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Review
. 2020 Jun;36(6):560-570.
doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.03.009. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Plasmodium vivax in the Era of the Shrinking P. falciparum Map

Ric N Price  1 , Robert J Commons  2 , Katherine E Battle  3 , Kamala Thriemer  4 , Kamini Mendis  5
Affiliations
Review

Plasmodium vivax in the Era of the Shrinking P. falciparum Map

Ric N Price et al. Trends Parasitol. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax is an important cause of malaria, associated with a significant public health burden. Whilst enhanced malaria-control activities have successfully reduced the incidence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in many areas, there has been a consistent increase in the proportion of malaria due to P. vivax in regions where both parasites coexist. This article reviews the epidemiology and biology of P. vivax, how the parasite differs from P. falciparum, and the key features that render it more difficult to control and eliminate. Since transmission of the parasite is driven largely by relapses from dormant liver stages, its timely elimination will require widespread access to safe and effective radical cure.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; epidemiology; primaquine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The Incidence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Malaria in 2017.
P. falciparum (A) and P. vivax (B) data from [1,77] with permission.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Proportion of Malaria Due to Plasmodium vivax by Country Grouped by World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office.
Numbers above columns represent the mean estimated cases in each country in 2017. Data extracted from post hoc estimates from [1] with permission, and available at https://malariaatlas.org/trends/region. Abbreviations: AFRO, Africa regional office; EMRO, Eastern Mediterranean regional office; PAHO, Pan American Health Organization; SEARO, South East Asia regional office; WPRO, West Pacific regional office.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Variation in the Proportion of Malaria Cases Due to Plasmodium vivax Compared with the Annual Incidence of Malaria.
The proportion of malaria due to P. vivax is highest in areas with a low malaria prevalence. Figure extracted, with permission, from [2]. The data points are colour-coded and shaped by region. The percentage of P. vivax for each country is derived from cases reported by the countries to the World Health Organization.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Rising Proportion of Malaria Due to Plasmodium vivax(Pv) Following Enhanced Malaria-Control Activities for Plasmodium falciparum.
(A) Thailand [13], (B) Papua, Indonesia [35], (C) Brazil [33], and (D) Columbia [34].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Howes RE, et al. Global epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016;95:15–34. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mendis K, et al. The neglected burden of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001;64:97–106. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. World Malaria Report: 2013. WHO; 2013.
    1. Gunalan K, et al. Plasmodium vivax infections of Duffynegative erythrocytes: historically undetected or a recent adaptation? Trends Parasitol. 2018;34:420–429. - PMC - PubMed

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