Fondation Congolaise Pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Parasit Vectors. 2022 Jun 16;15(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s13071-022-05312-9.
Although Plasmodium falciparum infection is largely documented and this parasite is the main target for malaria eradication, other Plasmodium species persist, and these require more attention in Africa. Information on the epidemiological situation of non-P. falciparum species infections is scarce in many countries, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (hereafter Republic of the Congo) where malaria is highly endemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of non-P. falciparum species infections in the region south of Brazzaville.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in volunteers living in rural and urban settings during the dry and rainy seasons in 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical parameters were recorded. Plasmodium infection in blood samples was detected by microscopic analysis and nested PCR (sub-microscopic analysis).
Of the 773 participants enrolled in the study, 93.7% were from the rural area, of whom 97% were afebrile. The prevalence of microscopic and sub-microscopic Plasmodium spp. infection was 31.2% and 63.7%, respectively. Microscopic Plasmodium malariae infection was found in 1.3% of participants, while sub-microscopic studies detected a prevalence of 14.9% for P. malariae and 5.3% for Plasmodium ovale. The rate of co-infection of P. malariae or P. ovale with P. falciparum was 8.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Higher rates of sub-microscopic infection were reported for the urban area without seasonal fluctuation. In contrast, non-P. falciparum species infection was more pronounced in the rural area, with the associated risk of the prevalence of sub-microscopic P. malariae infection increasing during the dry season.
There is a need to include non-P. falciparum species in malaria control programs, surveillance measures and eradication strategies in the Republic of the Congo.
虽然恶性疟原虫感染已得到广泛记录，且该寄生虫是疟疾消除的主要目标，但其他疟原虫种仍然存在，在非洲需要更多关注。在许多国家，包括疟疾高度流行的刚果共和国，关于非恶性疟原虫种感染的流行病学情况的信息都很匮乏。本研究旨在确定布拉柴维尔南部地区非恶性疟原虫种感染的流行情况和分布情况。
2021 年旱季和雨季期间，在农村和城市环境中的志愿者中进行了一项横断面调查。记录社会人口学和临床参数。通过显微镜分析和巢式 PCR（亚微观分析）检测血液样本中的疟原虫感染。
在纳入研究的 773 名参与者中，93.7%来自农村地区，其中 97%的人无发热。显微镜和亚显微镜恶性疟原虫感染的患病率分别为 31.2%和 63.7%。在 1.3%的参与者中发现了显微镜恶性疟原虫感染，而亚显微镜研究检测到恶性疟原虫和卵形疟原虫的患病率分别为 14.9%和 5.3%。恶性疟原虫或卵形疟原虫与恶性疟原虫混合感染的发生率分别为 8.3%和 2.6%。城市地区亚微观感染率较高，且无季节性波动。相比之下，农村地区非恶性疟原虫种感染更为明显，在旱季，亚微观感染恶性疟原虫的风险增加。
刚果共和国需要在疟疾控制规划、监测措施和消除策略中纳入非恶性疟原虫种。
