The Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON): Investigation of the determinants of Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale infections in Ghana: parasites prevalence and host factors

Malaria disease in Africa has generally been considered to be caused by Plasmodium falciparum. However, non-falciparum malaria caused by the other species of Plasmodium such as P. vivax which is predominant outside of Africa except Madagascar and the Horn of Africa, has had very little attention. This is due to the assumption that sub-Saharan Africans lack the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) and are therefore not amenable to infection by P. vivax. Recently, several P. vivax autochthonous infections in African countries have been reported. These include Botswana, Namibia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and  in apparently Duffy negative individuals. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) have therefore added P. vivax to their agenda for Africa. Considering that in Africa P. falciparum is predominant and deadly, the synergistic effect of the two most virulent malaria parasites in Africa will compound the malaria menace and hence the need for active surveillance of the parasite species for malaria control strategies. The persistence of P. vivax is enhanced by the hypnozoite stage which is shared by P. ovale and common in Africa. The Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON) is mandated to do active epidemiological surveillance of these parasites in all malarious African countries including Ghana as well as determine the host genetic factors enhancing their survival in Africa. This study is being conducted in collaboration with the NMCP and the findings would in the long term inform policy change in malaria intervention strategies in Ghana.

Project details

P. vivax
Surveillance

Ghana