Malaria Transmission Studies in Mali

Study Summary

Background: \- Malaria is an illness caused by a parasite spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites a person who is infected with a kind of parasite called a gametocyte, it is able to spread the infection to another person. Not everyone infected with parasites have gametocytes in their blood. As a result, not everyone can spread malaria to others. Researchers are interested in learning more about why some healthy people have gametocytes in their blood and others do not. Identifying the people who have gametocytes in their blood can help target treatment and reduce the spread of malaria. This study will focus on the people of the village of Kenieroba in Mali, where malaria is common. Objectives: \- To study the relationship between gametocytes and malaria transmission in Mali. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 6 months and 65 years of age who live in Kenieroba, Mali, and will stay in the area for 1 year. Design: * For 1 year, participants will have study visits once every 2 weeks (twice a month, for a total of 24 visits). The visits will last 30 minutes each. * At each visit, participants will provide a small blood sample. They will report any symptoms of malaria such as fever, headache, and body aches. Participants will be encouraged to seek medical treatment if they experience malaria symptoms between visits. * Participants who have malaria symptoms will have a blood test for malaria parasites. Those who have parasites in the blood will receive antimalarial treatment. * Three times over 1 year, a larger blood sample will be collected. These blood samples will be taken once in the dry season, once in the wet season, and once in the next dry season. * Women between 14 and 45 years of age will also provide urine samples to test for pregnancy. Pregnant women will not be asked to give blood samples.

Conditions Studied

Study Locations (1)