Malaria parasite species composition of Plasmodium infections among asymptomatic and symptomatic school-age children in rural and urban areas of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Malar J
; 20(1): 389, 2021 Oct 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34600558
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Malaria remains a major public health concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and school-age children are relatively neglected in malaria prevalence surveys and may constitute a significant reservoir of transmission. This study aimed to understand the burden of malaria infections in school-age children in Kinshasa/DRC.METHODS:
A total of 634 (427 asymptomatic and 207 symptomatic) blood samples collected from school-age children aged 6 to 14 years were analysed by microscopy, RDT and Nested-PCR.RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of Plasmodium spp. by microscopy, RDT and PCR was 33%, 42% and 62% among asymptomatic children and 59%, 64% and 95% in symptomatic children, respectively. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale spp. by PCR was 58%, 20% and 11% among asymptomatic and 93%, 13% and 16% in symptomatic children, respectively. Among P. ovale spp., P. ovale curtisi, P. ovale wallikeri and mixed P. ovale curtisi + P. ovale wallikeri accounted for 75%, 24% and 1% of infections, respectively. All Plasmodium species infections were significantly more prevalent in the rural area compared to the urban area in asymptomatic infections (p < 0.001). Living in a rural as opposed to an urban area was associated with a five-fold greater risk of asymptomatic malaria parasite carriage (p < 0.001). Amongst asymptomatic malaria parasite carriers, 43% and 16% of children harboured mixed Plasmodium with P. falciparum infections in the rural and the urban areas, respectively, whereas in symptomatic malaria infections, it was 22% and 26%, respectively. Few children carried single infections of P. malariae (2.2%) and P. ovale spp. (1.9%).CONCLUSION:
School-age children are at significant risk from both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria infections. Continuous systematic screening and treatment of school-age children in high-transmission settings is needed.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plasmodium
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Malar J
Journal subject:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japan