ArticlePloS one2024
Dynamics of submicroscopic and microscopic asymptomatic malaria infection and associated factors: A longitudinal study in South Benin.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Transfusion-transmitted malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of Plasmodium spp. carriage in blood units and confirmed transmission in recipient.Malaria journal · 2026Pooled it
- Microscopy underestimates submicroscopic malaria infections in Ethiopia's southern rift valley: a community-based cross-sectional study.Malaria journal · 2026Article
- Assessment of a highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test for reactive case detection of Plasmodium Falciparum infections in Myanmar.Malaria journal · 2025Article
- [SubmicroscopicMedecine tropicale et sante internationale · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
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Abstract
introductionAsymptomatic malaria infection is now recognized as a potential threat to malaria control. However, its prevalence and its dynamics are poorly documented especially in a perennial context of high seasonal transmission. A longitudinal study was conducted in southern Benin to investigate the dynamics of asymptomatic malaria infection and to identify factors influencing it.
methodsA cohort of 377 participants was recruited, stratified into three age groups (under 5 years, between 5 and 15 years, over 15 years). After inclusion, two visits were made one-month apart between August and November 2021. Malaria infection was diagnosed by microscopy and PCR and questionnaires were administered to the participants. The dynamics of malaria infection, both submicroscopic (positive PCR / negative blood smear) and microscopic (positive blood smear), and related factors were determined using a mixed ordinal polytomous regression model and a multistate Markov model.
resultsThe human infectious reservoir consisted primarily of asymptomatic submicroscopic infections (289/512 (56.4%)), followed by asymptomatic microscopic infections (182/512 (35.5%)) and symptomatic infections (41/512 (8%)). The prevalence of asymptomatic infection was highly related to age-group (5-15 years: OR: 4 .12 [2.55-6.67] and > 15 years OR: 2.80 [1.73-4.54] compared to the under 5 years old group). The children under 15 years with asymptomatic infection had the highest risk of becoming symptomatic. The mean duration of asymptomatic infections in 5-15-year-olds was the longest (76.7 days (53.8-109.1)).
conclusionThis study revealed a persistent asymptomatic malaria reservoir over the follow-up period, with substantial variations between age-groups. These findings are important elements to consider for an optimal deployment of malaria control interventions.
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