Co-infections of malaria and geohelminthiasis in two rural communities of Nkassomo and Vian in the Mfou health district, Cameroon

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Oct 16;8(10):e3236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003236. eCollection 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Human co-infection with malaria and helmimths is ubiquitous throughout Africa. Nevertheless, its public health significance on malaria severity remains poorly understood.

Methodology/principal findings: To contribute to a better understanding of epidemiology and control of this co-infection in Cameroon, a cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of concomitant intestinal geohelminthiasis and malaria, and to evaluate its association with malaria and anaemia in Nkassomo and Vian. Finger prick blood specimens from a total of 263 participants aged 1-95 years were collected for malaria microscopy, assessment of haemoglobin levels, and molecular identification of Plasmodium species by PCR. Fresh stool specimens were also collected for the identification and quantification of geohelminths by the Kato-Katz method. The prevalence of malaria, geohelminths, and co-infections were 77.2%, 28.6%, and 22.1%, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum was the only malaria parasite species identified with mean parasite density of 111 (40; 18,800) parasites/µl of blood. The geohelminths found were Ascaris lumbricoides (21.6%) and Trichuris trichiura (10.8%), with mean parasite densities of 243 (24; 3,552) and 36 (24; 96) eggs/gram of faeces, respectively. Co-infections of A. lumbricoides and P. falciparum were the most frequent and correlated positively. While no significant difference was observed on the prevalences of single and co-infections between the two localities, there was a significant difference in the density of A. lumbricoides infection between the two localities. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 42%, with individuals co-infected with T. trichiura and P. falciparum (60%) being the most at risk. While the prevalence of malaria and anaemia were inversely related to age, children aged 5-14 years were more susceptible to geohelminthiasis and their co-infections with malaria.

Conclusion/significance: Co-existence of geohelminths and malaria parasites in Nkassomo and Vian enhances the occurrence of co-infections, and consequently, increases the risk for anaemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Ascariasis / epidemiology*
  • Ascariasis / parasitology
  • Ascaris lumbricoides / isolation & purification
  • Cameroon / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Tests
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification
  • Public Health
  • Rural Population
  • Trichuriasis / epidemiology*
  • Trichuriasis / parasitology
  • Trichuris / isolation & purification
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This project received financial support from the direction of IMPM through the project titled “Enquête épidémiologique sur le paludisme et les infections gastro-intestinales dans le district de santé de Mfou” at the Medical Research Centre of IMPM; and the MR4 that provided PCR primers for molecular identification of Plasmodium species at the Biotechnology Centre of University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.