Impact of seasonal variations in Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission on the surveillance of pfhrp2 gene deletions
File(s)elife-40339-v1 (1).pdf (10.92 MB)
Accepted version
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Ten countries have reported pfhrp2/pfhrp3 gene deletions since the first observation of pfhrp2-deleted parasites in 2012. In a previous study (Watson et al., 2017) we characterised the drivers selecting for pfhrp2/3 deletions, and mapped the regions in Africa with the greatest selection pressure. In February 2018, the World Health Organization issued guidance on investigating suspected false-negative rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) due to pfhrp2/3 deletions. However, no guidance is provided regarding the timing of investigations. Failure to consider seasonal variation could cause premature decisions to switch to alternative RDTs. In response, we have extended our methods and predict that the prevalence of false-negative RDTs due to pfhrp2/3 deletions is highest when sampling from younger individuals during the beginning of the rainy season. We conclude by producing a map of the regions impacted by seasonal fluctuations in pfhrp2/3 deletions and a database identifying optimum sampling intervals to support malaria control programmes.
Date Issued
2019-05-02
Date Acceptance
2019-05-02
Citation
eLife, 8
ISSN
2050-084X
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
Journal / Book Title
eLife
Volume
8
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The authors. CC BY https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Grant Number
109312/Z/15/Z
Subjects
P. falciparum
epidemiology
global health
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2019-05-02