Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Plasmodium knowlesi Infection in Peninsular Malaysia, 2011 to 2018

Wei Kit Phang, Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid, Jenarun Jelip, Rose Nani Mudin, Ting-Wu Chuang, Yee Ling Lau and Mun Yik Fong
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Wei Kit Phang: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid: Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62000, Malaysia
Jenarun Jelip: Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62000, Malaysia
Rose Nani Mudin: Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62000, Malaysia
Ting-Wu Chuang: Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Yee Ling Lau: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Mun Yik Fong: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: The life-threatening zoonotic malaria cases caused by Plasmodium knowlesi in Malaysia has recently been reported to be the highest among all malaria cases; however, previous studies have mainly focused on the transmission of P. knowlesi in Malaysian Borneo (East Malaysia). This study aimed to describe the transmission patterns of P. knowlesi infection in Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia). The spatial distribution of P. knowlesi was mapped across Peninsular Malaysia using Geographic Information System techniques. Local indicators of spatial associations were used to evaluate spatial patterns of P. knowlesi incidence. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models were utilized to analyze the monthly incidence of knowlesi malaria in the hotspot region from 2012 to 2017 and to forecast subsequent incidence in 2018. Spatial analysis revealed that hotspots were clustered in the central-northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Time series analysis revealed the strong seasonality of transmission from January to March. This study provides fundamental information on the spatial distribution and temporal dynamic of P. knowlesi in Peninsular Malaysia from 2011 to 2018. Current control policy should consider different strategies to prevent the transmission of both human and zoonotic malaria, particularly in the hotspot region, to ensure a successful elimination of malaria in the future.

Keywords: spatial analysis; time series analysis; demography; malaria; Plasmodium knowlesi; Peninsular Malaysia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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