human-to-human transmission, are needed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Three Brothers ENVELOPE(-36.803,-36.803,-54.290,-54.290) Malaria Journal 11 1 401 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Epidemiology Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Epidemiology Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Barber Bridget E William Timothy Dhararaj Prabakaran Anderios Fread Grigg Matthew J Yeo Tsin W Anstey Nicholas M Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
topic_facet |
Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Epidemiology Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a common cause of human malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with a particularly high incidence in Kudat, Sabah. Little is known however about the epidemiology in this substantially deforested region. Methods Malaria microscopy records at Kudat District Hospital were retrospectively reviewed from January 2009-November 2011. Demographics, and PCR results if available, were recorded for each positive result. Medical records were reviewed for patients suspected of representing family clusters, and families contacted for further information. Rainfall data were obtained from the Malaysian Meteorological Department. Results “Plasmodium malariae” mixed or mono-infection was diagnosed by microscopy in 517/653 (79%) patients. Of these, PCR was performed in 445 (86%) and was positive for P. knowlesi mono-infection in 339 (76%). Patients with knowlesi malaria demonstrated a wide age distribution (median 33, IQR 20–50, range 0.7-89 years) with P. knowlesi predominating in all age groups except those <5 years old, where numbers approximated those of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax . Two contemporaneous family clusters were identified: a father with two children (aged 10–11 years); and three brothers (aged one-11 years), all with PCR-confirmed knowlesi malaria. Cases of P. knowlesi demonstrated significant seasonal variation, and correlated with rainfall in the preceding three to five months. Conclusions Plasmodium knowlesi is the most common cause of malaria admissions to Kudat District Hospital. The wide age distribution and presence of family clusters suggest that transmission may be occurring close to or inside people’s homes , in contrast to previous reports from densely forested areas of Sarawak. These findings have significant implications for malaria control. Prospective studies of risk factors, vectors and transmission dynamics of P. knowlesi in Sabah, including potential for human-to-human transmission, are needed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Barber Bridget E William Timothy Dhararaj Prabakaran Anderios Fread Grigg Matthew J Yeo Tsin W Anstey Nicholas M |
author_facet |
Barber Bridget E William Timothy Dhararaj Prabakaran Anderios Fread Grigg Matthew J Yeo Tsin W Anstey Nicholas M |
author_sort |
Barber Bridget E |
title |
Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
title_short |
Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
title_full |
Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
title_fullStr |
Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
title_sort |
epidemiology of plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east sabah, malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 https://doaj.org/article/3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-36.803,-36.803,-54.290,-54.290) |
geographic |
Arctic Three Brothers |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Three Brothers |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 401 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/401 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/3ad80051c6eb4a838b79eca3cdf6c711 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-401 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
401 |
_version_ |
1766347113165225984 |