Non-human primate malaria in the travelers who returned back from Thailand, 2008–2019

Authors

  • Phatcharida Hongchan Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
  • Teerasak Chuxnum Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health

Keywords:

Malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium cynomolgi, traveler

Abstract

Background: Thailand IHR National Focal Point had been notified the Non-human primate malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, in the travelers who returned back from Thailand since 2008.
Method: A descriptive epidemiological study based on the reports from IHR National Focal Point and international publications of P. knowlesi and P. cynomolgi cases in tourists who have a travelling history from Thailand between 2008–2019.
Results: From 2008–2019, there were 10 non-human primate malaria cases (9 P. knowlesi cases and a P. cynomolgi case) in the travelers. Most of them were male (70%) and 7 German nationalities, median of age 47 years old. Most of the travelers who infected with P. knowlesi had a fever or high fever 100% and chills 67% respectively. There were 2 cases kidney failure and 1 acute respiratory syndrome complications. Ranong was the most favorite travelers’ destination (70%). Forty percent of the travelers reported that they found many monkeys at liberty around their residential areas.
Conclusion: Gender and age might be the factors in the ecotourism activities. High-risk areas were including: Koh Chang in Ranong and Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani. The natural monkey inhabitant around the residential areas near the forest would increase a chance of disease transmission between monkey-anopheles-human. Thailand should screen for non-human primate malaria and exchange information among relevant agencies and neighboring countries. The risk communication should be sent to eco-tourists to prevent mosquito bites and monitor the symptoms after returning from the risk areas.

References

Lee KS, Vythilingam I. Plasmodium knowlesi: Emergent human malaria in Southeast Asia. In: Lim YAL, Vythilingam I, editors. Parasites and their vectors: a special focus on Southeast Asia. Vienna: Springer; 2013. pp. 5-31.

Ta TH, Hisam S, Lanza M, Jiram AI, Ismail N, Rubio JM. First case of a naturally acquired human infection with Plasmodium cynomolgi. Malar J. 2014 Feb 24; 13: 68. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-68.

Ta TT, Salas A, Ali-Tammam M, Martínez M del C, Lanza M, Arroyo E, Rubio JM. First case of detection of Plasmodium knowlesi in Spain by real time PCR in a traveller from Southeast Asia. Malar J. 2010 Jul 27; 9: 219. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-219.

Berry A, Iriart X, Wilhelm N, Valentin A, Cassaing S, Witkowski B, et al. Imported Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in a French tourist returning from Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Apr; 84(4): 535-8.

Ehrhardt J, Trein A, Kremsner P, Frank M. Plasmodium knowlesi and HIV co-infection in a German traveller to Thailand. Malar J. 2013 Aug 13; 12:283. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-283.

Orth H, Jensen BO, Holtfreter MC, Kocheril SJ, Mallach S, MacKenzie C, et al. Plasmodium knowlesi infection imported to Germany, January 2013. Euro Surveill. 2013 Oct 3; 18(40). pii: 20603.

Seilmaier M, Hartmann W, Beissner M, Fenzl T, Haller C, Guggemos W, et al. Severe Plasmodium knowlesi infection with multi-organ failure imported to Germany from Thailand/Myanmar. Malar J. 2014 Nov 4; 13:422. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-422.

Kroidl I, Seilmaier M, Berens-Riha N, Bretzel G, Wendtner C, Löscher T. Monkey malaria (Plasmodium knowlesi infection) after travelling to Thailand. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2015 May; 140 (11): 815-7. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-101378. [Article in German]

Mackroth MS, Tappe D, Tannich E, Addo M, Rothe C. Rapid-Antigen Test Negative Malaria in a traveller returning rrom Thailand, molecularly diagnosed as Plasmodium knowlesi. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2016 Mar 21; 3(1): ofw039. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofw039.

Froeschl G, Beissner M, Huber K, Bretzel G, Hoelscher M, Rothe C. Plasmodium knowlesi infection in a returning German traveller from Thailand: a case report on an emerging malaria pathogen in a popular low-risk travel destination. BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Apr 2; 18(1): 148.

Hartmeyer GN, Stensvold CR, Fabricius T, Marmolin ES, Hoegh SV, Nielsen HV, et al. Plasmodium cynomolgi as cause of Malaria in tourist to Southeast Asia, 2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Oct; 25(10): 1936–9.

ProMED-mail. Malaria, P. knowlesi–Thailand: (RY) Little Koh Chang Island. [cited 2002 Feb 14]. ProMEDmail 2020; 1 Feb: 20200201.6942867.

Sermwittayawong N, Singh B, Nishibuchi M, Sawangjaroen N, Vuddhakul V. Human Plasmodium knowlesi infection in Ranong province, southwestern border of Thailand. Malar J. 2012 Feb 8;11:36. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-36.

Ngernna S, Rachaphaew N, Thammapalo S, Prikchoo P, Kaewnah O, Manopwisedjaroen K, et al. Case report: case series of human Plasmodium knowlesi infection on the Southern border of Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Dec; 101(6): 1397-1401.

Grignard L, Shah S, Chua TH, William T, Drakeley CJ, Fornace KM. Natural Human Infections With Plasmodium cynomolgi and Other Malaria Species in an Elimination Setting in Sabah, Malaysia. J Infect Dis. 2019 Dec 15; 220(12): 1946–9.

Imwong M, Madmanee W, Suwannasin K, Kunasol C, Peto TJ, Tripura R, et al. Asymptomatic Natural Human Infections With the Simian Malaria Parasites Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium knowlesi. J Infect Dis. 2019 Mar 1; 219(5): 695–702.

Singh B, Sung LM, Matusop A, Radhakrishnan A, Shamsul SSG, Cox-Singh J, et al. A large focus of naturally acquired Plasmodium knowlesi infections in human beings. Lancet. 2004 Mar 27; 363(9414): 1017-24.

จิตติ จันทรมงคล, สมพาส แดงมณีกุล, โรม บัวทอง. การ สอบสวนการเสียชีวิตจากเชื้อ Plasmidium knowlesi อำเภอเบตง จังหวัดยะลา เดือนเมษายน 2559. รายงานการเฝ้าระวัง ทางระบาดวิทยาประจำสัปดาห์. 2560; 48(1): 1-7.

วรรณภา สุวรรณเกิด. ยุงก้นปล้องพาหะโรคมาลาเรีย. ใน: อุ ษาวดี ถาวระ. บรรณาธิการ. ชีววิทยา นิเวศวิทยา และการควบคุมยุงในประเทศไทย. พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 4. นนทบุรี: สถาบันวิจัย วิทยาศาสตร์สาธารณสุข กรมวิทยาศาสตร์การแพทย์ กระทรวง สาธารณสุข; 2553. หน้า 74-90.

จตุรงค์ พุทธพรทิพย์. มาลาเรียของลิงมาแคกในประเทศไทย: ระบาดวิทยาระดับโมเลกุล โครงสร้างประชากร สายใย พันธุกรรม และวิวัฒนาการ. กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักงานกองทุน สนับสนุนการวิจัย; 2553.

Downloads

Published

2024-04-27

How to Cite

Hongchan, P., & Chuxnum, T. (2024). Non-human primate malaria in the travelers who returned back from Thailand, 2008–2019. Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report, 51(4), 53–59. retrieved from https://he05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/WESR/article/view/1523

Issue

Section

Original article