Species composition, infection rate and feeding preference of Anopheles mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in the west Amhara Region, northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Reports showed that Amhara Region is accounting for 31% of Ethiopia`s malaria burden. Reports also depicted that despite the existing malaria vector control tools implemented by the regional government, currently there is an increment in malaria prevalence in the region. This might be due to lack of entomological monitoring and comprehensive information on the prevailing species composition, infection rate and feeding presences of An. mosquito species in the study areas. Therefore, this study aimed to address this information. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 18 February to 30 March 2023 at three districts of the west Amhara Region. For this, six CDC light traps (three indoor and three outdoor) were used to collect adult female An. mosquito species. In this study, 261 An. mosquito species comprising seven species were collected. Their morphological identification and abdominal status determination were carried out using standard morphological identification keys under a dissection microscope. While their infection rates and blood meal sources were determined, using circumsporozoite protein-ELISA and blood meal-ELISA based on the standard protocol. Data were entered to SPSS versions 20 for analysis and p- value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: In our study, total of 261 An. mosquito species were identified. An. demeilloni was the most abundant species accounted for 112(42.9%) of all captures. It was also the most predominant species at Ayehu-Guagusa followed by Jabitehnan districts. An. demeilloni and An. cinereus altogether accounting for infection rate of 3(1.1%) for P. vivax parasite. Furthermore, our study showed that more than 50% of An. mosquito species collected fed on cattle blood showing shifting of feeding behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study depicted that An. demeilloni and An. cinereus were the most abundant species and infected with P. vivax parasite. Therefore, further comprehensive study should be done in the future.

Recent HIV infection among newly diagnosed cases and associated factors in the Amhara regional state, Northern Ethiopia: HIV case surveillance data analysis (2019-2021).

Background: Distinguishing a recent from long-standing HIV infection is a critical step to reduce new infections in 2030. Therefore, this analysis determines the proportion of recent HIV infections among newly diagnosed cases and associated factors in the Amhara regional state between 2019 and 2021. Methods: We got the HIV case-based surveillance dataset (July 2019 up to August 12/2021) from the Amhara Public Health Institute. Recent infection is an infection gained within the last 12 months as identified by Asante recency test kits. Logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with recent infection. Adjusted odd with 95% CI and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare significant associations. Results: Out of 5,689 eligible cases, 3,129 (55%) recency tests had been performed. The proportion of recent HIV infection is 443 (14.2%, 95% CI: 13, 15.4%). High proportion of recent infections is reported from Bahir Dar city (23.3%), Central Gondar (17.7%), West Gojjam (16.5%), North Shewa (16.5%) and South Gondar zones (15.7%). Besides, the proportion of recent infection is high among clients aged ≥ 51 years (32.4%), illicit drug users (30.6 %), homelessness (28.5%), current commercial sex workers (27.9%), prisoners (21.1%), and among clients with invasive medical procedures (22.2%). Recent infection is significantly associated with females (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.1), secondary and above education (AOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4), commercial sex workers (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.7), having contact with index case (AOR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8) and illicit drug utilization (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.1-12.4). Conclusion: In the Amhara region, the proportion of recent HIV infection is high with marked variation across sociodemographic characteristics. We identified the risk or preventive factors associated with a recent infection. Therefore, all HIV responders should target their prevention efforts toward hot spot areas and sub-populations to stop further transmission.

Pertussis outbreak investigation in Northwest Ethiopia: A community based study.

BACKGROUND: Pertussis or whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable, highly contagious, respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis. Infants and young children have remained most susceptible to pertussis-related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate pertussis infection and analyze the associated factors involved in the occurrence of the cases. METHODS: Community-based case-control was conducted in Dahena district, Northwest Ethiopia, from March 27-April 30, 2019. All cases ages 1-18 years old were identified by using the clinical standard case definition of pertussis adopted from World Health Organization (WHO). Data was collected using a structured questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The data collected was cleaned, coded and entered into Epi info version 7.2.1.0 and exported to SPSS version 23 for statistical analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to identify predictors. Factors with a p-value of < 0.05 were considered as independent risk factors of pertussis infection in multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULT: A total of 122 pertussis cases were enrolled from the Azila cluster of the Dahena district. Of these figures, 64 (52.5%) were females. The overall attack rate (AR) of pertussis cases in the cluster was 8.6/10000 population. The sex-specific AR of females was 8.9/10000 population. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that; being unvaccinated 4.17 (AOR, 4.17, 95% CI, 1.914-9.091), contact to cases 2.93 (AOR: 2.93, 95% CI 1.223-6.996), and living in a house with no window 2.6 (AOR: 2.6(95% CI 1.071 to 6.322) were the independent significantly risk factors for pertussis infection. CONCLUSION: The contributing factor for pertussis infection was associated with case-contact, living in the house without windows and being unvaccinated. Wag Hemra Zone and Dahena district health office should encourage the vaccination activities of the cluster health center and awareness for the community should be practiced to limit disease transmission.

A five-year trend analysis of malaria surveillance data in selected zones of Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Trend analysis of malaria surveillance data is essential to inform stakeholders on progress towards malaria control. From the total 387,096 cases of malaria reported in Amhara region in 2017, 167,079 (43.2%) cases were in Central, North and West Gondar zones. From this total figure of zones, 15,445 (9.2%) were ≤ 5 years which contributes 4% of cases in the region. So, the purpose of this study was to analyze trends of malaria parasite in Selected Zones of Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A Retrospective study was conducted on purposely selected Central, North and West Gondar zones from July 1-30/ 2018. Data were collected, entered, cleaned, analyzed and interpreted using Microsoft Excel-2010. Different tables, figures and maps were used to present results. RESULT: A total of 2,827,722 cases have been received a diagnostic test of; Microscopy 1,712,193(60.56%) and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) 1,115,529(39.44%). Trends of total patients treated as confirmed and clinical malaria cases in July 2017-June 2018 were decreased to 139,297 (14%) as compared from July 2015-June 2016, 249,571(25%). From total cases received diagnostic tests only 1,003,391 (36%) were confirmed and clinical cases treated with antimalaria. Of these Plasmodium falciparum and vivax malaria cases were confirmed to be 1002,946 (99.96%) and clinical malaria cases were 445(0.04%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Risk of infection and diagnostic effort were high in West Gondar Zone. The Amhara public health institute including health Bureau, stakeholders and all responsible bodies should give special standing to highest malaria districts of West Gondar zone.