Prevalence of Malaria and Covid-19 in Febrile Patients in Lomé, Togo in 2020.
Acta Parasitol
; 67(3): 1335-1342, 2022 Sep.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2048519
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of malaria and Covid-19 by PCR and serological tests in febrile patients in Lomé.METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to October 31, 2020 in febrile patients ≥ 10 years in three health facilities in Lomé. Finger stick blood was collected to detect Plasmodium spp. using thin/thick smear and venous blood on EDTA tubes to test for malaria Histidin-Rich-Protein-2 antigen using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and G. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples was performed by rRT-PCR using GeneXpert.RESULTS:
A total of 243 participants (61.7% of female) with median age 28 years (IQR 18-41) were included in the study. Prevalence of malaria was 25.1%, 95% CI [19.8-31.0] and 30.4%, 95% CI [24.7-36.7] for thin/thick smear and rapid malaria test, respectively. Eighteen patients (7.4%, 95% CI [4.4-11.5]) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and forty-two (17.3%, 95% CI [12.8-22.6]) were positive for IgM and/or IgG against SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 IgM seroprevalence was significantly higher in malaria RDT positive participants (33.8% vs. 10.1%, p < 0.001).CONCLUSION:
This study confirms a possible cross-reactivity between Covid-19 and malaria in case of single use of rapid tests, suggesting a possible past contamination. In case of clinical signs related to Covid-19 in malaria-endemic areas, PCR screening should be requested in order to identify and isolate patients.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Acta Parasitol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S11686-022-00586-6
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