Identification of the asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax gametocyte reservoir under different transmission intensities.

Background: Understanding epidemiological variables affecting gametocyte carriage and density is essential to design interventions that most effectively reduce malaria human-to-mosquito transmission.

Methodology/principal Findings: Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax parasites and gametocytes were quantified by qPCR and RT-qPCR assays using the same methodologies in 5 cross-sectional surveys involving 16,493 individuals in Brazil, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.

Phenotypic and haplotypic profiles of insecticide resistance in populations of Aedes aegypti larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) from central Lao PDR.

Background: Aedes aegypti, which is widely distributed in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), is the primary vector of arboviral diseases. Chemical insecticides have been intensively used to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases, resulting in the development of insecticide resistance. However, little is known about the insecticide resistance of mosquito populations in Lao PDR and the mechanisms responsible for it, which have important implications for vector management programs.

Correction to: Multiple arboviral infections during a DENV-2 outbreak in Solomon Islands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41182-020-00217-8.].

Multiple arboviral infections during a DENV-2 outbreak in Solomon Islands.

Background: Solomon Islands, a country made up of tropical islands, has suffered cyclic dengue fever (DF) outbreaks in the past three decades. An outbreak of dengue-like illness (DLI) that occurred in April 2016 prompted this study, which aimed to determine the population's immunity status and identify the arboviruses circulating in the country.

Methods: A household survey, involving 188 participants in two urban areas (Honiara and Gizo), and a parallel hospital-based clinical survey were conducted in April 2016.

Effects of intracoelomic transmitter implantation on metabolic rate, swimming performance, growth and survival in juveniles of two salmonids.

In this study, we investigated the effects of acoustic tag implantation on standard and routine metabolic rate (SMR and RMR, estimated via oxygen consumption), critical swimming speed (U ), survival and growth in juveniles of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and lake trout Salvelinus namaycush. Tag burdens ranged from 1.8% to 7.

Hematobium schistosomiasis control for health management of labor force generation at Nkhotakota and Lilongwe in the Republic of Malawi-assumed to be related to occupational risk.

Background: In Malawi, hematobium schistosomiasis is highly endemic. According to previous studies, countermeasures have been conducted mainly in school-aged children. In this study, we focused on the age groups, which are assumed to be major labor force generation.

Molecular epidemiology of residual Plasmodium vivax transmission in a paediatric cohort in Solomon Islands.

Background: Following the scale-up of intervention efforts, malaria burden has decreased dramatically in Solomon Islands (SI). Submicroscopic and asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax infections are now the major challenge for malaria elimination in this country. Since children have higher risk of contracting malaria, this study investigated the dynamics of Plasmodium spp.

Increasingly inbred and fragmented populations of Plasmodium vivax associated with the eastward decline in malaria transmission across the Southwest Pacific.

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax is more resistant to malaria control strategies than Plasmodium falciparum, and maintains high genetic diversity even when transmission is low. To investigate whether declining P. vivax transmission leads to increasing population structure that would facilitate elimination, we genotyped samples from across the Southwest Pacific region, which experiences an eastward decline in malaria transmission, as well as samples from two time points at one site (Tetere, Solomon Islands) during intensified malaria control.

Development of a PCR Assay for Diagnosing Trematode (Opisthorchis and Haplorchis) Infections in Human Stools.

We developed a combined conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR)-based assay for detecting and discriminating between Opisthorchis viverrini and Haplorchis taichui parasite infections. The first PCR amplifies the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes of parasites, and differential diagnosis is achieved by performing qPCR with specific primers and SYBR Green I. The detection limit of the assay was found to be 2.

Co-circulation of the dengue with chikungunya virus during the 2013 outbreak in the southern part of Lao PDR.

Background: During the 2013 outbreak, 4638 infection cases and 32 deaths have been recorded in the southern part of Laos. In recent years, the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) emerged in the part of the country bordering Cambodia. Dengue virus (DENV) and CHIKV are transmitted by common mosquito vectors.

An Antibody Screen of a Plasmodium vivax Antigen Library Identifies Novel Merozoite Proteins Associated with Clinical Protection.

Background: Elimination of Plasmodium vivax malaria would be greatly facilitated by the development of an effective vaccine. A comprehensive and systematic characterization of antibodies to P. vivax antigens in exposed populations is useful in guiding rational vaccine design.

High Rates of Asymptomatic, Sub-microscopic Plasmodium vivax Infection and Disappearing Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in an Area of Low Transmission in Solomon Islands.

Introduction: Solomon Islands is intensifying national efforts to achieve malaria elimination. A long history of indoor spraying with residual insecticides, combined recently with distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets and artemether-lumefantrine therapy, has been implemented in Solomon Islands. The impact of these interventions on local endemicity of Plasmodium spp.