Converging Human and Malaria Vector Diagnostics with Data Management towards an Integrated Holistic One Health Approach

Konstantinos Mitsakakis, Sebastian Hin, Pie Müller, Nadja Wipf, Edward Thomsen, Michael Coleman, Roland Zengerle, John Vontas and Konstantinos Mavridis
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Konstantinos Mitsakakis: Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Sebastian Hin: Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Pie Müller: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, PO Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Nadja Wipf: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, PO Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Edward Thomsen: Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
Michael Coleman: Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
Roland Zengerle: Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
John Vontas: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
Konstantinos Mavridis: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-26

Abstract: Monitoring malaria prevalence in humans, as well as vector populations, for the presence of Plasmodium , is an integral component of effective malaria control, and eventually, elimination. In the field of human diagnostics, a major challenge is the ability to define, precisely, the causative agent of fever, thereby differentiating among several candidate (also non-malaria) febrile diseases. This requires genetic-based pathogen identification and multiplexed analysis, which, in combination, are hardly provided by the current gold standard diagnostic tools. In the field of vectors, an essential component of control programs is the detection of Plasmodium species within its mosquito vectors, particularly in the salivary glands, where the infective sporozoites reside. In addition, the identification of species composition and insecticide resistance alleles within vector populations is a primary task in routine monitoring activities, aiming to support control efforts. In this context, the use of converging diagnostics is highly desirable for providing comprehensive information, including differential fever diagnosis in humans, and mosquito species composition, infection status, and resistance to insecticides of vectors. Nevertheless, the two fields of human diagnostics and vector control are rarely combined, both at the diagnostic and at the data management end, resulting in fragmented data and mis- or non-communication between various stakeholders. To this direction, molecular technologies, their integration in automated platforms, and the co-assessment of data from multiple diagnostic sources through information and communication technologies are possible pathways towards a unified human vector approach.

Keywords: diagnostics (Dx); epidemics; information and communication technologies (ICT); insecticide resistance; malaria; One Health; vector-borne diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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