Overview

This report summarizes the findings and conclusions of a virtual meeting on the methodology to distinguish reinfection from recrudescence in high malaria transmission. The consultation examined evidence around changes in the genetic markers used to determine the relatedness of initial and recurrent parasites, as well as the algorithms used to analyse these markers to classify recurrences as either a recrudescence or reinfection. In particular, the panel examined the applicability of recent advances in genotyping and analysis. The meeting focused on areas of high transmission in Africa because the high multiplicity of infection and high reinfection rates in such areas complicate the discrimination of recrudescence from reinfection.