Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites and assess its association with anemia in school-aged children from rural and urban settlements in Gabon. This cross-sectional study involved afebrile school children recruited at schools between May a...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/1/11 |
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| author | Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi Lady Charlene Kouna Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui Neil Michel Longo-Pendy Judy Armel Bourobou Bourobou Felicien Bangueboussa Nick Chenis Atiga Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki Larson Boundenga Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-Liabagui |
| author_facet | Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi Lady Charlene Kouna Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui Neil Michel Longo-Pendy Judy Armel Bourobou Bourobou Felicien Bangueboussa Nick Chenis Atiga Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki Larson Boundenga Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-Liabagui |
| author_sort | Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites and assess its association with anemia in school-aged children from rural and urban settlements in Gabon. This cross-sectional study involved afebrile school children recruited at schools between May and June 2021. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants whose parents or legal guardians provided informed consent to participate in the study. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) was measured using a HemoCue photometer (HemoCue 201, HemoCue, Angelholm, Sweden). Giemsa-stained blood films were examined to detect malaria parasites and any filarial infections, while the merthiolate-iodine concentration (MIC) method was used to identify intestinal parasitic infections (IPI). A total of four hundred and seventy (470) school-aged children were successfully enrolled in this study. The observed prevalence values were as follows: malaria infection at 69.6%, IPIs at 19.1%, filaria at 5.1%, <i>Schistosoma</i> infection at 15.0%, and anemia at 29.0%. Co-infections of malaria with IPIs, filaria, and <i>Schistosoma</i> were present in 12.3%, 4.7%, and 6.6% of the children, respectively. Malaria and filaria infections were associated with residing in Lastourville city (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and were also correlated with age (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas IPIs were associated with male gender and living in the city of Lastourville. Anemia was linked to malaria infection (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and was more prevalent among children living in rural areas. The findings of this study indicate that malaria, IPIs, and <i>Schistosoma</i> infections continue to pose a significant public health problem in the study area, even though only malaria infection appeared to be associated with anemia. Nevertheless, these results highlight the need for implementing control measures to reduce the prevalence of malaria, IPIs, filaria, and <i>Schistosoma</i>, particularly in Lastourville. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2834e7c092be46f3a9c6d158e8dfc3ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-2834e7c092be46f3a9c6d158e8dfc3ba2025-01-24T13:51:22ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662024-12-011011110.3390/tropicalmed10010011Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban SettingsPatrice Makouloutou-Nzassi0Lady Charlene Kouna1Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui2Neil Michel Longo-Pendy3Judy Armel Bourobou Bourobou4Felicien Bangueboussa5Nick Chenis Atiga6Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki7Larson Boundenga8Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-Liabagui9Département de Biologie et Ecologie Animale, Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET/CENAREST), Libreville BP 13354, GabonUnit of Evolution, Epidemiology and Parasite Resistance (UNEEREP), Franceville Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, GabonUnit of Evolution, Epidemiology and Parasite Resistance (UNEEREP), Franceville Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, GabonUnité de Recherche en Ecologie de la Santé, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville BP 769, GabonInstitut de Recherches Agronomique et Forestière (IRAF/CENAREST), Libreville BP 2246, GabonUnité de Recherche en Ecologie de la Santé, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville BP 769, GabonUnit of Evolution, Epidemiology and Parasite Resistance (UNEEREP), Franceville Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, GabonDepartment of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Health Sciences (USS), Libreville BP 4009, GabonUnité de Recherche en Ecologie de la Santé, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville BP 769, GabonUnit of Evolution, Epidemiology and Parasite Resistance (UNEEREP), Franceville Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, GabonThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites and assess its association with anemia in school-aged children from rural and urban settlements in Gabon. This cross-sectional study involved afebrile school children recruited at schools between May and June 2021. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants whose parents or legal guardians provided informed consent to participate in the study. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) was measured using a HemoCue photometer (HemoCue 201, HemoCue, Angelholm, Sweden). Giemsa-stained blood films were examined to detect malaria parasites and any filarial infections, while the merthiolate-iodine concentration (MIC) method was used to identify intestinal parasitic infections (IPI). A total of four hundred and seventy (470) school-aged children were successfully enrolled in this study. The observed prevalence values were as follows: malaria infection at 69.6%, IPIs at 19.1%, filaria at 5.1%, <i>Schistosoma</i> infection at 15.0%, and anemia at 29.0%. Co-infections of malaria with IPIs, filaria, and <i>Schistosoma</i> were present in 12.3%, 4.7%, and 6.6% of the children, respectively. Malaria and filaria infections were associated with residing in Lastourville city (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and were also correlated with age (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas IPIs were associated with male gender and living in the city of Lastourville. Anemia was linked to malaria infection (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and was more prevalent among children living in rural areas. The findings of this study indicate that malaria, IPIs, and <i>Schistosoma</i> infections continue to pose a significant public health problem in the study area, even though only malaria infection appeared to be associated with anemia. Nevertheless, these results highlight the need for implementing control measures to reduce the prevalence of malaria, IPIs, filaria, and <i>Schistosoma</i>, particularly in Lastourville.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/1/11anemiachildrenco-infectionsGabonLastourvillemalaria infection |
| spellingShingle | Patrice Makouloutou-Nzassi Lady Charlene Kouna Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui Neil Michel Longo-Pendy Judy Armel Bourobou Bourobou Felicien Bangueboussa Nick Chenis Atiga Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki Larson Boundenga Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-Liabagui Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease anemia children co-infections Gabon Lastourville malaria infection |
| title | Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings |
| title_full | Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings |
| title_fullStr | Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings |
| title_short | Asymptomatic Malaria Infection and Hidden Parasitic Burden in Gabonese Schoolchildren: Unveiling Silent Co-Infections in Rural and Urban Settings |
| title_sort | asymptomatic malaria infection and hidden parasitic burden in gabonese schoolchildren unveiling silent co infections in rural and urban settings |
| topic | anemia children co-infections Gabon Lastourville malaria infection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/1/11 |
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