RESUMO
A new species of the order Zoraptera, Zorotypuskomatsui Matsumura, Maruyama, Ntonifor & Beutel, sp. nov., is described from Cameroon. The female and male morphology of another species, Z.vinsoni, is re-described, and its new distribution in Madagascar is recorded. A particular focus is on the male postabdominal morphology. This is apparently a crucial body region in the very small order with an extreme variation of the genital apparatus but otherwise a very uniform morphology. The male of the newly described species shares rudimentary male genitalia and well-developed postabdominal projections with the distantly related Spermozorosimpolitus, apparently a result of parallel evolution. Whether males of Z.komatsui also perform external sperm transfer like S.impolitus remains to be shown. The collecting of the material used for this study suggests that the present knowledge of zorapteran species diversity of the Afrotropical region is very fragmentary.
RESUMO
Artemisinin derivatives are now the most potent and rapidly acting antimalarials. The aim of this study was to assess the in vivo efficacy and tolerability of a combination of Malartin (an artesunate) and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Dibanda, Cameroon. A total of 197 subjects were recruited into the study and administered Malartin for 3 days and SP as a single dose on day 0. Only 174 of the subjects were successfully followed up on days 3, 7, and 14. The overall success rate of the drug combination was 92.53%. Parasite density decreased during the follow-up period in different age groups, sexes, and social classes. The prevalence of anaemia decreased from 22.99% at enrolment to 9.77% on day 14, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05) on all days of followup. The drug combination did not give rise to any serious side effects.
RESUMO
The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba, Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 - 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1 %) than in the dry season (44.2 %) with a significant difference (P = 0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals < 15 years old had significantly higher malaria parasite prevalence (55.5 %) than those > 15 years (37.4 %). Malaria parasite prevalence (P = 0.001) and parasite density (P = 0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8 %) and A. funestus (32.8 %) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba.