Malaria-related anaemia: a Latin American perspective

Malaria remains a major global health challenge, with notable differences in disease impact and anaemia prevalence between Africa and Latin America. Malaria causes approximately 225 million clinical cases annually worldwide, primarily affecting children, pregnant women, and non-immune adults. While Africa bears the heaviest burden—especially from Plasmodium falciparum, with anaemia causing about half of malaria-related deaths—Latin America, where Plasmodium vivax predominates, reports fewer cases and less malaria-associated anaemia. This difference may stem from lower transmission rates, varying parasite biology, and better healthcare access in Latin America. The review explores existing literature and highlights the value of animal models, including New World monkeys, to better understand malaria-related anaemia’s pathogenesis in the region.