Last Updated: 31/01/2025
Investigating the impact of mass drug administration on Plasmodium falciparum population structure in the Bijagos Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau
Objectives
The proposed study aims to investigate:
- the origins, diversity, and drug resistance of P. falciparum, the malaria parasite, at the trial site before mass drug administration (MDA) is given,
- the impact of MDA on parasite transmission and
- characterisation and tracking of remaining parasites post-MDA.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom
The World Health Organisation is committed to help reduce malaria deaths by 90% by 2030. Although long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based medicines (ACT) are essential in reducing the death toll, they are insufficient. A cluster randomised trial will assess the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) of an ACT (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, DP) and the mosquito-killing drug ivermectin (IVM) to tackle both human and mosquito reservoirs of malaria infection in Guinea-Bissau. Whole genome sequencing and genotyping – methods to read parasite genes – will be used to characterise and track parasites after MDA. Antibodies to the parasite will also be investigated as a cost-effective alternative endpoint and sustainable surveillance tool. The study hypothesis is that MDA will decrease P. falciparum transmission to very low levels leading to a decrease in the diversity and numbers of different types of P. falciparum parasites at the trial site.
Jun 2021 — Dec 2024
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