Faculty of Science

Objectives

The course aims at presenting to students the important components for reducing the burden of malaria morbidity and mortality including more sensitive diagnostic tools such as effective use of anti-malarial drugs and improved personal protection and mosquito control.

Contents

Epidemiology of Malaria

Level of endemicities of P. falciparum transmission ad implications for malaria control and elimination; Urban, semi-urban and rural malaria; Influence of altitude on the malaria endemicity, Efficacy and safety of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants and pregnant women; Relationship between the entomologic inoculation rate and the force of infection for malaria parasite; Mosquito behaviour and vector control; Update on resistance status of Malaria vectors; Advantages and limitations of transgenic vector control, sterile males versus gene drivers; Trial with malaria vaccine in children

Malaria Diagnosis

Clinical presumptive diagnosis; Rapid Diagnosis test; Laboratory diagnosis: Direct methods: Light microscopic observation; Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC ®) and the direct acridine orange staining; DNA probes and Polymerase Chain Reaction; Detection of P. falciparum antigen; indirect diagnosis (immunodiagnosis, Detection of Plasmodia specific antibodies, Application of immunological methods- Diagnosis of clinical attacks- Epidemiological studies- Donor blood screening)

Malaria Chemotherapeutic treatment:

Treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria; treatment of severe P. falciparum malaria; Treatment of malaria caused by P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae

Mixed malaria infections; Complex emergencies and epidemics; Case management in the context of malaria elimination; Use of gametocytocidal drugs to reduce transmission; Mass screening and treatment; Mass drug administration. Resistance to anti malarial medicine

Insecticide treated nets and malaria prevention:

Efficacy studies; Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies, Risk assessment, Monitoring and Impact of Insecticide Resistance, Evolution of ITN Policy; Evolution of ITN Delivery strategies; Technological advances