Frequency and distribution of mixed Plasmodium falciparum-vivax infections in French Guiana between 2000 and 2008.

Marine Ginouvès (1) , Vincent Veron (1) , Lise Musset (2) , Eric Legrand (2, 3) , Aurelia Stefani (1) , Ghislaine Prevot (1) , Magalie Pierre Demar (1) , Félix Djossou (4) , Paul Brousse (5) , Mathieu Nacher (1, 6) , Bernard Carme (1)

1 Medicine Department
2 Laboratoire de Parasitologie [Cayenne, Guyane française]
3 Génétique et Génomique des Insectes vecteurs
4 UMIT - Unité des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales
5 Département des Centres Délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins
6 CIC - Antilles Guyane - Centre d'investigation clinique Antilles-Guyane

The two main plasmodial species in French Guiana are Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum whose respective prevalence influences the frequency of mixed plasmodial infections. The accuracy of their diagnosis is influenced by the sensitivity of the method used, whereas neither microscopy nor rapid diagnostic tests allow a satisfactory evaluation of mixed plasmodial infections. In the present study, the frequency of mixed infections in different part of French Guiana was determined using real time PCR, a sensitive and specific technique. From 400 cases of malaria initially diagnosed by microscopy, real time PCR showed that 10.75 % of the cases were mixed infections. Their prevalence varied considerably between geographical areas. The presence, in equivalent proportions, of the two plasmodial species in eastern French Guiana was associated with a much higher prevalence of mixed plasmodial infections than in western French Guiana, where the majority of the population was Duffy negative and thus resistant to vivax malaria. Clinicians must be more vigilant regarding mixed infections in co-endemic P. falciparum/P. vivax areas, in order to deliver optimal care for patients suffering from malaria. This may involve the use of rapid diagnostic tests capable of detecting mixed infections or low density single infections. This is important as French Guiana moves towards malaria elimination.

Mots clés: French Guiana; Treatment; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Mixed infections

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Parasitologie

Marine Ginouvès, Vincent Veron, Lise Musset, Eric Legrand, Aurelia Stefani, et al.. Frequency and distribution of mixed Plasmodium falciparum-vivax infections in French Guiana between 2000 and 2008.. Malaria Journal, 2015, 14 (1), pp.446. ⟨10.1186/s12936-015-0971-1⟩. ⟨pasteur-01229359⟩