Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42249420›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2026

Serological surveillance for malaria elimination in Southeast Asia: a scoping review.

Kumuthamalar Sangaran, Noor Wanie Hassan, Si Jie Goh, Ameera Aleeshya Mohd Fadrul Izwan, Zulkarnain Md Idris

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Kumuthamalar SangaranDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Noor Wanie HassanDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Si Jie GohFaculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ameera Aleeshya Mohd Fadrul IzwanFaculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zulkarnain Md IdrisDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zulkarnain.mdidris@ukm.edu.my.

Funding

UKM Geran Fundamental Fakulti Perubatan FF-2025-202UKM Geran Ganjaran Penerbitan GP-K019336
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAs Southeast Asian countries advance toward malaria elimination, challenges such as residual transmission reservoirs and zoonotic spill-over require high-resolution micro-surveillance. While conventional diagnostics often miss hidden transmission foci in low transmission settings, serological assays provide an essential supplement by measuring both historical and recent exposure. This scoping review assesses the implementation of antibody surveillance across Southeast Asian countries and highlights its potential in the concerted effort towards regional malaria elimination.

methodsThis review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to identify peer-reviewed studies on malaria serology in Southeast Asian countries. Systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were conducted for articles published between January 2000 and May 2025. Multiple independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full texts against predefined eligibility criteria, focusing on English-language primary studies involving human samples. Extracted data including study location, population, serological assay type, serological markers and key findings were synthesised to provide a comprehensive overview of malaria antibody surveillance.

resultsOf 6,849 records identified, 33 studies across seven Southeast Asian countries met the inclusion criteria. Study designs consisted of 26 cross-sectional, five longitudinal and one each of a prospective cohort and a control trial. Over time, research focuses have shifted from high-transmission assessments to low-transmission and elimination contexts, increasingly utilising multiplex assays and protein microarrays. While Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax markers predominated, recent studies have incorporated Plasmodium knowlesi and vector exposure antigens. Furthermore, seroconversion rate estimation and machine learning approaches effectively identified historical transmission declines and residual hotspots missed by conventional microscopy or molecular methods.

conclusionSerological surveillance offers a transformative supplement to the diagnostic gaps prevalent in Southeast Asia's low-transmission settings. By generating a high-resolution exposure profile, advanced seroepidemiological tools enable precise micro-stratification of transmission foci, the differentiation of recent from historical exposure and the targeted management of zoonotic spill-over. Ultimately, integrating these methods provides a robust, cost-effective framework for identifying high-risk populations, verifying transmission interruption and achieving regional malaria-free certification.

Indexed as

Antibodies, ProtozoanDisease EradicationEpidemiological MonitoringMalariaAsia, SoutheasternHumansSeroepidemiologic StudiesAntibodies, ProtozoanAntibody responsesLow-transmissionMalariaScoping reviewSeroepidemiologySerologySoutheast Asia

Identifiers

PMID42249420
PMCPMC13465443

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.