Factors determining the occurrence of submicroscopic malaria infections and their relevance for control

Malaria parasite prevalence in endemic populations is an essential indicator for monitoring the progress of malaria control, and has traditionally been assessed by microscopy. However, surveys increasingly use sensitive molecular methods that detect higher numbers of infected individuals, questioning our understanding of the true infection burden and resources required to reduce it. Here we analyse a series of data sets to characterize the distribution and epidemiological factors associated with low-density, submicroscopic infections. We show that submicroscopic parasite carriage is common in adults, in low-endemic settings and in chronic infections. We find a strong, non-linear relationship between microscopy…

• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Award: FP7/2007-2013
• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: FP7/2007-2013, 2007-2013, FP7/2007
• MR
  Medical Research Council