title: Longitudinal study on Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage following artemether-lumefantrine administration in a cohort of children aged 12-47 months living in Western Kenya, a high transmission area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects that artemether-lumefantrine (AL) has on gametocyte dynamics in the short-term have recently been described. However there is limited long-term longitudinal data on the effect of AL on gametocyte dynamics in asymptomatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  An epidemiological study was conducted in Kombewa, Western Kenya, in which 270 asymptomatic children aged between 12 and 47 months were enrolled. The subjects were randomized to receive either a course of AL or placebo at enrolment. Active follow-up was conducted for one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gametocyte prevalence and density dynamics throughout the study period mirrored that of the asexual forms. The proportion of initially parasitaemic subjects becoming gametocytaemic was significantly lower in the AL arm for the first 12 weeks following randomization. The geometric mean gametocyte density was lower in the AL arm for 2 weeks following randomization. None of the variables of interest had a statistically significant effect on the duration of gametocytaemia. There is no effect seen in subjects who are not parasitaemic at the time of drug administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of asymptomatic parasitaemic subjects with AL results in a significant reduction in the proportion of subjects who become gametocytaemic for at least 12 weeks.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andagalu
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mativo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases-Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DEID-GEIS) Program, United States Army Medical Research Unit-Kenya (USAMRU-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Walter Reed Project, P,O, Box 54, Kisumu, 40100, Kenya. edwin.kamau@us.army.mil.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamau
authors.forename: Bernhards
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogutu
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D010919:Placebos