[Malaria surveys in a humid savannah region in Côte d'Ivoire].

The purpose of this report is to describe six surveys carried out from March 1993 to March 1994 to assess seasonal variations in parasite indexes and malaria morbidity rates in children between the ages of 0 and 14 years living in the village of Alloukoukro in the wet Savannah region of Cote d'Ivoire. Results demonstrated the presence of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae. No case of infection only by Plasmodium malriae was observed. Parasite indexes were greater than 50% in all newborns and preschoolers. Wide seasonal variations were observed with the highest indexes (91.9%) occurring at the end of the rainy season. The lowest indexes were always observed in children between the ages of 10 and 14 years. There was not a significant proportional relationship between parasite index and daily mosquitoes inoculation rates. However highest parasite indexes were always measured after periods of intense transmission. Overall findings showed that gametocyte index increased during the rainy season and peaked at the beginning of the dry season in December. Strong recrudescence of malarious disease during the rainy season corresponded to an increase in the mean parasite density. The seasonal rises in malaria incidence occurred a few weeks after the first rains of the year with the greatest incidence occurring in May. Curves for maximum mean parasitemia rate and peak parasite incidence crossed at the end of the rainy season in October. The results of this study indicate that malaria is the most common parasitic disease year round in children living in the wet Savannah region of Cote d'Ivoire and that it is one of the main causes of morbidity.