Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39057768›Full record

ArticlePathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2024

Asymptomatic Malaria Reservoirs in Honduras: A Challenge for Elimination.

Sharon Banegas, Denis Escobar, Alejandra Pinto, Marcela Moncada, Gabriela Matamoros, Hugo O Valdivia, Allan Reyes, Gustavo Fontecha

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Molecular Characterization ofTropical medicine and infectious disease · 2025
    Article
  5. SubclinicalResearch and reports in tropical medicine · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sharon BanegasInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.
Denis EscobarInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.ORCID 0000-0002-1188-2569
Alejandra PintoInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.
Marcela MoncadaInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.
Gabriela MatamorosInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.ORCID 0000-0003-2177-9765
Hugo O ValdiviaDepartment of Parasitology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit South (NAMRU SOUTH), Lima 07006, Peru.ORCID 0000-0003-2159-5667
Allan ReyesUnidad de Entomología, Región Sanitaria de Gracias a Dios, Secretaría de Salud de Honduras, Puerto Lempira 33101, Gracias a Dios, Honduras.
Gustavo FontechaInstituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras.ORCID 0000-0001-9756-4520

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Genetic Research Center, CIG-UNAH, and by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSD), Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) Program PROMIS ID P0091_24_N6
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEfforts on a global scale for combating malaria have achieved substantial progress over the past twenty years. Two Central American nations have accomplished their goal of eliminating malaria: El Salvador and Belize. Honduras has decreased the incidence of malaria and now reports fewer than 4000 malaria cases annually, aspiring to reach elimination by 2030. To accomplish this goal, it is essential to assess the existing strategies employed for malaria control and to address the task of incorporating novel intervention strategies to identify asymptomatic reservoirs.

methodsA survey for detecting asymptomatic cases was carried out in the community of Kaukira, in Gracias a Dios, Honduras, focusing on malaria transmission during 2023. Asymptomatic community members were recruited as participants, malaria screening was performed through a rapid diagnostic test in situ, and a blood sample was collected on filter paper. Highly sensitive molecular assays based on photo-induced electron transfer PCR (PET-PCR) were performed to detect the two species of

resultsA total of 138 participants were recruited, mostly adult women. All individuals tested negative on the rapid diagnostic test. Positive results for malaria were detected by PET-PCR in 17 samples (12.3%). Most samples (12 out of 17) were amplified with a Ct value between 37 and 42, indicating very low parasitemias. Out of the 17 samples, 16 of them also showed amplification in the species assays. There were nine cases of

conclusionsThe existence of asymptomatic malaria reservoirs in Honduras can contribute to disease transmission and pose a challenge that may hinder elimination efforts, requiring public health authorities to modify surveillance strategies to identify the disease and treat this population accordingly.

Indexed as

Malaria, FalciparumMalaria, VivaxPlasmodium falciparumPlasmodium vivaxAdolescentAdultAgedAsymptomatic InfectionsChildChild, PreschoolDisease EradicationDisease ReservoirsFemaleHondurasHumansMaleasymptomatic malariaeliminationHondurasnPCRPET-PCRrapid diagnostic tests

Identifiers

PMID39057768
PMCPMC11280452

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.