| 1. |
- Aydin-Schmidt, Berit, et al.
(författare)
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Field Evaluation of a High Throughput Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification Test for the Detection of Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infections in Zanzibar
- 2017
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background New field applicable diagnostic tools are needed for highly sensitive detection of residual malaria infections in pre-elimination settings. Field performance of a high throughput DNA extraction system for loop mediated isothermal amplification (HTP-LAMP) was therefore evaluated for detecting malaria parasites among asymptomatic individuals in Zanzibar. Methods HTP-LAMP performance was evaluated against real-time PCR on 3008 paired blood samples collected on filter papers in a community-based survey in 2015. Results The PCR and HTP-LAMP determined malaria prevalences were 1.6% (95% CI 1.3-2.4) and 0.7% (95% CI 0.4-1.1), respectively. The sensitivity of HTP-LAMP compared to PCR was 40.8% (CI95% 27.0-55.8) and the specificity was 99.9% (CI95% 99.8-100). For the PCR positive samples, there was no statistically significant difference between the geometric mean parasite densities among the HTP-LAMP positive (2.5 p/mu L, range 0.2-770) and HTP-LAMP negative (1.4 p/mu L, range 0.1-7) samples (p = 0.088). Two lab technicians analysed up to 282 samples per day and the HTP-LAMP method was experienced as user friendly. Conclusions Although field applicable, this high throughput format of LAMP as used here was not sensitive enough to be recommended for detection of asymptomatic low-density infections in areas like Zanzibar, approaching malaria elimination.
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| 2. |
- Aydin-Schmidt, Berit, et al.
(författare)
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Usefulness of Plasmodium falciparum-specific rapid diagnostic tests for assessment of parasite clearance and detection of recurrent infections after artemisinin-based combination therapy.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Malaria journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is an important tool for parasite-based malaria diagnosis. High specificity of RDTs to distinguish an active Plasmodium falciparum infection from residual antigens from a previous infection is crucial in endemic areas where residents are repeatedly exposed to malaria. The efficiency of two RDTs based on histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) antigens were studied and compared with two microscopy techniques (Giemsa and acridine orange-stained blood smears) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for assessment of initial clearance and detection of recurrent P. falciparum infections after artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in a moderately high endemic area of rural Tanzania.
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| 3. |
- Lagou, Vasiliki, et al.
(författare)
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Sex-dimorphic genetic effects and novel loci for fasting glucose and insulin variability
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Differences between sexes contribute to variation in the levels of fasting glucose and insulin. Epidemiological studies established a higher prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in men and impaired glucose tolerance in women, however, the genetic component underlying this phenomenon is not established. We assess sex-dimorphic (73,089/50,404 women and 67,506/47,806 men) and sex-combined (151,188/105,056 individuals) fasting glucose/fasting insulin genetic effects via genome-wide association study meta-analyses in individuals of European descent without diabetes. Here we report sex dimorphism in allelic effects on fasting insulin at IRS1 and ZNF12 loci, the latter showing higher RNA expression in whole blood in women compared to men. We also observe sex-homogeneous effects on fasting glucose at seven novel loci. Fasting insulin in women shows stronger genetic correlations than in men with waist-to-hip ratio and anorexia nervosa. Furthermore, waist-to-hip ratio is causally related to insulin resistance in women, but not in men. These results position dissection of metabolic and glycemic health sex dimorphism as a steppingstone for understanding differences in genetic effects between women and men in related phenotypes.
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| 4. |
- Mhamilawa, Lwidiko E, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of Plasmodium falciparum by Light Microscopy, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, and Polymerase Chain Reaction on Day 3 after Initiation of Artemether-Lumefantrine Treatment for Uncomplicated Malaria in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania : A Comparative Trial
- 2019
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Ingår i: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. - : American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. - 0002-9637 .- 1476-1645. ; 101:5, s. 1144-1147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microscopy-determined Plasmodium falciparum positivity rates exceeding 10% on day 3 after initiation of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is an important indicator of artemisinin resistance. However, microscopy does not detect low-density parasitemia, contrary to molecular tools such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We compared microscopy, LAMP, and PCR for detection of P. falciparum on day 3 after ACT in 256 patients with uncomplicated malaria in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania. Day 3 positivity rates were 0%, 84.8%, and 84.4% for each method, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LAMP against PCR was 100% (95% CI, 96.1-100) and 77.4% (95% CI, 58.9-90.4) when quantitative PCR-determined parasite densities were ≥ two parasites/µL. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification had comparable diagnostic accuracy to PCR and could potentially represent a field-friendly tool for determining day 3 positivity rates. However, what day 3 P. falciparum positivity determined using molecular methods represents needs to be further elucidated.
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| 5. |
- Mhamilawa, Lwidiko E, 1988-
(författare)
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New strategies and tools for Plasmodium falciparum case management and surveillance in the era of imminent resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy in Tanzania.
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Artemether-lumefantrine has been an efficacious first line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Tanzania since its introduction in 2006. Interest has developed in understanding the observation of high residual PCR determined positivity rates on day 3 after supervised artemether-lumefantrine treatment in the magnitude of almost 30% in previous assessments from 2015 in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania. Deep sequencing has recently been used to study these Bagamoyo parasites with delayed clearance, and the clearance times by PCR of some P. falciparum sub-populations were similar to artemisinin resistant parasites in Myanmar as assessed by microscopy, albeit lacking the described mutations in the Kelch13 propeller gene associated with artemisinin resistance. Moreover, molecular epidemiological studies from Bagamoyo, have shown temporal selection of lumefantrine associated genetic tolerance/resistance markers (pfmdr1 - N86, 184F, D1246 and pfcrt - K76) in the parasite population following wide scale use of artemether-lumefantrine but without signs of compromised treatment efficacy. On the other hand, traditional epidemiological studies have reported that imported malaria cases in Zanzibar from Tanzania mainland contribute to regressing the malaria elimination efforts in this pre-elimination part of the country.This PhD project explored efficacy and safety of extending the artemether-lumefantrine regimen from standard 3 days to 6 days and adding single low dose primaquine (0.25mg/kg) as a new strategy that can be used in order to protect the therapeutic lifespan of artemether-lumefantrine. Also, whole-genome sequencing was used to study genomic epidemiology of P. falciparum population between Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.The results revealed that extended artemether-lumefantrine treatment did not have superior efficacy in the current context of artemether-lumefantrine sensitive P. falciparum parasites. However, the safety profile was excellent and similar to standard 3 days treatment. Parasite detection by molecular methods was 84% on day 3 after artemether-lumefantrine treatment. Meanwhile, significant decreases in the effective population sizes were inferred in both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar parasite populations, that coincide with a period of decreasing malaria transmission in Tanzania. The parasite population from Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar were found to be connected, implying importation of cases from high transmission mainland to pre elimination regions of Zanzibar.Utility of these results is during exploring options of alternative artemisinin-based combination therapy regimens to protect their therapeutic efficacy in an era of imminent artemisinin resistance in sub Saharan Africa. Moreover, the genomic epidemiological findings in this project may be of interest for malaria elimination programs, in the incorporation of molecular tools in future malaria elimination strategies and resistance surveillance, in the context of understanding importation of malaria from high to low transmission regions.
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| 6. |
- Mhamilawa, Lwidiko E, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Parasite clearance, cure rate, post-treatment prophylaxis and safety of standard 3-day versus an extended 6-day treatment of artemether-lumefantrine and a single low-dose primaquine for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania– a randomized controlled trial.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background:Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) resistant Plasmodium falciparum represents an increasing threat to Africa. Extended ACT regimens from standard 3 to 6 days may represent a means to prevent its development and potential spread in Africa.Methods: Standard 3-day treatment with artemether-lumefantrine (control) was compared to extended 6-day treatment and single low-dose primaquine (intervention); in a randomized controlled, parallel group, superiority clinical trial of patients aged 1-65 years with microscopy confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, enrolled in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania. The study evaluated parasite clearance, including proportion of PCR detectable P. falciparum on days 5 and 7 (primary endpoint), cure rate, post-treatment prophylaxis, safety and tolerability. Clinical, and laboratory assessments, including ECG were conducted during 42 days of follow-up. Blood samples were collected for parasite detection (by microscopy and PCR), molecular genotyping and pharmacokinetic analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were done for both parasite clearance and recurrence. Results. A total of 280 patients were enrolled, 141 and 139 in the control and intervention arm, respectively, of whom 121 completed 42 days follow-up in each arm. There was no difference in proportion of PCR positivity across the arms at day 5 (80/130 (61.5%) vs 89/134 (66.4%), p=0.44), or day 7 (71/129 (55.0%) vs 70/134 (52.2%), p=0.71). Day 42 microscopy determined cure rates (PCR adjusted) were 97.4% (100/103) and 98.3% (110/112), p=0.65, in the control and intervention arm, respectively. Microscopy determined crude recurrent parasitemia during follow-up was 21/121 (17.4%) in the control and 14/121 (11.6%) in the intervention arm, p=0.20, and it took 34 days and 42 days in the respective arms for 90% of the patients to remain without recurrent parasitemia. Lumefantrine exposure was significantly higher in intervention arm from D3 to D42, but cardiac, biochemical and hematological safety was high and similar in both arms.Conclusion:Extended 6-day artemether-lumefantrine treatment and a single low-dose of primaquine was not superior to standard 3-day treatment for ACT sensitive P. falciparum infections, but importantly equally efficacious and safe. Thus, extended artemether-lumefantrine treatment may be considered as a future treatment regimen for ACT resistant P. falciparum, to prolong the therapeutic lifespan of ACT in Africa.
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| 7. |
- Morgan, Andrew P., et al.
(författare)
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Falciparum malaria from coastal Tanzania and Zanzibar remains highly connected despite effective control efforts on the archipelago
- 2020
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : BMC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago has made significant gains in malaria control over the last decade and is a target for malaria elimination. Despite consistent implementation of effective tools since 2002, elimination has not been achieved. Importation of parasites from outside of the archipelago is thought to be an important cause of malaria's persistence, but this paradigm has not been studied using modern genetic tools.Methods: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to investigate the impact of importation, employing population genetic analyses of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from both the archipelago and mainland Tanzania. Ancestry, levels of genetic diversity and differentiation, patterns of relatedness, and patterns of selection between these two populations were assessed by leveraging recent advances in deconvolution of genomes from polyclonal malaria infections.Results: Significant decreases in the effective population sizes were inferred in both populations that coincide with a period of decreasing malaria transmission in Tanzania. Identity by descent analysis showed that parasites in the two populations shared long segments of their genomes, on the order of 5 cM, suggesting shared ancestry within the last 10 generations. Even with limited sampling, two of isolates between the mainland and Zanzibar were identified that are related at the expected level of half-siblings, consistent with recent importation.Conclusions: These findings suggest that importation plays an important role for malaria incidence on Zanzibar and demonstrate the value of genomic approaches for identifying corridors of parasite movement to the island.
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| 8. |
- Morris, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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A cluster randomised controlled trial of two rounds of mass drug administration in Zanzibar, a malaria pre-elimination setting-high coverage and safety, but no significant impact on transmission.
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1741-7015. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) has the potential to interrupt malaria transmission and has been suggested as a tool for malaria elimination in low-endemic settings. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of two rounds of MDA in Zanzibar, a pre-elimination setting.METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 16 areas considered as malaria hotspots, with an annual parasite index of > 0.8%. The areas were randomised to eight intervention and eight control clusters. The intervention included two rounds of MDA with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and single low-dose primaquine 4 weeks apart in May-June 2016. Primary and secondary outcomes were cumulative confirmed malaria case incidences 6 months post-MDA and parasite prevalences determined by PCR 3 months post-MDA. Additional outcomes included intervention coverage, treatment adherence, occurrence of adverse events, and cumulative incidences 3, 12, and 16 months post-MDA.RESULTS: Intervention coverage was 91.0% (9959/10944) and 87.7% (9355/10666) in the first and second rounds, respectively; self-reported adherence was 82.0% (881/1136) and 93.7% (985/1196). Adverse events were reported in 11.6% (147/1268) and 3.2% (37/1143) of post-MDA survey respondents after both rounds respectively. No serious adverse event was reported. No difference in cumulative malaria case incidence was observed between the control and intervention arms 6 months post-MDA (4.2 and 3.9 per 1000 population; p = 0.94). Neither was there a difference in PCR-determined parasite prevalences 3 months post-MDA (1.4% and 1.7%; OR = 1.0, p = 0.94), although having received at least the first MDA was associated with reduced odds of malaria infection (aOR = 0.35; p = 0.02). Among confirmed malaria cases at health facilities, 26.0% and 26.3% reported recent travel outside Zanzibar in the intervention and control shehias (aOR ≥ 85; p ≤ 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: MDA was implemented with high coverage, adherence, and tolerability. Despite this, no significant impact on transmission was observed. The findings suggest that two rounds of MDA in a single year may not be sufficient for a sustained impact on transmission in a pre-elimination setting, especially when the MDA impact is restricted by imported malaria. Importantly, this study adds to the limited evidence for the use of MDA in low transmission settings in sub-Saharan Africa.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02721186 (registration date: March 29, 2016).
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| 9. |
- Morris, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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Field deployment of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for centralized mass-screening of asymptomatic malaria in Zanzibar : a pre-elimination setting
- 2015
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Molecular tools for detection of low-density asymptomatic Plasmodium infections are needed in malaria elimination efforts. This study reports results from the hitherto largest implementation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for centralized mass screening of asymptomatic malaria in Zanzibar.METHODS: Healthy individuals present and willing to participate in randomly selected households in 60 villages throughout Zanzibar were screened for malaria by rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). In 50 % of the study households, participants were asked to provide 60 μL of finger-prick blood for additional LAMP screening. LAMP was conducted in two centralized laboratories in Zanzibar, by trained technicians with limited or no previous experience of molecular methods. The LAMP assay was performed with Loopamp(TM) MALARIA Pan/Pf Detection Kit (Eiken Chemical Company, Japan). Samples positive for Plasmodium genus (Pan)-LAMP were re-tested using Plasmodium falciparum-specific LAMP kits.RESULTS: Paired RDT and LAMP samples were available from 3983 individuals. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 0.5 % (CI 95 % 0.1-0.8) and 1.6 % (CI 95 % 1.1-2.2) by RDT and Pan-LAMP, respectively. LAMP detected 3.4 (CI 95 % 2.2-5.2) times more Plasmodium positive samples than RDT. DNA contamination was experienced, but solved by repetitive decontamination of all equipment and reagents.CONCLUSIONS: LAMP is a simple and sensitive molecular tool, and has potential in active surveillance and mass-screening programmes for detection of low-density asymptomatic malaria in pre-elimination settings. However, in order to deploy LAMP more effectively in field settings, protocols may need to be adapted for processing larger numbers of samples. A higher throughput, affordable closed system would be ideal to avoid contamination.
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| 10. |
- Morris, Ulrika
(författare)
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Molecular methods in malaria control in the era of pre-elimination
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Increased funding combined with effective malaria control methods for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, has resulted in a 30% reduction of the global malaria burden over the last decade. As malaria prevalence declines in areas of successful malaria control, the proportion of subpatent infections that fall below the detection level of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy increases. In these areas new tools and strategies are required for detecting and targeting residual parasite populations. Furthermore, there is an emerging resistance to the artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which is the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This resistance is a serious threat to the recent achievements in the reduction of the global malaria burden. The aim of this thesis was to gain insight into the application of modern molecular methods for enhanced malaria infection detection and surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in a pre-elimination setting such as Zanzibar. Study I assessed whether seven years of wide scale use of artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) as first-line treatment selected for P. falciparum single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with resistance to the ACT partner drug amodiaquine. No selection of SNPs associated with amodiaquine resistance was observed, indicating sustained efficacy of ASAQ as first-line treatment in Zanzibar. In Study II different methods of DNA extraction from used RDTs were evaluated and it was assessed whether RDTs could preserve Plasmodium DNA for the purpose of molecular epidemiological investigations. The Chelex-100 method proved the most sensitive method of DNA extraction in both RDT and filter paper samples. RDTs collected in Zanzibar provided parasite DNA of equal quality as filter papers, suggesting that RDTs are a valuable alternative for DNA storage under field conditions. In Study III a highly sensitive SYBR Green qPCR-RFLP assay was developed for Plasmodium detection and species determination in samples collected on filter paper. This method was applied in Study IV for characterising asymptomatic Plasmodium infections. A declining, albeit persistent, reservoir of parasites present at low-densities was found in asymptomatic individuals, highlighting the need for sensitive molecular methods in malaria pre-elimination settings. The study revealed important characteristics of the remaining parasite populations, including intriguing trends in SNPs associated with antimalarial drug resistance that require further investigation in order to be fully understood. Study V reports the hitherto largest implementation of a new molecular diagnostic tool based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), for scaled up, centralised mass-screening of asymptomatic malaria in Zanzibar. LAMP detected 3.4 times more Plasmodium positive samples than RDT, and was found to be a simple and sensitive molecular tool with potential for use in active malaria surveillance. Contamination is, however, a concern. A higher throughput, affordable closed system would be ideal to avoid DNA contamination when processing larger numbers of samples. In summary, molecular methods are required for enhanced malaria infection detection and surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in malaria pre-elimination settings such as Zanzibar. The application of molecular methods may be of particular interest for malaria control/elimination programs, for monitoring progress towards malaria elimination and for optimal orientation of program activities.
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