title: Submicroscopic Falciparum Malaria in Febrile Individuals in Urban and Rural Areas of Gabon.
abstract: AbstractCharacterization of the parasite reservoir is required to improve malaria control. Asymptomatic patients with subpatent parasitemia have been identified in Gabon, but the prevalence of such infections among febrile subjects is unclear. We assessed the prevalence of submicroscopicPlasmodium falciparuminfections on an island (Port-Gentil), and in urban (Libreville), semiurban (Melen), and rural (Oyem) settings in Gabon. Blood samples (N= 310) from febrile patients were tested for malaria parasites by quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (QT-NASBA). Parasites were detected in 55.8% (173/310) of samples by microscopy and in 66.4% (206/310) of samples by 18S rRNA QT-NASBA. The proportion of submicroscopic infections differed considerably between sites. Gametocytes were found in 1% (3/310) of the individuals by microscopy and in 32% (99/310) byPfs25mRNA QT-NASBA. Thus, submicroscopic parasitemia is frequent in febrile patients, and the detection of this condition is important, to improve disease control.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Clinical and Operational Research Unit, Libreville, Gabon.|Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Denise P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mawili-Mboumba
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Rosalie Nikiéma
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ndong
authors.affiliation: Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemi Bahamontes
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Luis Llergo
authors.initials: JLL
authors.lastname: Largo
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lembet-Mikolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Prycil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nzamba
authors.affiliation: Malaria Clinical and Operational Research Unit, Libreville, Gabon.|Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Christelle Offouga
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Mbouoronde
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Maryvonne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kombila
authors.affiliation: Malaria Clinical and Operational Research Unit, Libreville, Gabon.|Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Marielle K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bouyou Akotet
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S