Plasmodium vivax molecular surveillance with Pv Ampliseq assay

Genetic surveillance tools are increasingly recognized for their potential to address specific elimination challenges for the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. To better support national malaria control program priorities, use cases have been defined creating scenarios where genetic epidemiology can help inform decision-making, aligning multiple scientific fields to develop and best implement new technologies.We developed the Pv AmpliSeq assay, which is the first of its kind for highly-multiplexed genetic surveillance of P. vivax. The novelty and strength lies in the many markers that are targeted at once, making it suitable for many use cases. The Pv AmpliSeq assay was validated using isolates from travelers and migrants and surveillance sites in Vietnam. Our approach was able to geographically differentiate isolates at multiple spatial scales and detect variants in resistance genes. We aim to make this tool available to researchers in endemic countries to increase ownership and ensure better data usage for decision-making and more effective malaria policy.