Thermal stability of diagnostic targets plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein II and plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase in rapid detection.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, blood samples are usually processed at 56 to attenuate the virus before pathogen detection. 71 blood samples of malaria patients reported by Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017-2019 were collected, including 38 with Plasmodium falciparum infection, 8 P. malariae, 11 P. ovale and 14 P. vivax. The effect of inactivation on the thermal stability of P. falciparum histidine rich protein II (PfHRPII) and Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) in blood samples was assessed before and after incubation at 56 for 30 min using the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit. The results showed that among the 38 P. falciparum T1-positive (PfHRPII) blood samples before heat treatment, 35 samples remained to be T1-positive (92.11%, 35/38, chi2=3.123, P>0.05) after heat treatment;while 54 blood samples (26 P. falciparum, 6 P. vivax, 10 P. ovale and 12 P. vivax) that were T2-positive (pLDH) before heat treatment turned to be T2-negative (positive rate 0, 0/54, chi2=87.755, P<0.01) after heat treatment. It was demonstrated that PfHRPII is stable during incubation at 56 for 30 min, while pLDH is unstable and degraded or inactivated during the heating. Therefore, the detection results of P. falciparum will not be affected by RDT, but diagnosis of the parasites other than P. falciparum in blood samples may be missed.Copyright © 2021, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases. All rights reserved.

Covid-19 in Patients Presenting with Malaria-Like Symptoms at the Korle Bu Polyclinic, Accra

Intro: Malaria is one of Ghana's most frequent illnesses and the most common cause of febrile sickness. Most infectious diseases including COVID-19 and arboviral infections mimic malaria due to the overlapping of non-specific symptoms they both share.This study investigated COVID-19 in patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms at the Korle Bu Polyclinic, Accra. Method(s): This study enrolled 300 patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms aged <= 18. After consent was obtained from study patients, two to three millilitres of whole blood, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples was collected for screening of Plasmodium falciparum using malaria rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and nested PCR and SARS-CoV-2 using SARSCoV-2 antigen test and Real-time PCR respectively. The whole blood sample was also used for COVID-19 antibody test and full blood count using hematological analyser. Finding(s): The detection of SARS-CoV-2 by COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test and Real-time PCR were 60/300 (20%) and 26/300 (8.7%) respectively. Delta variant was reported in most SARS-CoV-2 positives with CT values below 30. The prevalence of malaria by microscopy, RDT and nested PCR were 7/300 (2.3%), 7/300 (2.3%) and 8/300 (2.7%) respectively. The most common symptom experienced by the study patients at the polyclinic was headache (95%;57/60). Comorbidities reported were hypertension, diabetes, Asthma, hypertension and diabetes. Most of the study patients had been previously exposure to SARS CoV-2 (113/300) and 66.7% (34/51) of AstraZeneca vaccinated patients had no antibody. Conclusion(s): Due to the synergy of symptoms, screening for COVID-19 in patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms is vital for immediate diagnosis and treatment.Copyright © 2023

Molecular genetics and genomics of the ABO blood group system

The A and B oligosaccharide antigens of the ABO blood group system are produced from the common precursor, H substance, by enzymatic reactions catalyzed by A and B glycosyltransferases (AT and BT) encoded by functional A and B alleles at the ABO genetic locus, respectively. In 1990, my research team cloned human A, B, and O allelic cDNAs. We then demonstrated this central dogma of ABO and opened a new era of molecular genetics. We identified four amino acid substitutions between AT and BT and inactivating mutations in the O alleles, clarifying the allelic basis of ABO. We became the first to achieve successful ABO genotyping, discriminating between AA and AO genotypes and between BB and BO, which was impossible using immunohematological/serological methods. We also identified mutations in several subgroup alleles and also in the cis-AB and B(A) alleles that specify the expression of the A and B antigens by single alleles. Later, other scientists interested in the ABO system characterized many additional ABO alleles. However, the situation has changed drastically in the last decade, due to rapid advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, which has allowed the sequencing of several thousand genes and even the entire genome in individual experiments. Genome sequencing has revealed not only the exome but also transcription/translation regulatory elements. RNA sequencing determines which genes and spliced transcripts are expressed. Because more than 500,000 human genomes have been sequenced and deposited in sequence databases, bioinformaticians can retrieve and analyze this data without generating it. Now, in this era of genomics, we can harness the vast sequence information to unravel the molecular mechanisms responsible for important biological phenomena associated with the ABO polymorphism. Two examples are presented in this review: the delineation of the ABO gene evolution in a variety of species and the association of single nucleotide variant (SNV) sites in the ABO gene with diseases and biological parameters through genome-wide association studies (GWAS).Copyright © Annals of Blood. All rights reserved.

A pitfall of cognitive bias during the pandemic: Two cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria coinfected or misdiagnosed with COVID-19.

We report two the cases of patients with imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria during the COVID-19 pandemic. One was coinfected with COVID-19 and the other was misdiagnosed with COVID-19; either way, the diagnosis of malaria was delayed. These cases suggest that physicians should beware of cognitive biases during pandemics and carefully evaluate febrile patients. Malaria should be considered in any febrile patient returning from a malaria-endemic area.

A Surge in Malaria Cases in the Eastern Health Region of Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background Malaria transmission was stopped on most of the vast area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has negatively affected the efforts to control malaria. For instance, COVID-19 was reported to induce a relapse of malaria that is caused by Plasmodium vivax. Furthermore, physicians' attention toward COVID-19 can only result in neglect and delayed diagnosis of complicated malaria cases. These factors, among others, might have contributed to an increase of malaria cases in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effects of COVID-19 on malarial cases. Methods The medical records of all patients who were treated at Dammam Medical Complex for malaria between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2022, were reviewed. Malaria cases were compared between the pre-COVID-19 period (between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2020) and the COVID-19 period (between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022). Results A total of 92 malaria cases occurred in the total study period. There were 60 cases of malaria in the COVID-19 period as opposed to only 32 cases in the pre-COVID-19 period. All the cases were imported from the endemic Saudi southern areas or from outside the country. Eighty-two patients (89.1%) were males. Most of them were Sundaneses (39 patients, 42.4%), Saudis (21 patients, 22.8%), and tribal peoples (14 patients, 15.2%). Fifty-four patients (58.7%) were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Seventeen patients (18.5%) were infected with Plasmodium vivax. Another 17 patients (18.5%) had a mixed infection with both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. A trend toward more infected stateless tribal patients was observed in the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (21.7% vs 3.1%). A similar trend was noticed for mixed malarial infections with both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax (29.8% vs 0%) with a P value of less than 0.01. Conclusion Malaria cases were almost doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic era signifying the negative effects of the pandemic on malaria epidemiology. The cases increased for a variety of causes that include alternation of health-seeking behaviors, changes in healthcare structures and regulations, and the interruption of malaria preventive services. Future research is needed to study the long-term effects of the changes imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the effects of any future pandemic on malaria control. As two patients from our cohort were diagnosed with malaria based on blood smears, although they had negative rapid detection tests (RDTs), we recommend testing all the patients who are suspected to have malaria with both RDTs and peripheral blood smears.

Blackwater Fever Treated with Steroids in Nonimmune Patient, Italy.

Causes of blackwater fever, a complication of malaria treatment, are not completely clear, and immune mechanisms might be involved. Clinical management is not standardized. We describe an episode of blackwater fever in a nonimmune 12-year-old girl in Italy who was treated with steroids, resulting in a rapid clinical resolution.

Clinical evaluation of commercial SARS-CoV-2 serological assays in a malaria endemic setting.

The levels of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination are poorly understood in African populations and is complicated by cross-reactivity to endemic pathogens as well as differences in host responsiveness. To begin to determine the best approach to minimize false positive antibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 in an African population, we evaluated three commercial assays, namely Bio-Rad Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Antibody (Platelia), Quanterix Simoa Semi-Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test (anti-Spike), and the GenScript cPass™ SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit (cPass) using samples collected in Mali in West Africa prior to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. A total of one hundred samples were assayed. The samples were categorized in two groups based on the presence or absence of clinical malaria. Overall, thirteen out of one hundred (13/100) samples were false positives with the Bio-Rad Platelia assay and one of the same one hundred (1/100) was a false positive with the anti-Spike IgG Quanterix assay. None of the samples tested with the GenScript cPass assay were positive. False positives were more common in the clinical malaria group, 10/50 (20%) vs. the non-malaria group 3/50 (6%); p = 0.0374 using the Bio-Rad Platelia assay. Association between false positive results and parasitemia by Bio-Rad remained evident, after adjusting for age and sex in multivariate analyses. In summary, the impact of clinical malaria on assay performance appears to depend on the assay and/or antigen being used. A careful evaluation of any given assay in the local context is a prerequisite for reliable serological assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity.

A clinical case of coinfection of COVID-19 and tropical malaria.

The global outbreak of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is still ongoing, leading to coinfections such as malaria and COVID-19 and others. As evidenced, by the increase in various reports of coinfections. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved epidemiological stability for malaria and in 2018 received, an official World Health Organization certificate confirming the country's "malaria-free" status. At the present stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, imported, malaria from abroad, is relevant for our republic and, therefore, there is a constant danger of renewed, transmission, from imported cases. In this article presented the clinical case of coinfection, of COVID-19 and. malaria in a patient. From, the epidemiological data, the patient was a citizen of Cameroon. During treatment of coronavirus infection, the patient noted intermittent chills all over the body and sweating, clinical symptoms of tropical malaria began to appear. Microscopy of a thick drop and. a thin blood, smear confirmed, the presence of Pl. falciparum.. The patient was prescribed, antimalarial therapy with mefloquine, resulting in clinical recovery.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Whole sporozoite immunization with Plasmodium falciparum strain NF135 in a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Whole sporozoite immunization under chemoprophylaxis (CPS regime) induces long-lasting sterile homologous protection in the controlled human malaria infection model using Plasmodium falciparum strain NF54. The relative proficiency of liver-stage parasite development may be an important factor determining immunization efficacy. Previous studies show that Plasmodium falciparum strain NF135 produces relatively high numbers of large liver-stage schizonts in vitro. Here, we evaluate this strain for use in CPS immunization regimes. METHODS: In a partially randomized, open-label study conducted at the Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, healthy, malaria-naïve adults were immunized by three rounds of fifteen or five NF135-infected mosquito bites under mefloquine prophylaxis (cohort A) or fifteen NF135-infected mosquito bites and presumptive treatment with artemether/lumefantrine (cohort B). Cohort A participants were exposed to a homologous challenge 19 weeks after immunization. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of CPS immunizations with NF135. RESULTS: Relatively high liver-to-blood inocula were observed during immunization with NF135 in both cohorts. Eighteen of 30 (60%) high-dose participants and 3/10 (30%) low-dose participants experienced grade 3 adverse events 7 to 21 days following their first immunization. All cohort A participants and two participants in cohort B developed breakthrough blood-stage malaria infections during immunizations requiring rescue treatment. The resulting compromised immunizations induced modest sterile protection against homologous challenge in cohort A (5/17; 29%). CONCLUSIONS: These CPS regimes using NF135 were relatively poorly tolerated and frequently required rescue treatment, thereby compromising immunization efficiency and protective efficacy. Consequently, the full potential of NF135 sporozoites for induction of immune protection remains inconclusive. Nonetheless, the high liver-stage burden achieved by this strain highlights it as an interesting potential candidate for novel whole sporozoite immunization approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT03813108.

Clinical performance evaluation of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause widespread disruption to daily life globally. With increasing levels of vaccination and the emergence of new variants, it is important to monitor and identify individuals who have produced an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and those who may remain at higher risk. Aims & Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a serological anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), initially created by AstraZeneca and further developed and validated by ProAxsis Ltd. Method(s): The ProAxsis ELISA was used to assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels in 402 positive and 701 negative plasma samples. Samples from each of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants (alpha, delta and omicron), along with the World Health Organisation International Reference Panel (NIBSC:20/268) and a panel of seroconversion samples were also tested. Result(s): Sensitivity and specificity of the ProAxsis Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA was 100.0% (CI 95% = 99.1- 100.0%) and 99.3% (CI 95% = 98.3-99.8%) respectively. The ProAxsis and comparator test (Euroimmun) were in almost perfect agreement, Cohen's Kappa (kappa) = 0.991 (CI 95% = 0.982-0.999, p<0.0001). Seroconversion was observed with the ProAxsis ELISA at an earlier stage than with the comparator assay. Of the 101 virology samples tested only one sample (Anti-malaria plasma P.falciparum) displayed some cross-reactivity. Conclusion(s): The ProAxsis Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA demonstrated excellent clinical performance in comparison to a comparator assay and will be highly useful in identifying individuals who have raised antibodies following exposure to SARS-CoV-2 or vaccination.

Ulinastatin for Aki: Should It Be in Our Care Bundle ?

Introduction: In critically ill patients with AKI, unacceptably high mortality rates reaching up to 50-80% in all dialyzed ICU patients are seen despite the availability of intensive renal support. At present there is no specific or targeted therapy for AKI. Pathophysiology of AKI is multifactorial. Systemic inflammation, mediated in part by cytokines, might be contributing majorly to the development of AKI. This mandates a multipronged approach to the treatment of AKI. There are hardly any studies on the use of ulinastatin in AKI. Our premise regarding the use of molecule in AKI was based on the fact that this molecule acts at multiple levels in the sepsis and can act to stop the cascade and thereby stop the "storm." Methods: We studied a total of 200 patients with AKI who needed ICU care in our hospital in the period between June 2017 - Jan 2020. Out of these, 100 patients received Injection ulinastatin 3 doses a day for 5 days, against a similar number of control patients. We included those patients with AKI who had SOFA scores more than 8. None of the patients had COVID 19 infection. We compared the same number of patients who had received ulinastatin with controls. Injection ulinastatin 1,50,000IU was given three times a day for 5 days. All the patients included had received dialytic therapy. We recorded the age of the patients, it varied from 11-94 years (mean age 52 years), > 60 % (120) of the patients being in the age group of 26-40 years. The ratio of males to females 1.8:1 (M: F 129:71). The etiologies were as follows: Malaria - complicated - P vivax, P falciparum (n= 76) 38% Enteric fever (n= 40) 20% UTI (n=30) 15% Post-partum (n=20) 10% Dengue (n = 14) 7% Acute gastroenteritis/diarrheal diseases (n= 12) 6% Pancreatitis (n= 6) 3% Obstructive uropathy (n= 3) 1.5% 33 % (n= 66) patients had diabetes as a co morbid condition. The renal function tests of all the patients along with liver function tests, sepsis parameters like d-dimer, serum procalcitonin levels, CRP-hs levels, coagulation tests, complete blood counts, and arterial blood gas analysis were done We recorded the length of stay, need and duration of renal replacement therapy, time to stoppage of renal replacement therapy, need for mechanical ventilation, mortality and post AKI recovery and progression to CKD. Result(s): The patients who received ulinastatin had a shorter stay in the ICU (p <0.01 vs control group);also, the time to stoppage of renal replacement therapy was shorter (p < 0.05). The recovery of renal function was seen in 84% (n=168). The progression to CKD was seen in 11% (n=22) of patients. The average number of sittings of dialysis needed were 11 (range3-20), lesser number of dialysis were needed in the ulinastatin group. The overall mortality was 36 %(n=72).The average follow up period post discharge has been 141 days (21 - 240 days) Conclusion(s): There definitely seem to be advantages in using ulinastatin and results look promising. But there are limitations to this study - this was a retrospective analysis hence not all the patients received ulinastatin. Moreover, the drug is expensive. This study was done in a semi urban set up where causes for AKI are predominantly infective. A larger prospective double-blind study will be needed to consider ulinastatin as a routine option for treating AKI. Till then preventing AKI should be the aim for us. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023

Analysis laboratory results of three cases of COVID-19 complicated with falciparum malaria

Objective: To analyze the laboratory indexes of patients infected with malaria patients and COVID-19, so as to provide reliable evidence for the diagnosis of mixed infection of both. Methods The routine clinical laboratory items such as routine blood, biochemistry and lymphocyte subsets were tested in three cases of COVID-19 complicated with falciparum malaria who admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from July to December 2020 were tested. Laboratory data were stage-wise analyzed in conjunction with changes in the course of disease. Results Three patients confirmed COVID-19 infection recruited all had malaria infection history. Fever, headache, and other symptoms emerged on the 4rd to 11th day after admission. Malaria parasite was detected by malaria parasite antigen testing and blood smear testing, and all three patients had re-ignition of malaria after being confirmed COVID-19 infection. In the early stage of malaria relapse, lymphocytes decreased, CRP and SAA increased, and gradually returned to normal level after antimalarial treatment. Interestingly, we only found one patient at the initial stage of malaria detection showed PLT decreased, no other unnormal changes in other routine blood results (WBC, ESO) and liver function results (ALT, AST, GGT, TBIL, DBIL, CG) were found from the beginning to end course of the disease. Conclusion COVID-19 infection may promote the resurgence of malaria, so the relapse of malaria should be monitored especially for the patient with malaria infection history who begin to develop fever and other symptoms a few days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. The inflammatory indicators would be worth able as an auxiliary judgment basis for the effective treatment of the two combined infection.

A clinical case of coinfection of COVID-19 and tropical malaria.

The global outbreak of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is still ongoing, leading to coinfections such as malaria and COVID-19 and others. As evidenced, by the increase in various reports of coinfections. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved epidemiological stability for malaria and in 2018 received, an official World Health Organization certificate confirming the country's "malaria-free" status. At the present stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, imported, malaria from abroad, is relevant for our republic and, therefore, there is a constant danger of renewed, transmission, from imported cases. In this article presented the clinical case of coinfection, of COVID-19 and. malaria in a patient. From, the epidemiological data, the patient was a citizen of Cameroon. During treatment of coronavirus infection, the patient noted intermittent chills all over the body and sweating, clinical symptoms of tropical malaria began to appear. Microscopy of a thick drop and. a thin blood, smear confirmed, the presence of Pl. falciparum.. The patient was prescribed, antimalarial therapy with mefloquine, resulting in clinical recovery.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

A clinical case of coinfection of COVID-19 and tropical malaria.

The global outbreak of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 is still ongoing, leading to coinfections such as malaria and COVID-19 and others. As evidenced, by the increase in various reports of coinfections. In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved epidemiological stability for malaria and in 2018 received, an official World Health Organization certificate confirming the country's "malaria-free" status. At the present stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, imported, malaria from abroad, is relevant for our republic and, therefore, there is a constant danger of renewed, transmission, from imported cases. In this article presented the clinical case of coinfection, of COVID-19 and. malaria in a patient. From, the epidemiological data, the patient was a citizen of Cameroon. During treatment of coronavirus infection, the patient noted intermittent chills all over the body and sweating, clinical symptoms of tropical malaria began to appear. Microscopy of a thick drop and. a thin blood, smear confirmed, the presence of Pl. falciparum.. The patient was prescribed, antimalarial therapy with mefloquine, resulting in clinical recovery.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Microwaves can kill malaria parasites non-thermally.

Malaria, which infected more than 240 million people and killed around six hundred thousand only in 2021, has reclaimed territory after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Together with parasite resistance and a not-yet-optimal vaccine, the need for new approaches has become critical. While earlier, limited, studies have suggested that malaria parasites are affected by electromagnetic energy, the outcomes of this affectation vary and there has not been a study that looks into the mechanism of action behind these responses. In this study, through development and implementation of custom applicators for in vitro experimentation, conditions were generated in which microwave energy (MW) killed more than 90% of the parasites, not by a thermal effect but via a MW energy-induced programmed cell death that does not seem to affect mammalian cell lines. Transmission electron microscopy points to the involvement of the haemozoin-containing food vacuole, which becomes destroyed; while several other experimental approaches demonstrate the involvement of calcium signaling pathways in the resulting effects of exposure to MW. Furthermore, parasites were protected from the effects of MW by calcium channel blockers calmodulin and phosphoinositol. The findings presented here offer a molecular insight into the elusive interactions of oscillating electromagnetic fields with P. falciparum, prove that they are not related to temperature, and present an alternative technology to combat this devastating disease.

SARS-CoV-2 and Plasmodium falciparum coinfection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A rare case of coinfection of Plasmodium falciparum and SARS-CoV-2 disease in Croatia is presented in this report. METHODS: We tracked epidemiological and laboratory findings in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 and Plasmodium falciparum coinfection. A complete blood count was performed using the Sysmex XN-2000 analyser (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan), coagulation analyses were performed using the BCS XP coagulometer (Siemens Healthineers AG, Erlangen, Germany). Procalcitonin (PCT) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) using the Cobas e411 (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) analyser and high sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) was measured using the Dimension EXL with LM analyser (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Newark, USA). All other biochemistry analyses were performed using the Olympus AU680 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, California, USA) analyser. White blood cell differential analysis has been performed by examining the blood smear using the CellaVision DM1200 (CellaVision AB, Lund, Sweden) automatic analyser. RESULTS: Even though the patient's initial health condition was disturbed, as a result of the physician's comprehensive anamnesis accompanied by laboratory findings, prompt diagnosis and appropriate therapy were assured, and consequently, the patient recovered. CONCLUSION: In a pandemic, testing each febrile patient for the SARS-CoV-2 virus is of essential importance. However, the possibility of coinfection with another infectious disease agent cannot be disregarded.

Return to Travel in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Recovery Period and Implications for Imported Malaria: Reinforcing Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and Appropriate Treatment of Malaria.

Return to international travel in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period is expected to increase the number of patients with imported malaria in the United States (US). Malaria prevention in travelers and preparedness for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to minimize imported malaria morbidity and mortality. Intravenous artesunate (IVAS) is now available from commercial distributors in the US for the treatment of severe malaria. Hospitals and pharmacists should have a plan for malaria treatment, including stocking artemether-lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria, and stocking or planning for rapid procurement of IVAS for the treatment of severe malaria.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and co-infection with malaria during the first wave of the pandemic (the Burkina Faso case).

Africa accounts for 1.5% of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and 2.7% of deaths, but this low incidence has been partly attributed to the limited testing capacity in most countries. In addition, the population in many African countries is at high risk of infection with endemic infectious diseases such as malaria. Our aim is to determine the prevalence and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the frequency of co-infection with the malaria parasite. We conducted serological tests and microscopy examinations on 998 volunteers of different ages and sexes in a random and stratified population sample in Burkina-Faso. In addition, nasopharyngeal samples were taken for RT-qPCR of SARS-CoV-2 and for whole viral genome sequencing. Our results show a 3.2 and a 2.5% of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and PCR positivity; and 22% of malaria incidence, over the sampling period, with marked differences linked to age. Importantly, we found 8 cases of confirmed co-infection and 11 cases of suspected co-infection mostly in children and teenagers. Finally, we report the genome sequences of 13 SARS-CoV-2 isolates circulating in Burkina Faso at the time of analysis, assigned to lineages A.19, A.21, B.1.1.404, B.1.1.118, B.1 and grouped into clades; 19B, 20A, and 20B. This is the first population-based study about SARS-CoV-2 and malaria in Burkina Faso during the first wave of the pandemic, providing a relevant estimation of the real prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and variants circulating in this Western African country. Besides, it highlights the non-negligible frequency of co-infection with malaria in African communities.

Factors Affecting the Performance of HRP2-Based Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global malaria elimination programs, resulting in a sharp increase in malaria morbidity and mortality. To reduce this impact, unmet needs in malaria diagnostics must be addressed while resuming malaria elimination activities. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), the unsung hero in malaria diagnosis, work to eliminate the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria through their efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly qualities in detecting the antigen HRP2 (histidine-rich protein 2), among other proteins. However, the testing mechanism and management of malaria with RDTs presents a variety of limitations. This paper discusses the numerous factors (including parasitic, host, and environmental) that limit the performance of RDTs. Additionally, the paper explores outside factors that can hinder RDT performance. By understanding these factors that affect the performance of HRP2-based RDTs in the field, researchers can work toward creating and implementing more effective and accurate HRP2-based diagnostic tools. Further research is required to understand the extent of these factors, as the rapidly changing interplay between parasite and host directly hinders the effectiveness of the tool.