Comparison of geometric mean parasite densities between single infections and co-infections.

<p>Parasite densities are given as geometric mean values with minimum and maximum values in brackets, and expressed in eggs per gram of faeces (eps) for <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Trichuris</i>, or in parasites per micro litre of blood (p/µl) for <i>Plasmodium</i>. <i>P-values</i><0.05 are statistically significant; p^a: <i>p-values</i> between single infections and single co-infections, p^b: <i>p-values</i> between single infections and mixed co-infections.</p>†<p>: value for co-infection with <i>Ascaris</i>,</p>‡<p>: value for co-infection with <i>Trichuris</i>.</p><p>Comparison of geometric mean parasite densities between single infections and co-infections.</p

Baseline data of the study population and distribution of fever, <i>Plasmodium spp</i>, geohelminth <i>spp</i>, co-infections, and anaemia by locality, sex, and age group.

<p>Proportions are expressed as number of cases with percentages in brackets, arithmetic values are expressed as mean value ± Standard Deviation (SD), and geometric values are expressed as mean value with minimum and maximum values in brackets. NK: Nkassomo, VI: Vian, M: male, F: female, N°: number of participants, MAT: arithmetic mean axial temperature in degree Celsius, F: Fever cases, <i>P.f: Plasmodium falciparum</i>, <i>A.l: Ascaris lumbricoides</i>, <i>T.t: Trichuris trichiura</i>, <i>A.l-T.t</i>: polyparasitism of <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Trichuris</i>, <i>A.l-P.f</i>: single Co-infection of <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>T.t-P.f</i>: single co-infection of <i>Trichuris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>A.l-T.t-P.f</i>: mixed co-infection of <i>Ascaris</i>, <i>Trichuris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, Hb^α: arithmetic mean haemoglobin levels in g/dl of blood in non infected individuals, Hb^β: arithmetic mean haemoglobin levels in g/dl of blood in infected individuals, A: Anaemia cases, MPD: geometric mean <i>Plasmodium</i> parasite densities in parasites per µl of blood, MAD: geometric mean <i>Ascaris</i> parasite densities in eggs per gram of faeces, MTD: geometric mean <i>Trichuris</i> parasite densities in eggs per gram of faeces. <i>P-values</i><0.05 are significant statistically; p^a, p^b, and p^c are <i>p-values</i> among villages, sex and age groups, respectively.</p><p>Baseline data of the study population and distribution of fever, <i>Plasmodium spp</i>, geohelminth <i>spp</i>, co-infections, and anaemia by locality, sex, and age group.</p

Co-infections of Malaria and Geohelminthiasis in Two Rural Communities of Nkassomo and Vian in the Mfou Health District, Cameroon

<div><p>Background</p><p>Human co-infection with malaria and helmimths is ubiquitous throughout Africa. Nevertheless, its public health significance on malaria severity remains poorly understood.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>To contribute to a better understanding of epidemiology and control of this co-infection in Cameroon, a cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of concomitant intestinal geohelminthiasis and malaria, and to evaluate its association with malaria and anaemia in Nkassomo and Vian. Finger prick blood specimens from a total of 263 participants aged 1–95 years were collected for malaria microscopy, assessment of haemoglobin levels, and molecular identification of <i>Plasmodium</i> species by PCR. Fresh stool specimens were also collected for the identification and quantification of geohelminths by the Kato-Katz method. The prevalence of malaria, geohelminths, and co-infections were 77.2%, 28.6%, and 22.1%, respectively. <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> was the only malaria parasite species identified with mean parasite density of 111 (40; 18,800) parasites/µl of blood. The geohelminths found were <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> (21.6%) and <i>Trichuris trichiura</i> (10.8%), with mean parasite densities of 243 (24; 3,552) and 36 (24; 96) eggs/gram of faeces, respectively. Co-infections of <i>A. lumbricoides</i> and <i>P. falciparum</i> were the most frequent and correlated positively. While no significant difference was observed on the prevalences of single and co-infections between the two localities, there was a significant difference in the density of <i>A. lumbricoides</i> infection between the two localities. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 42%, with individuals co-infected with <i>T. trichiura</i> and <i>P. falciparum</i> (60%) being the most at risk. While the prevalence of malaria and anaemia were inversely related to age, children aged 5–14 years were more susceptible to geohelminthiasis and their co-infections with malaria.</p><p>Conclusion/Significance</p><p>Co-existence of geohelminths and malaria parasites in Nkassomo and Vian enhances the occurrence of co-infections, and consequently, increases the risk for anaemia.</p></div

Association between infections and prevalence of anaemia.

<p>Histograms are represented with error bars at 5%. <i>P.f: Plasmodium falciparum</i>, <i>A.l: Ascaris lumbricoides</i>, <i>T.t: Trichuris trichiura</i>, <i>A.l-T.t</i>: double infection with <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Trichuris</i>, <i>A.l-P.f</i>: single Co-infection of <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>T.t-P.f</i>: single co-infection of <i>Trichuris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>A.l-T.t-P.f</i>: mixed co-infection of <i>Ascaris</i> and <i>Trichuris</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i>.</p