10.6084/m9.figshare.7942373.v1 Renata Bortolasse Miguel Renata Bortolasse Miguel Hermano Gomes Albuquerque Hermano Gomes Albuquerque Maria Carmen Arroyo Sanchez Maria Carmen Arroyo Sanchez José Rodrigues Coura José Rodrigues Coura Simone da Silva Santos Simone da Silva Santos Sidnei da Silva Sidnei da Silva Carlos José de Carvalho Moreira Carlos José de Carvalho Moreira Martha Cecilia Suárez-Mutis Martha Cecilia Suárez-Mutis Asymptomatic Plasmodium infection in a residual malaria transmission area in the Atlantic Forest region: Implications for elimination SciELO journals 2019 Malaria Plasmodium infection Extra-Amazonian region Elimination Rio de Janeiro State. 2019-04-03 02:52:54 Dataset https://scielo.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Asymptomatic_Plasmodium_infection_in_a_residual_malaria_transmission_area_in_the_Atlantic_Forest_region_Implications_for_elimination/7942373 <div><p>Abstract INTRODUCTION: Elimination of malaria in areas of interrupted transmission warrants careful case assessment to avoid the reintroduction of this disease. Occasional malaria cases are reported among visitors of the Atlantic Forest area of Brazil, while data on residents of this area are scarce. METHODS: A sectional study was carried out to examine 324 individuals living in a municipality where autochthonous cases were detected. RESULTS: Asymptomatic Plasmodium infections were detected in 2.8% of the individuals by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with one case of P. falciparum (0.3%), two cases of P. vivax (0.6%), and six cases of P. malariae (1.9%). The thick blood smears were negative in all individuals. Serological tests performed in 314 subjects were reactive in 11.1%, with 3.5% for P. falciparum and 7.7% for P. vivax. A subsample of 42 reactive individuals for any Plasmodium species showed P. malariae in 30.9% of specimens. Individuals who entered the Atlantic Forest region were 2.7 times more likely to exhibit reactive serology for P. vivax compared with individuals who did not enter this region (p<0.05). Children <15 years had a higher chance of reactive serology for P. falciparum and P. vivax than individuals ≥15 years of age (p<0.05). Individuals living in the Paraiso district had a higher chance of reactive serology for P. vivax compared to other districts (p<0.05). No associations were found between sex, past exposure to malaria, or serological response to antibodies of any Plasmodium species. CONCLUSIONS: The implications of these results for the elimination of malaria were discussed.</p></div>