Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
A major requirement for malaria elimination is the development of transmission-blocking interventions. In vitro transmission-blocking bioassays currently mostly rely on the use of very few Plasmodium falciparum reference laboratory strains isolated decades ago. To fill a piece of the gap between laboratory experimental models and natural systems, the purpose of this work was to determine if culture-adapted field isolates of P. falciparum are suitable for in vitro transmission-blocking bioassays targeting functional maturity of male gametocytes: exflagellation. Plasmodium falciparum isolates were adapted to in vitro culture before being used for in vitro gametocyte production. Maturation was assessed by microscopic observation of gametocyte morphology over time of culture and the functional viability of male gametocytes was assessed by microscopic counting of exflagellating gametocytes. Suitability for in vitro exflagellation-blocking bioassays was determined using dihydroartemisinin and methylene blue. In vitro gametocyte production was achieved using two isolates from French Guiana and two isolates from Cambodia. Functional maturity of male gametocytes was assessed by exflagellation observations and all four isolates could be used in exflagellation-blocking bioassays with adequate response to methylene blue and dihydroartemisinin. This work shows that in vitro culture-adapted P. falciparum field isolates of different genetic background, from South America and Southeast Asia, can successfully be used for bioassays targeting the male gametocyte to gamete transition, exflagellation.
ISSN: 1475-2875

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
pasteur-01182753
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753/document
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753/file/LeBas%20et%202015%20version%20publie%20%281%29.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s12936-015-0752-x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Résumé : International audience
To assess the prevalence of malaria among illegal gold miners in the French Guiana rainforest, we screened 205 miners during May-June 2014. Malaria prevalence was 48.3%; 48.5% of cases were asymptomatic. Patients reported self-medication with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Risk for emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance among gold miners in the rainforest is high.
ISSN: 1080-6040

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
pasteur-01305106
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01305106
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01305106/document
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01305106/file/15-1957.pdf
DOI : 10.3201/eid2205.151957.

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Résumé : International audience
To assess the prevalence of malaria among illegal gold miners in the ă French Guiana rainforest, we screened 205 miners during May-June 2014. ă Malaria prevalence was 48.3%; 48.5% of cases were asymptomatic. ă Patients reported self-medication with artemisinin-based combination ă therapy. Risk for emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance among ă gold miners in the rainforest is high.
ISSN: 1080-6040

hal-01467560
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01467560
DOI : 10.3201/eid2205.151957

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
BackgroundMalaria is endemic in French Guiana, an overseas territory of France on the Guiana Shield. Since 2005, notified malaria cases are decreasing. However, new data show that malaria affects many Brazilian gold miners working illegally in French Guiana, the majority of whom are not counted in official data. In addition, one major concern is the usual practice of improper self-treatment in this mining population, raising fear of the development of antimalarial resistance. This prospective study, conducted in 2015, aimed to estimate the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. in illegal gold miners working in French Guiana. MethodsThe recruitment of gold miners was carried out in resting sites along the French Guiana-Suriname border, where they go for supplies, medical care or leisure. After recording agreement, three malaria diagnostic methods were performed: rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and PCR,ResultsAmong 421 persons recruited in the study, malaria prevalence, detected by nested-PCR, was 22.3% (CI=[18.3-26.3], n=94/421) of which 84% were asymptomatic. ConclusionThis significant malaria reservoir in a mobile and illegal population with difficult access to a health care system raises the threat of artemisinin resistance and puts the population of the Guiana Shield at risk of new transmission foci while countries of the region aim at malaria elimination. Even though French legislation may hamper dealing with this population, France must face the reality of malaria in illegal gold miners in order to meet its commitment to malaria elimination.
ISSN: 1475-2875

hal-01346800
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01346800
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01346800/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01346800/file/2016%2C%20Douine%20-%20Prevalence%20of%20Plasmodium%20spp.%20in%20illegal%20gold%20miners%20in%20French%20Guiana%20in%202015.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s12936-016-1367-6

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Résumé : International audience
From September 2013 to July 2014, several gold miners working in the tropical forest consulted the Maripasoula Health Center in French Guiana for edema and findings consistent with right cardiac failure. Of the 42 cases of beriberi that were diagnosed, one patient died. The laboratory and clinical investigation demonstrated vitamin B1 deficiency in most of the patients tested. Furthermore, 30 of 42 patients responded favorably to 500 mg of intravenous or intramuscular thiamine supplementation. In addition, dietary investigation showed insufficient thiamine intake in these patients. We concluded that patients had acquired beriberi because of diet restrictions, hard labor, and infectious diseases, notably malaria. In 2016, cases were still being reported. We recommend screening for compatible symptoms in gold miners, thiamine supplementation, and nutritional intervention
ISSN: 0002-9637

inserm-01503899
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01503899
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01503899/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01503899/file/2017%2C%20Mosnier%20-%20A%20Large%20Outbreak%20of%20Thiamine%20Deficiency%20among%20Illegal%20Gold%20Miners%20in%20French%20Guiana.pdf
DOI : 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0906

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Local variation in the density of Anopheles mosquitoes and the risk of exposure to bites are essential to explain the spatial and temporal heterogeneities in the transmission of malaria. Vector distribution is driven by environmental factors. Based on variables derived from satellite imagery and meteorological observations, this study aimed to dynamically model and map the densities of Anopheles darlingi in the municipality of Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock (French Guiana). Longitudinal sampling sessions of An. darlingi densities were conducted between September 2012 and October 2014. Landscape and meteorological data were collected and processed to extract a panel of variables that were potentially related to An. darlingi ecology. Based on these data, a robust methodology was formed to estimate a statistical predictive model of the spatial-temporal variations in the densities of An. darlingi in Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock. The final cross-validated model integrated two landscape variables—dense forest surface and built surface—together with four meteorological variables related to rainfall, evapotranspiration, and the minimal and maximal temperatures. Extrapolation of the model allowed the generation of predictive weekly maps of An. darlingi densities at a resolution of 10-m. Our results supported the use of satellite imagery and meteorological data to predict malaria vector densities. Such fine-scale modeling approach might be a useful tool for health authorities to plan control strategies and social communication in a cost-effective, targeted, and timely manner.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01383486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01383486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01383486/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01383486/file/Adde_et_al_PlosONE_2016.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0164685