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Molecular epidemiology of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections in Papua New Guinea

Hofmann, Natalie Ellen. Molecular epidemiology of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections in Papua New Guinea. 2016, Doctoral Thesis, University of Basel, Faculty of Science.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/diss/DissB_12473

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Abstract

Asymptomatic malaria infections present a major challenge to malaria control and elimination in endemic settings, as they contribute to maintaining malaria transmission but are missed during clinical surveillance. Little is known on the true extent and basic epidemiological parameters of asymptomatic malaria infections, such as the infection rate or the duration of infection. In case of P. vivax, an additional challenge is its ability to form dormant liver stages that evade diagnostic tools.
The aim of this thesis was to advance our basic understanding of asymptomatic P. falciparum and P. vivax infections and their relevance for malaria transmission. To this end, the extent of low-density malaria infections and the presence of gametocytes, i.e. the parasite stage responsible for human-to-mosquito transmission, is examined using highly sensitive molecular tools in Papua New Guinea and Tanzania. Longitudinal tracking of P. falciparum and P. vivax clones in a cohort study in Papua New Guinean children provides novel insights into the molecular epidemiology of malaria infections, allowing to explore small-scale geographical heterogeneity in malaria exposure, the relationship of exposure and clinical disease, the duration of untreated asymptomatic P. falciparum infections, and the contribution of P. vivax relapses from dormant liver stages to infection and disease.
Advisors:Felger, Ingrid and Borrmann, Stefan
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Former Units within Swiss TPH > Molecular Diagnostics (Felger)
UniBasel Contributors:Felger, Ingrid
Item Type:Thesis
Thesis Subtype:Doctoral Thesis
Thesis no:12473
Thesis status:Complete
Number of Pages:1 Online-Ressource (x, 212 Seiten)
Language:English
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Last Modified:05 Apr 2018 17:36
Deposited On:05 Mar 2018 13:40

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