Article Category:
Research Article

Assessment of Health Status and Creation of a Registry of Potential Research Participants Aged 1.5 to 50 Years on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

María Silvia Angué López Mikue Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by María Silvia Angué López Mikue in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Said Abdallah Jongo MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Said Abdallah Jongo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Vicente Urbano Nsue Ndong Nchama Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Vicente Urbano Nsue Ndong Nchama in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ali Hamad Said MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Ali Hamad Said in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ali Mtoro MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Ali Mtoro in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Gertrudis Owono Bidjimi Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Gertrudis Owono Bidjimi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Marta Alene Owono Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Marta Alene Owono in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Escolastica Raquel Mansogo Maye Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Escolastica Raquel Mansogo Maye in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Martin Eká Ondo Mangue Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Martin Eká Ondo Mangue in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Genaro Nsue Nguema Okomo Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Genaro Nsue Nguema Okomo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Beltrán Ekua Ntutumu Pasialo Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Beltrán Ekua Ntutumu Pasialo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Dolores Mbang Ondo Mandumbi Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Dolores Mbang Ondo Mandumbi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Fortunata Lobede Mochomuemue Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Fortunata Lobede Mochomuemue in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Juan Carlos Momo Besaha Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Juan Carlos Momo Besaha in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Raul Chuquiyauri MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Hospital Regional de Loreto, Loreto, Perú;

Search for other papers by Raul Chuquiyauri in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Kamaka R. Kassim MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Kamaka R. Kassim in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ali Mohamed Ali Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Ali Mohamed Ali in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ummi Abdul Kibondo Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Ummi Abdul Kibondo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Thabit Athuman Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Thabit Athuman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Carlos Cortez Falla MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Carlos Cortez Falla in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Jeremías Nzamio Mba Eyono MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Jeremías Nzamio Mba Eyono in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Jordan Michael Smith MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Jordan Michael Smith in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Guillermo A. García MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by Guillermo A. García in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
José Raso Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;

Search for other papers by José Raso in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Elizabeth Nyakarungu MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, Maryland;
Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Elizabeth Nyakarungu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Maxmillian Mpina Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland;
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;

Search for other papers by Maxmillian Mpina in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Claudia Daubenberger Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland;
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;

Search for other papers by Claudia Daubenberger in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Mathilde Riloha Rivas Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;

Search for other papers by Mathilde Riloha Rivas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Tobias Schindler Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland;
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;

Search for other papers by Tobias Schindler in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Laurence Lemiale Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by Laurence Lemiale in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
B. Kim Lee Sim Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by B. Kim Lee Sim in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Marcel Tanner Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland;
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;

Search for other papers by Marcel Tanner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
L. W. Preston Church Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by L. W. Preston Church in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Peter F. Billingsley Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by Peter F. Billingsley in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Stephen L. Hoffman Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by Stephen L. Hoffman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Thomas L. Richie Sanaria Inc, Rockville, Maryland

Search for other papers by Thomas L. Richie in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Salim Abdulla Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania;

Search for other papers by Salim Abdulla in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0143
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
Get Permissions

A malaria control program established in 2004 on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, achieved significant reductions in malaria prevalence; however, progress subsequently stalled, leading to a proposal to develop and implement a highly effective malaria vaccine to increase impact. After conducting clinical trials of Sanaria® (Rockville, MD) Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) sporozite vaccines against P. falciparum malaria, which demonstrated safety and efficacy, a larger phase 3 trial was planned to support vaccine licensure for specific target populations and eventual island-wide malaria elimination. The Equatorial Guinea Pilot Study for Recruitment, Screening and Participant Registry (EGRESPAR) assessed the health status of the target population and generated a registry of eligible children and adults. Households in areas with malaria prevalence ≥15% were randomly selected, aiming to register 2,100 healthy Equatoguineans divided equally into age groups of 1.5–9, 10–17, and 18–50 years. A total of 6,493 individuals from 1,807 households, who considered themselves or their children to be healthy, completed questionnaires; 2,021 were screened using phase 3 enrollment criteria, 643 were excluded, and 1,378 were entered into the registry. Among those screened, 13.6% had Plasmodium, 1.8% had Loa loa, 4.8% had hepatitis B, 0.5% had hepatitis C, and 2.1% had HIV. Adults were twice as likely to have clinically relevant medical conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, or diabetes, meeting exclusion criteria compared to children. In conclusion, there was a significant prevalence of infections and chronic medical conditions among Bioko Island residents who considered themselves or their children to be healthy and interested in clinical research participation, particularly in adults. The EGRESPAR successfully generated a registry to support the initiation of a large-scale phase 3 vaccine trial.

Author Notes

Financial support: The trial was funded by a public-private partnership, the Equatorial Guinea BIMEP, which is made up of the Government of Equatorial Guinea Ministries of Mines and Hydrocarbons, and Health and Social Welfare, as well as Marathon Equatorial Guinea Production Limited, Noble Energy, Atlantic Methanol Production Company, and the Equatorial Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Company.

Disclosures: S. L. Hofman is the founder, principal shareholder, and CEO of Sanaria Inc. L. Lemiale, B. K. L. Sim, L. W. P. Church, P. F. Billingsley, and T. L. Richie were full-time employees of Sanaria Inc. at the time the study was conducted. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests or conflicts of interest. The EGRESPAR received approval from the Equatorial Guinea National Ethics Committee.36 The study was also approved by two IRBs from Tanzanian and Swiss collaborators, respectively: the Ifakara Health Institute IRB and the Ethics Committee of Northwest and Central Switzerland.

Current contact information: María Silvia Angué López Mikue, Vicente Urbano Nsue Ndong Nchama, Gertrudis Owono Bidjimi, Marta Alene Owono, Escolastica Raquel Mansogo Maye, Martin Eká Ondo Mangue, Genaro Nsue Nguema Okomo, Beltrán Ekua Ntutumu Pasialo, Dolores Mbang Ondo Mandumbi, Fortunata Lobede Mochomuemue, José Raso, and Mathilde Riloha Rivas, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea (EGMOHSW), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, E-mails: rusigr@live.com, viceurb2013@gmail.com, gertrudis.owono@gmail.com, owonoeyangmartaalene@gmail.com, mansogoe@gmail.com, drekaondo79@gmail.com, genarimetro@gmail.com, bekuapasialo123@gmail.com, doloresmbang1@yahoo.es, lobedefortunata2@gmail.com, jrasobi@yahoo.es, and mrriloha@gmail.com. Said Abdallah Jongo, Ali Hamad Said, Ali Mtoro, Kamaka R. Kassim, Ali Mohamed Ali, Ummi Abdul Kibondo, Thabit Athuman, Maxmillian Mpina, and Salim Abdulla, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania, E-mails: sjongo@ihi.or.tz, ahamad@ihi.or.tz, alimtoro@gmail.com, kramadhani@ihi.or.tz, aali@ihi.or.tz, uabdul@ihi.or.tz, tathuman@ihi.or.tz, mmpina@ihi.or.tz, and sabdulla@ihi.or.tz. Juan Carlos Momo Besaha, Jeremías Nzamio Mba Eyono, Jordan Michael Smith, and Elizabeth Nyakarungu, MCD Global Health, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, E-mails: jmomo@mcd.org, jnzamio@mcd.org, jmsmith@mcd.org, and enyakarungu@mcd.org. Raul Chuquiyauri, Peruvian Ministry of Health, Iquitos, Perú, E-mail: rachuqui@gmail.com. Carlos Cortez Falla, United Nations Development Program, Caracas, Venezuela, E-mail: carlos.falla@undp.org. Guillermo A. García, MCD Global Health, Silver Spring, MD, E-mail: ggarcia@mcd.org. Claudia Daubenberger, Tobias Schindler, and Marcel Tanner, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, E-mails: claudia.daubenberger@swisstph.ch, t.schindler@diaxxo.com, and marcel.tanner@swisstph.ch. Laurence Lemiale, B. Kim Lee Sim, Peter F. Billingsley, Stephen L. Hoffman, and Thomas L. Richie, Sanaria Inc. Rockville, MD, E-mails: llemiale@sanaria.com, ksim@sanaria.com, pbillingsley@sanaria.com, slhoffman@sanaria.com, and trichie@sanaria.com. L. W. Preston Church, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, E-mail: pchurch@fredhutch.org.

Address correspondence to Thomas L. Richie, Sanaria Inc, 9800 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD 20850. E-mail: trichie@sanaria.com
Copyright:
© The author(s) 2025
Received:
03 Mar 2024
|
Accepted:
10 Dec 2024
|
Published Online:
08 Apr 2025
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2152 2152 316
Full Text Views 43059 43059 43051
PDF Downloads 88 88 79
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save