title: Sparse serological evidence of Plasmodium vivax transmission in the Ouest and Sud-Est departments of Haiti.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasmodium vivax infections, while quite prevalent throughout South and Central America, are virtually non-existent in Haiti, where P. falciparum infections are detected in over 99% of malaria cases. Historically, few cases of P. vivax have been reported in Haiti; all of which were identified by microscopy and none were confirmed by molecular diagnostics. To further examine the transmission of P. vivax in Haiti, a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood was collected from 814 community members and school children ranging in age between 2 and 80 years-of-age from four locations in the Ouest and Sud-Est Departments of Haiti. After separation of serum, samples were screened for antibodies toward P. vivax apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) and merozoite surface protein-119 (MSP-1) using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all participants screened, 4.42% (36/814) were seropositive for AMA-1, 4.55% (37/814) were seropositive for MSP-1, 7.99% (65/814) were seropositive to either antigen, and only 0.98% (7/814) were seropositive for both antigens. Seroconversion rates (SCR) for AMA-1, MSP-1, either AMA-1 or MSP-1, and for both AMA-1 and MSP-1 estimated from the cross-sectional seroprevalence indicated rates of P. vivax transmission of less than 1% per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the lack of historical evidence of P. vivax infections on the island of Hispaniola, the sparse serological evidence of antibodies toward P. vivax identified in the current study further support the notion that the transmission of P. vivax malaria might be extremely low or even completely absent in Haiti.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: riptos@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Weppelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: Michaelvonfricken@epi.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: von Fricken
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: bran2805@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Christianville Foundation, Christianville Boulevard Mareshall, Gressier, Haiti. Electronic address: tainaquisqueya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Telisma
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Electronic address: alexandre.existe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Existe
authors.affiliation: Programme National de Controle de la Malaria, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Electronic address: tileum@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: jlarkin3@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: bokech@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Okech
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1
keywords: Haiti; Malaria; Plasmodium vivax; Seroepidemiology