EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MALARIA TRANSMISSION INTENSITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

January 9, 2019 | Malaria Research | Reading time: 2 min

Background
This epidemiology study (EPI-MAL-005) is planned to run in parallel with two conservative safety monitoring RTS,S vaccine studies (EPI-MAL-002 and EPI-MAL-003) which will monitor incidence rate of protocol defined adverse events of specific interest (AESI) and non-communicable and traumatic serious adverse events (NC/NT-SAE)

Objectives
To obtain longitudinal estimates of P.falciparum parasites prevalence in order to characterize malaria transmission intensity in a standardized way at centres conducting the EPI-MAL- 002 and EPI-MAL-003 studies before and after introduction of the vaccine RTS,S/AS01E in sub-Saharan Africa. To obtain longitudinal estimates of the usage of malaria control interventions in centres conducting the EPI-MAL-002 and EPI-MAL-003 studies before and after the introduction of the malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01E in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods
This is a multi-centric, epidemiology longitudinal cross-sectional study enrolling 600 children aged 6 months to 9 years children in nine consecutive self-contained Epochs. The survey is being carried out at peak malaria transmission season in the study area. No vaccine is been administered in this study. All medications that may influence malaria parasitaemia within 14 days prior to each survey is recorded. Axillary body temperature of all subjects at the time of the survey is recorded. A capillary blood sample is collected for evaluation of malaria by blood slide and Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). Serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with study procedure (capillary blood sampling) is collected. There is no defined follow-up period except in cases where there is an SAE, in which case participants will be followed until the SAE resolves.

Expected outcome
Prevalence of asexual and sexual parasitaemia as determined by microscopy and NAAT. Use of bednets and residual spraying in each survey; use of medications that may influence malaria in the last 14 days prior to each survey; other health seeking behaviors relating to malaria infection.
Funders: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK)
Project start date: September 2014
Project end date: November

Investigators:
Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kwaku Poku Asante, Kaali Seyram, Samuel B.E. Harrison and Prince Darko Agyapong.