title: Prospects for malaria elimination in non-Amazonian regions of Latin America.
abstract: Latin America contributes 1-1.2 million clinical malaria cases to the global malaria burden of about 300 million per year. In 21 malaria endemic countries, the population at risk in this region represents less than 10% of the total population exposed worldwide. Factors such as rapid deforestation, inadequate agricultural practices, climate change, political instability, and both increasing parasite drug resistance and vector resistance to insecticides contribute to malaria transmission. Recently, several malaria endemic countries have experienced a significant reduction in numbers of malaria cases. This is most likely due to actions taken by National Malaria Control Programs (NMCP) with the support from international funding agencies. We describe here the research strategies and activities to be undertaken by the Centro Latino Americano de Investigación en Malaria (CLAIM), a new research center established for the non-Amazonian region of Latin America by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Throughout a network of countries in the region, initially including Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru, CLAIM will address major gaps in our understanding of changing malaria epidemiology, vector biology and control, and clinical malaria mainly due to Plasmodium vivax. In close partnership with NMCPs, CLAIM seeks to conduct research on how and why malaria is decreasing in many countries of the region as a basis for developing and implementing new strategies that will accelerate malaria elimination.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Científica Caucaseco, Colombia. sherrera@inmuno.org
authors.forename: Sócrates
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Martha Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Quiñones
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corredor
authors.forename: Douglas O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mateus
authors.forename: Jose E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Calzada
authors.forename: Juan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llanos
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menendez
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrasquilla
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galinski
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arévalo-Herrera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D007391:International Cooperation; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009525:Niacin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D009525:Niacin; C076656:imazapyr