Lao – Japan lab / Parasitology 2023

Head of Laboratory.
Dr. Moritoshi Iwagami, PhD.
Email: .

The aims of the Parasitology Laboratory are to carry out research and training in the area of parasitology to better understand parasitic diseases affecting the Lao population to propose ways to mitigate possible infections and provide technical support to the national and sub-level institutions in the area of malaria and other parasitic diseases.

Executive summary.

In 2023, the Parasitology laboratory conducted five projects, namely, the Arboshield Plus project, the Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Efficacy Study, the LaoBiome project, the SATREPS project, and the ADB project.

In the Arboshield Plus project, on-the-job parasitology training for two Lao military personnel was conducted for capacity development. For quality assurance of malaria diagnosis, 166 dried blood samples collected from malaria-suspected patients in selected military hospitals were sent to Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL) and malaria PCR was performed in 2023. All the samples were malaria parasite DNA negative by real-time PCR for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax). Malaria prevalence among the Lao military personnel drastically decreased.

The objective of the Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Efficacy Study is to monitor the efficacy of antimalarial drugs in malaria endemic areas in Lao PDR. Live P. falciparum samples were collected from falciparum malaria patients at some selected district hospitals in Savannakhet, Sekong and Attapeu provinces. Then, the live P. falciparum samples were sent to IPL and preserved in liquid nitrogen. Ten cryopreserved P. falciparum samples (2 samples were from treatment failure cases and 8 samples were from normal cases as a control) were sent to Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) with dry ice to analyze molecular marker(s) of lumefantrine resistance and some other genome analyses. The analyses are undergoing at IPC.

Infection by intestinal parasites was examined by formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) at IPL.

The objectives of the SATREPS project are to accelerate malaria elimination, schistosomiasis (blood fluke) elimination and opisthorchiasis (Liver fluke) control by developing effective testing and infection prevention technologies, improving surveillance systems using communication technologies, and Ecohealth education. For starting the SATREPS project, the Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) between IPL and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), Japan was signed by Dr. Paul Brey, director of IPL, and Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, president of NCGM in March 2023. The Record of Discussion (RD) of the SATREPS project was also signed by Dr. Virasack Banouvong, director of the Center of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE) and Mr. Toshio Nagase, chief representative of JICA Laos office in March 2023. JICA’s part of the project started at the end of August 2023. During the last trimester of 2023, various preparatory activities of the project were initiated (ethical clearance process, procurement of equipment, epidemiological information gathering, establishment of detailed research plans with the Lao and Japanese partners, etc.).

The ADB project aims to understand the current health status of adult populations in the poorest villages in Lao PDR and to develop effective strategies to reduce the burden of malnutrition and parasitic diseases and improve their hygiene conditions. The first field survey was conducted in June 2023 in Nong district, Savannakhet. The participants were divided into two groups: the intervention group (n=196) and the control group (n=168). A short health education animation on nutrition, parasitic disease and hygiene was shown to the intervention group only. A total of 364 adults participated in the survey. Most of the participants answered that they were always ill (80%), infected with intestinal helminth (> 70%) and suffering from anemia (>50%). The second survey was conducted in December 2023 to compare the differences between the two groups.

Plain language summary.

In 2023, the Parasitology laboratory conducted 5 projects: Arboshield Plus project, Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Efficacy Study, LaoBiome project, SATREPS project, and ADB project.

The Arboshield Plus project aims to improve the capacity of the medical sector of the Lao Ministry of Defense. The roles of the Parasitology laboratory in the project are to improve malaria diagnosis in some selected military hospitals and to provide on-the-job training of parasitology for Lao military personnel. In 2023, a total of 166 blood samples collected from malaria suspected patients in military hospitals were sent to Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL) and malaria PCR was performed. All the samples tested negative for malaria. The number of Malaria cases among the Lao military personnel drastically decreased.

The Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Efficacy Study aims to evaluate the efficacy of malaria drugs in Lao PDR. Live malignant malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) samples were collected from malaria patients at some selected district hospitals in Savannakhet, Sekong and Attapeu provinces. Ten frozen samples were sent to Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) to analyze drug resistant markers. The analyses are undergoing at IPC.

The LaoBiome project aims to examine the efficacy of probiotic supplements to infants and young children (6-23 months of age) for one year.

The objectives of the SATREPS project are to accelerate malaria elimination, blood fluke elimination and liver fluke control by the development of effective testing and infection prevention technologies, improvement of surveillance systems using satellite-mobile phones, and health education.

The ADB project aims to understand the current health status of adult populations in the poorest villages in Lao PDR and to develop effective strategies to reduce the burden of malnutrition and parasitic diseases and improve their hygiene conditions. The first field survey was conducted in June 2023 in Nong district, Savannakhet.

Team:

Senior Consultant.
Dr. Shigeyuki Kano, MD, PhD.

Scientists.
Dr. Phonepadith Khattignavong, MD.

Junior scientist.
Dr. Phoyphaylinh Prasayasith, MD.

Laboratory technician.
Mrs. Pheovaly Soundala.
Mrs. Sonesimmaly Sannikone.

Trainee (Arboshield project).
Mrs. Souphanick Phomeexay.
Mr. Khamphout Vorlasuk.
Trainee (National University of Laos).
Mrs. Siliphone Souvannavong.

Trainee (CMPE).
Mrs. Phinnakone Rathsachack.
Mrs. Manysack Phommasansack.

Project carried on in the lab:

+Arboshield Plus.
+Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Efficacy Study.
+LaoBiome.
+SATREPS.
+The effectiveness of a short health education animation for improving nutrition intake in indigenous couples: a cluster randomized controlled trial.