ABSTRACT
Aims:Malariometric indices are essential for the assessment of both new therapies and control strategies. As part of the characterization of a new malaria clinical trial site, this study was carried out to assess malariometric indices during the two seasons ofa Sudanese area of Burkina Faso, in children aged under five years.Study Design:Two community-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted as follow: the first during the rainy season of 2009 and the second during the following dry season. Socio-Original ResearchArticle demographic and clinical data were recorded. A finger prick blood sample was collected to perform malaria blood films and to measure the hemoglobin level.Results:Malaria parasitemia prevalence was 55.2% (N = 677) in the rainy season with a geometric mean of parasite density (GMPD) of 3439 trophozoites/μl against 23.3% (N = 720) in the dry season with a GMPD of 1368 trophozoites/μl. Gametocytemia prevalence was 21.7% and 6.5% respectively in rainy and dry season while splenomegaly prevalence was 11.2% (N = 689) in rainy season against 4.2% (N = 752) in dry season. The prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0g/dl) was 90.0% in rainy season and 70.6% in dry season. All indices in rainy season were statistically higher than those in dry season (p-value < 0.0001). The odds of parasite carriage were 3 to 5 times higher in rainy season compared to dry season (95% CI for OR = [3.1, 5.0]).Conclusion:The site is located in a seasonal hyper-endemic malaria area and seems appropriate for the conduct of malaria drugs or vaccines studies. Though the gap between seasons is considerable, the residual level of parasite carriage during low transmission period is not negligible and may command the development of strategies targeting this specific period, to break the chain of transmission of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Aims: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of P. falciparumgametocyte carriage in two sympatric ethnic groups living in seasonal malaria transmission setting in Burkina Faso.Study Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2017 in children aged from 2 to 12 years and living in Barkoundouba, avillage located at the Northeast part of Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso. The study participants were subject to clinical examination including axillary temperature. Blood samples were collected from finger pricks to performed RDT and blood smears for malaria diagnosis and on filter paper for molecular detection of the parasite. Any case of fever (temperature ≥ 37.5°C) with RDT positive was treated according to national guideline.Methodology:We included 461 patients in this study. P. falciparumpresence and densities were determined by microscopy using Giemsa-stained thick blood smears. The nested PCR was used toconfirm the presence of the asexual parasites assessed by the microscopy. Results: P. falciparumprevalence assessed by microscopy was 83 (32.55%) and 103 (50%) for Fulani and Mossirespectively,whereas the prevalence by nested PCR was 88 (39.11%) for Fulani and 121 (68.75%) for Mossi. The gametocyte carriage in the two ethnic groups was: 3.53% for Fulani and 11.65% for Mossi. The prevalence ratio for P. falciparumasymptomatic and gametocyte carriers was 1.5 and 3 in favor of Mossi group respectively.Conclusion:This study showed that the Fulani have a lower prevalence of P. falciparumcompared to the Mossi group despite the decrease of parasitemia and prevalence in both groups compared to previous studies
ABSTRACT
During the season of high malaria transmission, most children are infected by Plasmodium, which targets red blood cells (RBCs), affecting haematological parameters. To describe these variations, we examined the haematological profiles of two groups of children living in a malaria-endemic area. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the peak of the malaria transmission season in a rural area of Burkina Faso. After informed consent and clinical examination, blood samples were obtained from the participants for malaria diagnosis and a full blood count. Of the 414 children included in the analysis, 192 were not infected with Plasmodium, whereas 222 were asymptomatic carriers of Plasmodium infection. The mean age of the infected children was 41.8 months (range of 26.4-57.2) compared to 38.8 months (range of 22.4-55.2) for the control group (p = 0.06). The asymptomatic infected children tended to have a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level (10.8 g/dL vs. 10.4 g/dL; p < 0.001), mean lymphocyte count (4592/µL vs. 5141/µL; p = 0.004), mean platelet count (266 x 103/µL vs. 385 x 103/µL; p < 0.001) and mean RBC count (4.388 x 106/µL vs. 4.158 x 106/µL; p < 0.001) and a higher mean monocyte count (1403/µL vs. 1192/µL; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Special attention should be applied when interpreting haematological parameters and evaluating immune responses in asymptomatic infected children living in malaria-endemic areas and enrolled in vaccine trials.