Can Mixed Parasite Infections Thwart Targeted Malaria Elimination Program in India?

Figure 2

Distributional prevalence of the two less prevalent malaria parasites (P. malariae and P. ovale) in India. (a) To be noted is that P. malariae has been able to expand its range in almost all endemic locations in India, primarily as mixed infection with other species and principally in coinfection with P. falciparum. Odisha serves as the epicentre of every combination of diversity of coinfection by P. malariae with four other species of Plasmodium in India. (b) In contrast to P. malariae, P. ovale still has a very limited distribution, its capacity to coinfect with P. falciparum has helped in expanding its range in four different Indian states.

(a)

(b)