Malaria prevalence in asymptomatic and symptomatic children in Kiwangwa, Bagamoyo district, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Malaria Journal
Abstract
Malaria prevalence continues to decline across sub-Saharan Africa as a result of various intervention
strategies. However, the diseases still poses a public health concern in the region. While symptomatic malaria is recog-
nized and treated, asymptomatic infections become increasingly important for interrupting transmission. A cross-sec-
tional survey was conducted to assess malaria prevalence in symptomatic and asymptomatic children in Kiwangwa
ward in Bagamoyo District in Tanzania.
Methods: Four hundred school-aged children in Kiwanga ward were recruited in the study; 200 from Kiwangwa
dispensary and 200 from nearby schools. Primary health parameters were examined and blood samples collected and
examined for Plasmodium falciparum prevalence using rapid diagnostic test (RDT), light microscopy (LM) and reverse
transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) targeting transcripts of A-type 18s rRNA of P. falciparum. Gametocytes were
detected by LM and RT-qPCR targeting transcripts of gametocyte specific marker, Pfs25.
Results: Overall P. falciparum prevalence was 73.3, 40.8 and 36.3% by RT-qPCR, RDT and LM in the study area, respec-
tively (P < 0.001). As expected symptomatic children had a significantly higher prevalence of 89, 67.5 and 64.5% by
qPCR, RDT and LM, compared to 57.5, 14 and 8% in the asymptomatic group, respectively. However, gametocyte
prevalence in asymptomatic individuals was higher by both LM (2%) and qPCR (14%) than in symptomatic individuals
LM (0.5%) and qPCR (3%).
Conclusions: A substantial difference in prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic infections observed in
Kiwangwa ward underpins the use of molecular tools in malaria surveillance aiming at estimating prevalence and
transmission. Notably, the higher gametocytaemia observed in asymptomatic children indicates the reservoir infec-
tions and points to the need for detection and treatment of both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Symptomatic malaria, Asymptomatic malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Tanzania, Quantitative PCR