Indigenous Malaria Cases Research Articles

Influence of risk perception, preventive behavior, movement and environment on malaria infection in Lundu district, Sarawak, Malaysia

The incidence of malaria in Sarawak is among the highest in Malaysia despite its downward trend since 2002. This study was conducted to identify the dominant risk factors related to malaria infection. A case-control study was conducted in Lundu District, Sarawak. Cases were 96 indigenous malaria cases registered from January to September 2005 at Lundu District Health Office. Controls were selected among those who never contracted malaria originating from the same villages as cases. Cases and control were similarly distributed with respect to age, number of household and total household income per month. Cases were more likely than controls to report high risk occupation, opened eaves, ever had movement for those aged 50 years or over and car ownership. Older age, male, lower socioeconomic level and perception of fatality toward malaria increased risk to malaria infection. Male than female had seven-fold risk to be malaria infected [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 7.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.21-15.65]. In term of perception of fatality toward malaria, those who did not have than did have perception of fatality toward malaria had six-fold risk to be malaria infected (ORa = 6.38; 95% CI = 1.32-30.87). On contrary, those who had lower than middle and high per capita income per month had 85% lowered risk to be malaria infected (ORa = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.03-0.72). Male, older age, lower education and socioeconomy level, lower perception towards malaria, or lower environment sanitation had increased risk to be malaria infected. (Med J Indones 2007; 16:267-71)

A two-year survey on mosquitoes of Lebanon

A total of 6,500 mosquitoes were identified during a two-year survey (1999-2001) in Lebanon, and these belonged to twelve species: Culex pipiens, Cx. laticinctus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. hortensis, Cx. judaicus, Aedes aegypti, Ae. cretinus, Ochlerotatus caspius, Oc. geniculatus, Oc. pulchritarsis, Culiseta longiareolata and Anopheles claviger. Culex pipiens was the most predominant species in Lebanon, collected indoors and outdoors. It was continuously abundant and active throughout the year. Culex judaicus was a small and rare mosquito and it is reported to occur for the first time in Lebanon. On the coastal areas, Ochlerotatus caspius was very common, and proved to be a complex of species as two forms were detected. One of the vectors of malaria, Anopheles claviger, was collected from May to September, from eight sites in Lebanon. Its breeding sites were restricted to fresh, cool, and clean water in pools and wells. Most of these breeding sites were in the populated Metn County where a few indigenous cases of malaria were reported from 1997-2000. This shows that the reported malaria cases were not imported, but caused by the bites of locally infected Anopheles females.

Anopheles sacharovi (Diptera: Culicidae): a reemerging malaria vector in the Ararat Valley of Armenia.

In 1994, the first indigenous case of malaria since the 1960s was reported in Armenia, and the number of cases quickly increased in the ensuing years. In 1998, a roll-back malaria program was developed to eliminate the recently established foci of malaria infection and to prevent the reestablishment of malaria in Armenia. As part of this program, we carried out entomological surveys to identify the potential malaria vectors in the Ararat Valley, the area where most of the indigenous malaria cases had been reported. In particular, we attempted to ascertain the presence of Anopheles sacharovi Favre, which is historically the most important malaria vector in Armenia yet which had not been reported since 1965. In 1998-2000, we collected adult mosquitoes and larvae in the city of Masis and in three rural villages of the Ararat Valley. Species identification of the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex was performed through egg and larval morphology, heteroduplex analysis, and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA. Two species of the complex were identified: An. sacharovi, found in all of the study sites, andAn. maculipennis s.s. Meigen, the most common species in the area. The reemergence of An. sacharovi in the study sites shows that the receptivity for malaria is still high in the Ararat Valley and, likely, in other regions of Armenia.

Current status of vivax malaria among civilians in Korea.

A result of national malaria surveillance in Korean civilians was described. Since a case of indigenous vivax malaria was detected in 1993, a total of 2,198 cases was confirmed by blood smear up to 1997. Of them, 1,548 cases were soldiers serving in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), while 650 cases were civilians. Number of civilian cases was 3 in 1994, 19 in 1995, 71 in 1996, and 557 in 1997. Of them, 239 were ex-soldiers who discharged after military service in the prevalent areas such as Paju, Yonchon, Kimpo, Kangwha, Tongduchon in Kyonggi-do and Chorwon in Kangwon-do while 308 patients were civilian residents in the prevalent areas. Seventy-two patients, living nationwide, had a history of visiting the prevalent areas during transmission season. Only 32 civilian patients denied any relation with the prevalent areas. As a whole, a half of the civilian cases was diagnosed when living in non-prevalent areas. Male patients in their twenties was the highest in number. Annual parasite index is steadily elevated in residents living in the prevalent areas. Monthly incidence showed an unimodal distribution, forming a peak in August. Ex-soldiers exhibited a delayed incubation ranging from 153 to 452 days (279 +/- 41 days). The time required for diagnosis was shortened from 23.6 days in 1995 to 13.7 days in 1997. Although the current epidemic of vivax malaria started as a border malaria, it seems highly probable that vivax malaria is established in the local areas and responsible for at least a part of transmission.

Case of Indigenous Malaria in N. Ireland

Case of Indigenous Malaria in N. Ireland

A Map showing the Known Distribution in England and Wales of the Anopheline Mosquitoes, with Explanatory Text and Notes

THE map deals with the distribution of the anopheline mosquitoes (Anopheles maculipennis, A. bifurcatus, A. plumbeus (nigripes)) previously recorded as indigenous and proved to convey malaria. The text contains records relating to the distribution of these mosquitoes, and, like the map, is modelled on the publications of Nuttall, Cobbett, and Strangeways-Pigg (1901), “Studies in Relation to Malaria: i., The Geographical Distribution of Anopheles in Relation to the Former Distribution of Ague in England,” Journal of Hygiene, vol. i.; and Nuttall (1905), ibid., vol. v., a considerable number of additional data being supplied from records hitherto unpublished. The statement made by the earlier authors that Anopheles are likely to be found in suitable waters anywhere in this country is confirmed. The features whereby the species may be identified are described, and a brief account is given of their life-history. Taken in conjunction with the earlier papers cited and those by Nuttall and Shipley (1901–3), “Studies in Relation to Malaria: ii., The Structure and Biology of Anopheles,” ibid., vols. i.–iii., readers will find in these sources most of the information that is obtainable regarding the insects. Their importance is fully appreciated now that indigenous cases of malaria have arisen more frequently owing to the return to England of soldiers with malaria, there being no reason why malaria should not become re-established and more widely distributed in this country if adequate precautions are not taken.

A Second Case of Indigenous Malaria

A Second Case of Indigenous Malaria