School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia.
Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Trop Biomed. 2021 Mar 1;38(1):14-21. doi: 10.47665/tb.38.1.003.
Malaria which is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium is a devastating parasitic disease of major public health challenge worldwide, particularly Nigeria. This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of falciparum malaria among residents of rural and peri-urban communities in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. Standard parasitological technique of microscopy was employed to determine and identify parasite prevalence and species. A questionnaire was used to collect subject's information such as age, sex, location, occupation and education. Out of the 300 individuals examined, a total of 283 (93.4%) individuals were infected with malaria parasite. Sex pattern of infection indicated that male had higher malaria prevalence of 95.0% compared to female with the prevalence of 93.3% (P>0.05). The age group 51 to 60 years had the highest malaria parasite prevalence of 100% while age group <10 years has the least malaria parasite prevalence of 86.0% (P>0.05). Similarly, a total mean malaria parasite density of 1455.90 parasite/μL of blood was recorded. The mean malaria parasite density does not significantly vary (P>0.05) among age and sex group. The age group >60 years recorded the highest mean parasite density of 2092.50 parasite/μL of blood while age group <10 has the least mean malaria parasite density of 1044. 42 parasite/μL of blood. In relation to sex, the highest mean malaria parasite density was found among the female (1461.80 parasite/μL of blood) compared to male (1450 parasite/ μL of blood). In the same vein, occupation as a socioeconomic risk factor play a major role with respect to malaria infection. The highest malaria prevalence of 113 (98.26%) was recorded among farmers while the least 34 (85%) was recorded among Civil servants (P<0.05). Thus, it is apparent that falciparum malaria is heavily prevalent in this study area and as such urgent management control measures and interventions should be made available and fully utilized.
疟疾是由疟原虫属寄生虫引起的一种破坏性寄生虫病，是全球主要的公共卫生挑战之一，尤其是在尼日利亚。本研究旨在调查尼日利亚西南部埃基提州农村和城郊社区居民中恶性疟原虫的流行病学情况。采用标准的显微镜寄生虫学技术来确定和鉴定寄生虫的流行率和种类。使用问卷收集了受试者的信息，如年龄、性别、地点、职业和教育程度。在检查的 300 人中，共有 283 人（93.4%）感染了疟原虫。感染的性别模式表明，男性的疟疾流行率为 95.0%，高于女性的 93.3%（P>0.05）。51 至 60 岁年龄组的疟疾寄生虫流行率最高，为 100%，而 10 岁以下年龄组的疟疾寄生虫流行率最低，为 86.0%（P>0.05）。同样，总平均疟疾寄生虫密度为 1455.90 个寄生虫/μL 血液。年龄和性别组之间的平均疟疾寄生虫密度没有显著差异（P>0.05）。60 岁以上年龄组记录的最高平均寄生虫密度为 2092.50 个寄生虫/μL 血液，而 10 岁以下年龄组记录的最低平均疟疾寄生虫密度为 1044.42 个寄生虫/μL 血液。就性别而言，女性的平均疟疾寄生虫密度最高（1461.80 个寄生虫/μL 血液），而男性为 1450 个寄生虫/μL 血液。同样，职业作为社会经济风险因素在疟疾感染方面起着重要作用。农民的疟疾流行率最高，为 113 例（98.26%），而公务员的疟疾流行率最低，为 34 例（85%）（P<0.05）。因此，显然恶性疟疾在本研究地区非常流行，因此应提供并充分利用紧急管理控制措施和干预措施。
