Modelling the contribution of the hypnozoite reservoir to Plasmodium vivax transmission
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax relapse infections occur following activation of latent liver-stages
parasites (hypnozoites) causing new blood-stage infections weeks to months after the initial
infection. We develop a within-host mathematical model of liver-stage hypnozoites, and validate
it against data from tropical strains of P. vivax. The within-host model is embedded in a P. vivax
transmission model to demonstrate the build-up of the hypnozoite reservoir following new
infections and its depletion through hypnozoite activation and death. The hypnozoite reservoir
is predicted to be over-dispersed with many individuals having few or no hypnozoites, and some
having intensely infected livers. Individuals with more hypnozoites are predicted to experience
more relapses and contribute more to onwards P. vivax transmission. Incorporating hypnozoite
killing drugs such as primaquine into first-line treatment regimens is predicted to cause substantial
reductions in P. vivax transmission as individuals with the most hypnozoites are more likely to
relapse and be targeted for treatment.
parasites (hypnozoites) causing new blood-stage infections weeks to months after the initial
infection. We develop a within-host mathematical model of liver-stage hypnozoites, and validate
it against data from tropical strains of P. vivax. The within-host model is embedded in a P. vivax
transmission model to demonstrate the build-up of the hypnozoite reservoir following new
infections and its depletion through hypnozoite activation and death. The hypnozoite reservoir
is predicted to be over-dispersed with many individuals having few or no hypnozoites, and some
having intensely infected livers. Individuals with more hypnozoites are predicted to experience
more relapses and contribute more to onwards P. vivax transmission. Incorporating hypnozoite
killing drugs such as primaquine into first-line treatment regimens is predicted to cause substantial
reductions in P. vivax transmission as individuals with the most hypnozoites are more likely to
relapse and be targeted for treatment.
Date Issued
2014-11-18
Date Acceptance
2014-11-13
Citation
eLife, 2014, 3
ISSN
2050-084X
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications
Journal / Book Title
eLife
Volume
3
Copyright Statement
© 2014 White et al. This
article is distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use and
redistribution provided that the
original author and source are
credited
article is distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use and
redistribution provided that the
original author and source are
credited
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e04692.