A Cross-sectional Analysis Identifies a Low Prevalence of species Infections in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Individuals in Kilifi County, Kenya

Overview

Journal Wellcome Open Res

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Oct 4

PMID 39364258

Authors

Mercy Yvonne Akinyi

Margaret Chifwete

Leonard Ndwiga

Kelvin Muteru Kimenyi

Victor Osoti

Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The focus on diagnosis has led to an underestimation of the global burden of malaria resulting from neglected species. However, there is still scarce data on the prevalence of species (spp) globally. To address this knowledge gap, data collected from cross-sectional studies in Kilifi county were used to: 1) determine the prevalence of infections; and 2) determine the sensitivity of different diagnostic assays in detecting infections.

Methods: A total of 531 individuals were sampled across three study sites in Kilifi County, Kenya between 2009 and 2020. Blood smears were prepared from peripheral blood and screened for parasite stages using light microscopy. Molecular screening involved DNA extraction of dried blood spots and blood in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting the 18 small ribosomal subunit and sequencing.

Results: Microscopy screening revealed that the most prevalent species was (32.0%) followed by (9.0%) and then 1.5%). PCR screening identified additional positives cases. Overall PCR results indicate that43 (8.1%) out of the 531 individuals harbored infection with the highest prevalence reported in the tertiary health facility, (14.6%, 95% CI 8-23.6%), followed by the primary health facility (8.3%, 95% CI 5.4-11.9%), and the community from a cross-sectional blood survey, (3.6%, 95% CI 1.2-8.2%). Microscopy screening for had a low sensitivity of 7% (95% CI 1-19-30%) and a high specificity of 99% (95% CI 98-100%). Sequencing results confirmed the presence of .

Conclusions: This study provides baseline data for surveillance in Kilifi County, primarily using PCR to improve diagnosis. These results suggest that malaria elimination and eradication efforts should not only concentrate on but should embrace a holistic approach towards elimination of all spp.

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