When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites
Abstract Several malaria control measures aim to reduce infection levels in mosquitoes, and evaluation of these measures usually relies on experimental infections of mosquitoes or evaluation in field populations. Both require robust statistical tools to account for multiple variables and non-normal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
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| Series: | Parasitology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100541/type/journal_article |
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| author | Prince Chigozirim Ubiaru Lisa C. Ranford-Cartwright |
| author_facet | Prince Chigozirim Ubiaru Lisa C. Ranford-Cartwright |
| author_sort | Prince Chigozirim Ubiaru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Several malaria control measures aim to reduce infection levels in mosquitoes, and evaluation of these measures usually relies on experimental infections of mosquitoes or evaluation in field populations. Both require robust statistical tools to account for multiple variables and non-normal distributions of parasites in the vector host. We argue that a well-chosen generalized linear or mixed model is the most appropriate statistical tool for analysing and interpreting these biological data. We suggest specific methods to overcome datasets where some groups have zero/close to zero prevalence, or many zero counts of parasite numbers (as would be seen with an effective transmission blocking intervention). These methods are more broadly applicable across many parasitic infections with similar patterns of parasite numbers across hosts.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23c9dfb612d645df96caa9de6e79079d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
| language | English |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj-art-23c9dfb612d645df96caa9de6e79079d2025-08-20T03:58:44ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-81611910.1017/S0031182025100541When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasitesPrince Chigozirim Ubiaru0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2360-8855Lisa C. Ranford-Cartwright1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1992-3940School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UKSchool of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UKAbstract Several malaria control measures aim to reduce infection levels in mosquitoes, and evaluation of these measures usually relies on experimental infections of mosquitoes or evaluation in field populations. Both require robust statistical tools to account for multiple variables and non-normal distributions of parasites in the vector host. We argue that a well-chosen generalized linear or mixed model is the most appropriate statistical tool for analysing and interpreting these biological data. We suggest specific methods to overcome datasets where some groups have zero/close to zero prevalence, or many zero counts of parasite numbers (as would be seen with an effective transmission blocking intervention). These methods are more broadly applicable across many parasitic infections with similar patterns of parasite numbers across hosts. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100541/type/journal_articleglminfection prevalencelogistfmalariamosquito infectionoocyst intensity |
| spellingShingle | Prince Chigozirim Ubiaru Lisa C. Ranford-Cartwright When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites Parasitology glm infection prevalence logistf malaria mosquito infection oocyst intensity |
| title | When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites |
| title_full | When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites |
| title_fullStr | When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites |
| title_full_unstemmed | When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites |
| title_short | When a mean can be meaningless: evaluating mosquito infections with Plasmodium parasites |
| title_sort | when a mean can be meaningless evaluating mosquito infections with plasmodium parasites |
| topic | glm infection prevalence logistf malaria mosquito infection oocyst intensity |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100541/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT princechigozirimubiaru whenameancanbemeaninglessevaluatingmosquitoinfectionswithplasmodiumparasites AT lisacranfordcartwright whenameancanbemeaninglessevaluatingmosquitoinfectionswithplasmodiumparasites |