Real-time Malaria Detection in the Amazon Rainforest via Drone-Collected eDNA and Portable qPCR

Abstract

Emerging zoonotic parasites such as Plasmodium spp. in remote ecosystems demand rapid, field-deployable surveillance. We developed a drone-based environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling approach integrated with a portable quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for in situ detection of Plasmodium DNA. Field trials confirmed malaria parasite DNA in canopy swabs, coinciding spatially with acoustic detection of howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.), suspected reservoir hosts. No Anopheles mosquitoes were captured in simultaneously deployed insect traps. The end-to-end workflow, from drone deployment to diagnostic readout, averaged 1.5 hours per assay, required only basic mobile-laboratory infrastructure, and bypassed cold-chain logistics. This rapid, non-invasive method delivers actionable surveillance data in real-time, enabling near-real-time trigger points for vector-control interventions and clinical response in remote settings. By merging environmental genomics with portable diagnostics, we establish a scalable One Health framework adaptable to diverse vector-borne parasites and ecosystems, with potential for early detection and spillover risk mitigation in under-monitored, high-risk environments.