Modeling Malaria Transmission Dynamics
Author Information
Author(s): Águas Ricardo, Ferreira Marcelo U., Gomes M. Gabriela M.
Primary Institution: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência
Hypothesis
Differences in age profiles of clinical malaria can be explained by P. vivax's ability to relapse.
Conclusion
P. vivax elimination is predicted to be unstable due to its ability to relapse, making it more resilient to eradication efforts compared to P. falciparum.
Supporting Evidence
- P. vivax infections can cause relapses weeks or months after the primary infection.
- ACT campaigns have had a greater impact on P. falciparum prevalence than on P. vivax.
- P. vivax can sustain transmission even in areas with low mosquito abundance.
Takeaway
This study shows that P. vivax can keep coming back even after treatment because it can hide in the liver and cause new infections later.
Methodology
The study developed a mathematical model to represent the transmission dynamics of P. vivax and compared it with P. falciparum.
Limitations
The model does not explore biological characteristics such as gametocyte production and antigenic variation.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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