Makouloutou-Nzassi Patrice, Kouna Lady Charlene, Mbani Mpega Ntigui Chérone Nancy, Longo-Pendy Neil Michel, Bourobou Bourobou Judy Armel, Bangueboussa Felicien, Atiga Nick Chenis, Lekana-Douki Jean Bernard, Boundenga Larson, Oyegue-Liabagui Sandrine Lydie
Département de Biologie et Ecologie Animale, Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET/CENAREST), Libreville BP 13354, Gabon.
Unité de Recherche en Ecologie de la Santé, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville BP 769, Gabon.
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2024 Dec 31;10(1):11. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed10010011.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-infection with malaria and intestinal parasites and assess its association with anemia in school-aged children from rural and urban settlements in Gabon. This cross-sectional study involved afebrile school children recruited at schools between May and June 2021. Blood and stool samples were collected from participants whose parents or legal guardians provided informed consent to participate in the study. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) was measured using a HemoCue photometer (HemoCue 201, HemoCue, Angelholm, Sweden). Giemsa-stained blood films were examined to detect malaria parasites and any filarial infections, while the merthiolate-iodine concentration (MIC) method was used to identify intestinal parasitic infections (IPI). A total of four hundred and seventy (470) school-aged children were successfully enrolled in this study. The observed prevalence values were as follows: malaria infection at 69.6%, IPIs at 19.1%, filaria at 5.1%, infection at 15.0%, and anemia at 29.0%. Co-infections of malaria with IPIs, filaria, and were present in 12.3%, 4.7%, and 6.6% of the children, respectively. Malaria and filaria infections were associated with residing in Lastourville city ( < 0.05) and were also correlated with age ( < 0.05), whereas IPIs were associated with male gender and living in the city of Lastourville. Anemia was linked to malaria infection ( < 0.05) and was more prevalent among children living in rural areas. The findings of this study indicate that malaria, IPIs, and infections continue to pose a significant public health problem in the study area, even though only malaria infection appeared to be associated with anemia. Nevertheless, these results highlight the need for implementing control measures to reduce the prevalence of malaria, IPIs, filaria, and , particularly in Lastourville.
本研究旨在确定加蓬农村和城市定居点学龄儿童中疟疾与肠道寄生虫合并感染的患病率，并评估其与贫血的关联。这项横断面研究纳入了2021年5月至6月期间在学校招募的无发热症状的学龄儿童。从其父母或法定监护人提供知情同意书参与研究的参与者中采集血液和粪便样本。使用HemoCue光度计（HemoCue 201，HemoCue，瑞典安吉尔霍尔姆）测量血红蛋白浓度（Hb）。检查吉姆萨染色的血片以检测疟原虫和任何丝虫感染，同时采用硫柳汞碘浓度（MIC）法鉴定肠道寄生虫感染（IPI）。本研究共成功招募了470名学龄儿童。观察到的患病率如下：疟疾感染率为69.6%，IPI感染率为19.1%，丝虫感染率为5.1%，[此处原文有缺失内容]感染率为15.0%，贫血率为29.0%。分别有12.3%、4.7%和6.6%的儿童同时感染了疟疾与IPI、丝虫和[此处原文有缺失内容]。疟疾和丝虫感染与居住在拉苏图维尔市有关（P<0.05），并且也与年龄相关（P<0.05），而IPI与男性性别以及居住在拉苏图维尔市有关。贫血与疟疾感染有关（P<0.05），并且在农村地区的儿童中更为普遍。本研究结果表明，尽管只有疟疾感染似乎与贫血有关，但疟疾、IPI和[此处原文有缺失内容]感染在研究区域仍然构成重大的公共卫生问题。尽管如此，这些结果凸显了实施控制措施以降低疟疾、IPI、丝虫和[此处原文有缺失内容]患病率的必要性，特别是在拉苏图维尔。
