Asymptomatic parasitaemia in a malaria pre-elimination setting in the Putumayo area of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin
Molecular surveillance revealed a low-density, asymptomatic malaria reservoir missed entirely by RDTs, and partially by microscopy. This hidden burden represents a critical blind spot for Ecuador's elimination program. To achieve and sustain elimination, surveillance in such border regions must incorporate highly sensitive molecular tools and be supported by robust cross-border collaboration.
Authors
- Sandra Menting
- Thomas Hänscheid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6353-9132)
- Jacob van der Ende
- Fabián E. Saénz
- Henk D. F. H. Schallig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7096-6279)
- Marcela Fabiana Dávila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6346-8327)
- Martin P. Grobusch
Institutions
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (EC)
- Centre de Recherche Médicales de Lambaréné (GA)
- Hospital de Egas Moniz (PT)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (NL)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Fundación Para La Investigación Y Gestión En Servicios de Salud (EC)
- Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SL)
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (EC)
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Malaria Journal
- Published
- 2025-12-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05740-9
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Malaria Research and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.88