survey on malaria and some related factors in South East of Caspian Sea

ABSTRACT

Malaria is a major cause of ill health in many tropics and subtropics. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence rate [PR] and age, sex, geographic distribution of disease and anopheline vectors in south east of Caspian Sea. This is a cross-sectional study in three regions. Data collected included clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory blood film findings for one year. Total catch were made for identification of anopheles vector. Prevalence rate of malaria was 96 in 1000 persons in slope and mountain areas. Mean age of patients was 22.5 years [SD=18]. Most patients were seen and recorded in summer. Infection with Plasmodium vivax [PV] was 61 percent, Plasmodium Falciparum [PF] was 20.7 percent and mixed [PV+PF] was 18.3 percent respectively. The proportion of disease in male was 53 percent and in female 47 percent. Total 348 Anophelines were detected. The highest and lowest proportion of anophelines were [70.6%] Anophele marten and [7.4%] Anophele algeriensis respectively. This study shows that Anophele superpictus was as Anopheline vector. Malaria patients were seen only in slope and mountain areas. Most patients [61%] were infected by PV. Sex differences were not statistically significant [p>0.05]. During the transmission season, all non-immune travellers should use malaria chemoprophylaxis before visiting these areas