ABSTRACT
Aim:The aim of this study was to describe temperature, precipitation pattern and the occurrence of maternal urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) in Munyenge in 2017. Study Design:It was a twelve-month cross-sectional study.Study Site and Duration:The study was carried out in Munyenge from January to December 2017. Materials and Methods:Volunteer pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic were enrolled consecutively on a monthly basis from January to December 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic data and water contact behaviour. Urine samples were analysed for presence of microhaematuria and/or Schistosoma haematobiumova using filtration method. Monthly land surface temperature (LST) and precipitation were sourced from MODIS and CHIRPS satellite data respectively. Statistical analyses performed were analysis of variance, student t-test and correlation analysis. Results:The mean annual temperature was 27.18 ± 0.74°C. Monthly temperatures were fairly constant (range: 26.12 to 28.82°C). Precipitation varied greatly(range: 0.26 -12.75mm) with a mean of 6.58 ± 4.5mm. A marginal negative correlation (r = -0.586; P= .04) was observed between stream usage and precipitation where stream usage reduced with increase in precipitation. Generally, there was high dependence on the stream as source of water (60.9 -90.6%) in the study area. Dependency on the stream was associated (r = 0.603; P= .03) with domestic and bathing activities. The annual prevalence of maternal UGS was 24.1% (77/320) with a high occurrence during the rainy season (16.6%; 53/320) than the dry season (7.5%; 24/320) but the difference was not significant (χ2= 2.26; P= .13). There was no significant difference between months. Conclusion:Our findings show no seasonal variation in the occurrence of maternal UGS in Munyenge. Transmission of infection may be perennia
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Aim: This work was aimed at determining the influence of nutritional status on physical aptitudes and cardiovascular profiles of children in rural and urban areas of North Cameroon. Experimental Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Cameroon from February to March 2014. Methodology: Overall, 633 children aged 6-17 years were enrolled into the study. Demographic information was recorded. Weight, height, cardiovascular profiles [heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP)] and physical aptitudes [six minutes walk (6MWT), broad jump (BJ), 30 m dash] were evaluated. Results: Prevalence values of malnutrition and hypertension were 3.3% and 0.31% respectively. HR was significantly higher in males (P<0.001), children aged 6-10 years (P=0.001) and those from urban areas (P<0.001) when compared with their respective counterparts. DBP was significantly higher in children aged >10years (P=0.01) and normonourished children (P=0.014) than their respective counterparts. SBP was higher in children aged >10 years than those aged 6-10 years and the difference was significant (P<0.001). The mean 6MWT and mean BJ were significantly higher (P<0.001) in children aged >10 years and those from rural areas (P<0.001) than their respective counterparts. The mean time taken to do the 30 m dash was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in children from rural areas (6.15±0.06 sec), than those from urban areas (5.86±0.22 sec). There was a negative correlation between the HR and mean BJ (P<0.001), HR and mean 6MWT (P <0.001), SBP and mean time for 30 m dash (P <0.001), DBP and 30 m dash (P<0.001) in the normonourished children. There was a positive correlation between HR and 30 m dash (P<0.001), SBP and BJ (P<0.001) as well as DBP and BJ (P<0.001) in normonourished children. Conclusion: A weak correlation was registered between the nutritional status, physical and cardiovascular parameters of the school children.
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Introduction/Aim: Malaria is a major public health problem and can lead to fatal consequences within few days if not diagnosed and promptly treated. The aim of this study was to determine the malaria parasite prevalence and assess the performance characteristics of the Partec CyScope® rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in Tole. Experimental Design, Place and Duration of Study: The study was a cross-sectional survey, carried out in Tole, Southwest Cameroon in July 2014. Methodology: A total of 231 children were studied. Information on demographic data, temperature and malaria risk factors was recorded. Capillary blood was collected by finger pricking. Thick and thin blood films were prepared for malaria parasite detection and speciation. Ten μL of blood was added unto the DAPI coated slides and read under the Partec CyScope®. Haemoglobin values were determined. Results and Conclusion: The overall prevalences of malaria parasites, fever and anaemia were 66.2%, 35.9% and 86.6% respectively. Although not statistically significant, malaria parasite prevalence was highest in children aged 1 – 5 years, higher in females, those that had stagnant water and bushes around their homes as well as those who did not use insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticide residual spraying when compared with their respective counterparts. Overall geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was 3691 (range = 100 - 48000) parasites/μL of blood). GMPD was significantly higher (P = 0.03) in febrile than afebrile children. Prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in malaria positive (68.5%) than negative (45.2%) children. More cases of infections were detected by light microscopy than by Partec CyScope®. The sensitivities and specificities of Partec CyScope® were 87.6% (CI = 81.4-91.1%) and 94.9% (CI = 87.5-98.0%) respectively while the positive and negative predictive values were 97.1% and 79.6% respectively. Partec CyScope® can therefore be used for mass malaria surveillance.
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Aims: Malaria and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are parasitic diseases afflicting populations that are impoverished and malnourished. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of altitude and urbanisation on Co-infection of malaria and soil-transmitted helminths in Fako Division, South West Cameroon. Study Design/Place and Duration of Study: It was a cross-sectional survey carried out from 2012 to 2014 involving 1138 children aged 4 – 15 years in Fako Division. Methodology: Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic and socioeconomic data. Blood samples were collected by pricking the finger. Malaria parasite prevalence, density and species were determined from Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears respectively. Quantitative estimation of helminth eggs was done by Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Based on height above sea level (a.s.l.), the study sites were classified as Lowland (<200 m.a.s.l), Lower middle belt (>200 but ≤ 400 m.a.s.l), Upper middle belt (>400 but ≤600 m.a.s.l.) and Highland (>600 m.a.s.l). The study communities were also classified into rural, semiurban and urban areas. Results: The overall prevalence was 38.1% (433) for malaria, 2.5% (29) for STHs and 0.9% (10) for malaria-STH co-infection. The prevalence of malaria was significantly highest (χ2 = 84.6, P <0.001) in urban areas (52.2%, 263) than in the semi-urban (29.4%, 152) and rural areas (15.4%, 18). Malaria prevalence was significantly highest (χ2 = 123.4, P <0.001) at the lowest altitude (60.5%, 182) and decreased as altitude increased to a minimum of 15.4% (18) at highland (>600 m.a.s.l). Only two species of soil-transmitted STH [Ascaris lumbricoides (1.9%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.6%)] were found. The prevalence of STH was significantly higher (χ2= 33.8, P <0.0001) in rural (13.6%, 16) than urban (0.39%, 2) areas. The prevalence of STH was significantly highest (χ2 = 33.8, P <0.0001) at high altitude (13.6%, 16) than the upper middle-belt (2.0%, 8), lower middle-belt (1.2%, 4) and lowlands (0.7%, 2). The prevalence of co-infection varied significantly (χ2 = 72.2, P <0.0001) with level of urbanisation with the highest level of co-infection occurring in the rural areas (2.6%, 3) and the lowest level in the urban areas (0.2%, 1). Conclusion: Malaria control measures need to be intensified especially in the lowland and urban areas. Deworming campaigns are yielding positive results in Fako Division.
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Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the use of the CyScope® fluorescence microscope to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis (US) and malaria in Kotto Barombi. Experimental Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kotto Barombi, Cameroon from April to May, 2013. Methodology: Urine and blood samples were collected from 216 pupils. US eggs were detected in urine by centrifugation and CyScope® methods for schistosome eggs. Malaria parasites were detected using Giemsa-stained blood films and CyScope® methods. The performance characteristics of the CyScope® for both infections were determined using light microscopy as gold standard. Results: Overall prevalence of US was 43.4% and 48.5% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively. Prevalence of US was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the Kotto Barombi Island (78.3%) than Mainland (33.8%). US prevalence was not affected by age, sex and socio-economic class (SEC). Mean intensity of US was 8.1 eggs/10 ml urine (Confidence interval, CI = 4.3–11.9). It was significantly higher (P =.01) in pupils from Island (36.5 eggs/10 ml, CI: 17.7–55.3) than Mainland (8.8 eggs/10 ml; 7.1–10.5), males (19.2 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 9.2–29.2) than females (17.8 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 13.1–22.5) and highest (P = .046) in the ≤6 years age group (36.9 eggs/10 ml; CI: 20.4–53.4) when compared with pupils in other age groups. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for US were 90.6% and 83.8% respectively. Overall prevalence of malaria was 19.0% and 41.2% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively and the difference was significant (P = .01). Malaria prevalence and density were not influenced by age; sex and SEC. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for malaria were 68.3% and 64.9% respectively. Conclusion: The CyScope® could be a useful tool for active case detection of both diseases especially in areas that lack electricity.