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Prevalence of and risk factors for malaria, filariasis, and intestinal parasites as single infections or co-infections in different settlements of Gabon, Central Africa.
- Source :
-
Infectious diseases of poverty [Infect Dis Poverty] 2018 Jan 30; Vol. 7 (1), pp. 6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jan 30. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: Malaria, filariasis, and intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are common and frequently overlap in developing countries. The prevalence and predictors of these infections were investigated in three different settlements (rural, semi-urban, and urban) of Gabon.<br />Methods: During cross-sectional surveys performed from September 2013 to June 2014, 451 individuals were interviewed. In addition, blood and stool samples were analysed for the presence of Plasmodium, filarial roundworm, intestinal protozoan, and helminth infections.<br />Results: Intestinal parasitic infections (61.1%), including intestinal protozoa (56.7%) and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) (22.2%), predominated, whereas Plasmodium falciparum (18.8%), Loa loa (4.7%), and Mansonella perstans (1.1%) were less prevalent. Filariasis and STHs were mainly found in rural settlements, whereas a higher plasmodial infection prevalence rate was observed in the periurban area. The most common IPI was blastocystosis (48.6%), followed by ascaridiasis (13.7%), trichuriasis (11.8%), amoebiasis (9.3%), giardiasis (4.8%), and strongyloidiasis (3.7%). Hookworm was detected in one adult from rural Dienga. Adults had a higher prevalence of Blastocystis hominis and STHs, whereas Giardia duodenalis was more frequently observed among children aged below 5 years (P < 0.01). The polyparasitism rate was 41.5%, with 7.0% Plasmodium-IPIs and 1.8% Plasmodium-STH co-infections. The multivariate analysis showed that living in a suburban area, belonging to the age group of 5-15 years, having none or a secondary education, or having an open body water close to home were significant risk factors for malaria (P ≤ 0.01). For STH infections, identified risk factors were drinking untreated water and living in a rural area (P ≤ 0.04). No significant predictors were identified for IPIs and malaria-IPI co-infection.<br />Conclusions: This study reports a high prevalence of IPIs and intestinal protozoa, but a low rate of malaria-IPI co-infections in the study sites. Improvements in the living conditions of the population such as adequate water supply and proper health education and sanitation should be integrated into control strategies for malaria, STHs, and IPIs.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Coinfection parasitology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Filariasis blood
Filariasis parasitology
Filariasis transmission
Gabon epidemiology
Humans
Infant
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic blood
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic parasitology
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic transmission
Malaria blood
Malaria parasitology
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Rural Population
Soil parasitology
Urban Population
Young Adult
Coinfection epidemiology
Feces parasitology
Filariasis epidemiology
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic epidemiology
Malaria epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2049-9957
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Infectious diseases of poverty
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29378644
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-017-0381-4