Lymphatic filariasis is caused primarily by Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) and can be co-endemic with certain filarial parasites in central Africa. Two new IgG4 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are available from Standard Diagnostics, Inc. The aim of this research was to determine the specificity of the Wb123 RDTs in co-endemic zones.

Author: Golden A, Storey H, Gerth-Guyette E, Kalnoky M, Njouendou J, Ekanya R, Mbeng A, Ndzeshang B,

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

This trial evaluated two malaria control approaches: reactive focal test and treat, and reactive focal drug administration. This is critical for Zambia, where malaria transmission is low enough in some areas that it is feasible to reactively seek and treat all infections in the index case and neighboring households.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

PATH’s Scale-Up project works to expand the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for cervical cancer prevention. Based on PATH’s experience implementing the careHPV™ test in Central America, this manual, available in Spanish and English, provides guidance for organizing a quality assurance program to screening programs adopting the careHPV test.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Latin America, Global

Kenya’s Hospital Medicine and Therapeutic Committees (HMTCs) evaluate clinical drug use and assure review of hospital outcomes. Unfortunately, few hospitals have functioning committees. MalariaCare worked to revive HMTCs to strengthen malaria case management. This report describes effects on malaria case management and health systems in Migori County Referral Hospital.

Author: Marube E, Chahale T, Onyando B, Onditi S, Clark T, Illah E, Dena R, Kolek C, Martin T

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

MalariaCare works to scale up high-quality diagnosis and treatment services for malaria and other febrile illnesses in 8 malaria-endemic counties in western Kenya. MalariaCare utilizes outreach training and supportive supervision (OTSS) visits for quality assurance. The outcomes from implementing OTSS in Vihiga County are presented here.

Author: Chahale T, Onditi S, Onyando B, Dena R, Illah E, Burnett S

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Adherence to malaria diagnostic test results is crucial to ensure effective treatment and decrease unnecessary drug use. MalariaCare has worked with National Malaria Control Programs to train clinical experts as supervisors who work with health facility staff on outreach training and supportive supervision to improve technical skills and adherence.

Author: Martin T, Davis K, Wun J, Mkomwa Z, Guindo B, Onditi S, Hamilton P

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

MalariaCare has worked with National Malaria Control Programs in 17 countries to train a cadre of clinical experts as on-site supervisors. These supervisors work with local staff at the health facility level to perform on-site outreach training and supportive supervision—a mentorship program to improve clinical case management skills.

Author: Alombah F, Eliades M, Martin T, Davis K, Gondwe M, Onyando B, Tesha G, Hamilton P

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Parasite detection is required to diagnose malaria, parasite counting is required to monitor treatment for severe cases, and species identification is required to correctly treat malaria. MalariaCare helps countries improve the accuracy of malaria diagnostic testing. This study examines MalariaCare’s malaria diagnostic refresher trainings for laboratory staff in francophone Africa.

Author: Lim P, Saye E, Ouologuem A, Kutumbakana S, Niyizompa N, Guindo B, Seleman M, Ratsimbaso A, Mihigo J, Eckert E, Yellott L, Heinsen J, Martin T, Hamilton P, Ndiaye D, Schwabe C

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

This study looked at seasonal migrant workers in Amhara, Ethiopia, who are susceptible to malaria infections during their travel and stay at farms, and have significant barriers to malaria prevention measures. The study aimed to understand their malaria control behaviors, and determine the feasibility of prevention strategies.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Passive incidence of malaria cases is the main metric used in near-zero transmission settings in Ethiopia; other methods are needed to assess transmission interruption. These surveys aimed to assess malaria exposure in two regions of Ethiopia, describe secular transmission trends, and identify the best sampling strategy for malaria elimination scale-up.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Passive incidence of malaria cases is the main metric used in near-zero transmission settings in Senegal; other methods are needed to assess transmission interruption. These surveys aimed to assess malaria exposure in two regions of Senegal, describe historical changes in transmission, and identify the best sampling strategy for scale-up.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Malaria case management offered by Ghana’s Community Health Officers (CHOs) faces multiple challenges, including inadequate knowledge and skills due to minimal monitoring or refresher training. For this study, MalariaCare piloted an internship program for CHOs to test whether it improves the quality of care for malaria and other febrile illnesses.

Author: Amoo-Sakyi F, Quao A, Ntumy R, Wun J, Heinsen J, Martin T, Hamilton P

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

To best optimize available malaria funding, countries and programs have to make evidence-based decisions implementing malaria control interventions, including new vector control tools. This study aims to describe the malaria control decision-making landscape in Mali and Zambia and assess the facilitators and barriers that affect evidence generation and utilization.

Author: Tynuv K, Gogue C, Wagman J, Miller J, Chiyende E, Pickersgill S, Tembo I, Chabala H, Jennings T, Coleman M, Ngosa J, Robertson M

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated bednets are pillars of Zambia’s strategy to eliminate malaria by 2021. This study reports on the impact of pirimiphos methyl IRS on malaria vector populations and transmission in parts of Southern Zambia targeted for malaria elimination.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

The malaria burden in Ethiopia has steadily decreased, and the country aims to achieve subnational elimination in 245 districts by 2020. However, increased population movement remains a key barrier to elimination. This study aims to assess spatial movement patterns of migrant workers and related malaria risk in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Asymptomatic malaria infection in endemic areas presents new challenges, as the asymptomatic individuals constituting the human parasite reservoirs contribute to transmission. To achieve elimination, asymptomatic and submicroscopic reservoirs must be identified and treated. Here we sought to develop a highly sensitive tool to detect P. falciparum and P. vivax infection.

Author: Jang I, Tyler A, Lyman C, Barney B, Rashid A, Kahn M, Rist M, Kalnoky M, Das S, Peck R, Seilie A, Hanron A, Daza G, Chang M, Murphy S, McCarthy J, Domingo J

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

In 2012, insecticide resistance promoted a switch in Ghana from pyrethroids to pirimiphos-methyl. We conducted a retrospective, observational analysis of the epidemiological impact of indoor residual spraying (IRS) operations in the Northern region of Ghana from 2014-2016, using routine epidemiological data comparing malaria incidence rates from IRS and non-IRS districts.

Author: Gogue C, Wagman J, Tynuv K, Richardson J, Saibu A, Yihdego Y, Coleman S, Plange CB, Mohammed W, Ofosu A, Steketee R, Robertson M

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Malaria indicator surveys have been implemented regularly in Zambia since 2006 to assess malaria prevalence. As Zambia targets elimination, tracking progress through the survey is increasingly difficult due to the sample size required. This study examines the ability of population genetics to assess transmission intensity in low-transmission settings.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Currently, the only drugs that radically cure Plasmodium vivax malaria are 8-aminoquinoline–based drugs, which can cause hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. Therefore, determination of G6PD level is critical before treatment. This study evaluated tests for G6PD deficiency, including validating the correlation of quantitative reference assays, and establishing recombinant G6PD controls.

Author: Pal S, LaRue N, Hrutkay S, Barney B, Kahn M, Bansil P, Kalnoky M, LeaderT, Domingo G

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Since 2012, Senegal has implemented case investigation + reactive case detection (RCD) in the north: first with RCD + focal test and treat in the index household and neighbors, then focal screen test and treat, and eventually focal drug administration. This study examined the feasibility and efficacy of these methods.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters