5 research outputs found
Effect Of Seasonal Rainfall And Other Environmental Changes, On Snail Density And Infection Rates With Schistosoma mansoni Fifteen Years After The Last Snails\' Study In Kigungu, Entebbe, Uganda
Background: The last study on snail population density in relation to rainfall pattern in Kigungu canoe landing and recreational sites on Lake Victoria shore was earlier
carried out about fifteen years ago. This study also reviewed the influence of other
environmental factors on the snails\' infection rate.
Objective: To reassess the density dynamic of Biomphalaria (B) choanomphala and
Biomphalaria (B) pfeifferi, which act as the intermediate host for S. mansoni and
Bulinus (B) globosus, and Bulinus (B) tropicus, which act as intermediate host for S.
haematobium.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Busy canoe landing sites along Lake Victoria in Kigungu fishing village were
selected for the snail sampling.
Results: Nine thousand one hundred and ninety four B. choanomphala were collected
over the study period. The numbers of B. choanomphala collected in each year was 4742
(51.6%) and 4452 (48.4%) in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Of the 4742 B.Choanomphala
collected in 2004, 82 (1.7%) shed human cercariae and 329 (6.7%) shed non-human
cercariae. Whereas in 2005, out of 4452 B. choanomphala collected 302 (6.85%) shed
non-human cercariae and 82 (1.8%) shed human cercariae. Similarly, 4173 B. pfeifferi
were also collected in the same period. Out of which 2224 (53.3%) were collected in
2004 and 1949 (46.7%) in 2005. For B. pfeifferi, 42 (1.9%) out of 2224 snails collected in
2004 shed human cercariae and 246 (11.1%) shed non-human cercariae. While in 2005,
33 out of 1949 snails (1.7%) shed human cercariae and 159 (8.2%) shed non-human
cercariae. Other snails of medical importance collected included 292 B. globosus
and 3094 B. tropicus. None of the Bulinus spp. collected shed any human cercariae
but 37 (2.1%) and 30 (2.3%) B. tropicus shed non-human cercariae in 2004 and 2005
respectively. In 2004 and 2005, the area received, 1729mm and 1959mm of rainfall
respectively. The mean rainfall during the year was 144.05 mm and 163.3 mm in 2004
and 2005 respectively. There was a negative correlation between rainfalls and snail
density dynamic.
Conclusion: We have found in this study that in spite of the bush clearing of the
papyrus swamps which originally was the major habitats for B. choanomphala, B.
pfeifferi and the Bulinus spp the intermediate host for schistosome at all canoe landing
sites at Kigungu, these snails are still present. Moreover, that their population density
dynamic and infection rate are inversely proportional to the rainfall pattern. East African Medical Journal Vol. 85 (11) 2008: pp. 556-56
Relationship between malaria infection intensity and rainfall pattern in Entebbe peninsula, Uganda
Background: This study was to assess malaria prevalence in relation to rainfall pattern in different localities of Entebbe Municipality, Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted amongst the local community residing in the area from January 2003 to January 2004 to investigate the incidence and intensity of malaria infection.
Methods: Thick and thin blood smears were made from each patient with fever (body temperature ≥ 37.5° C). The slides were examined microscopically for malaria parasites. A total of 616 residents aged 2 to 50 years were registered in the study by name, age, sex and residential location. Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was used to evaluate relationship between parasite density, age and body temperature on one hand and rainfall plus parasite density on the other hand.
Results: A direct relationship was observed between malaria transmission and monthly rainfall in Entebbe Municipality. About 69.8% of the patients had fever. Parasite density fluctuated according to monthly rainfall pattern. Two peaks of high parasite density was observed, each peak coinciding with a peak rainfall pattern of the bimodal annual rain seasons. There was a negative but significant correlation (r = -0.09271; p < 0.0214) between parasite density and age, suggesting that mature individuals clear parasites more effectively than children. Furthermore, we observed a bimodal peak of mean parasite density in children and adults; peak in children is higher than of adults, each peak coinciding with rainfall pattern. There is also a significant positive correlation between parasite density and body temperature (r = 0.1927; p = 0.0001). However, there is no significant variation in mean parasite densities in the different locations of Entebbe Municipality.
Conclusions: Our study confirms rainfall pattern and age influence parasite density and are important determinants of malaria infection and transmission in Entebbe Municipality. Increased parasite density in children is a useful indicator for monitoring intensity of infection. This information is valuable in policy formulation for control of malaria during periods of intense transmission African Health Sciences Vol. 5 (3) 2005: pp. 235-24
Relationship between malaria infection intensity and rainfall pattern in Entebbe peninsula, Uganda
Background: This study was to assess malaria prevalence in relation to
rainfall pattern in different localities of Entebbe Municipality,
Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted amongst the local
community residing in the area from January 2003 to January 2004 to
investigate the incidence and intensity of malaria infection. Methods:
Thick and thin blood smears were made from each patient with fever
(body temperature ≥ 37.5° C). The slides were examined
microscopically for malaria parasites. A total of 616 residents aged 2
to 50 years were registered in the study by name, age, sex and
residential location. Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was used to
evaluate relationship between parasite density, age and body
temperature on one hand and rainfall plus parasite density on the other
hand. Results: A direct relationship was observed between malaria
transmission and monthly rainfall in Entebbe Municipality. About 69.8%
of the patients had fever. Parasite density fluctuated according to
monthly rainfall pattern. Two peaks of high parasite density was
observed, each peak coinciding with a peak rainfall pattern of the
bimodal annual rain seasons. There was a negative but significant
correlation (r = -0.09271; p < 0.0214) between parasite density and
age, suggesting that mature individuals clear parasites more
effectively than children. Furthermore, we observed a bimodal peak of
mean parasite density in children and adults; peak in children is
higher than of adults, each peak coinciding with rainfall pattern.
There is also a significant positive correlation between parasite
density and body temperature (r = 0.1927; p = 0.0001). However, there
is no significant variation in mean parasite densities in the different
locations of Entebbe Municipality. Conclusions: Our study confirms
rainfall pattern and age influence parasite density and are important
determinants of malaria infection and transmission in Entebbe
Municipality. Increased parasite density in children is a useful
indicator for monitoring intensity of infection. This information is
valuable in policy formulation for control of malaria during periods of
intense transmission
THE EFFECT OF SEASONAL RAINFALL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES, ON SNAIL DENSITY AND INFECTION RATES WITH SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER THE LAST SNAILS’ STUDY IN KIGUNGU, ENTEBBE, UGANDA
Background: The last study on snail population density in relation to rainfall pattern in Kigungu canoe landing and recreational sites on Lake Victoria shore was earlier carried out about a fi fteen years ago. This study also reviewed the infl uence of other environmental factors on the snails’ infection rate.Objective: To reassess the density dynamic of Biomphalaria (B) choanomphala and Biomphalaria (B) pfeifferi, which act as the intermediate host for S. mansoni and Bulinus (B) globosus, and Bulinus (B) tropicus, which act as intermediate host for S. haematobium.Design: Retrospective study.Setting: Busy canoe landing sites along Lake Victoria in Kigungu fi shing village were selected for the snail sampling.Results: Nine thousand one hundred and ninety four B. choanomphala were collected over the study period. The numbers of B. choanomphala collected in each year was 4742 (51.6%) and 4452 (48.4%) in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Of the 4742 B.Choanomphala collected in 2004,82 (1.7%) shed human cercariae and 329 (6.7%) shed non-human cercariae. Whereas in 2005, out of 4452 B. choanomphala collected 302 (6.85<%) shednon-human cercariae and 82 (1.8%) shed human cercariae. Similarly, 4173 B. pfeifferi were also collected in the same period. Out of which 2224 (53.3%)) were collected in 2004 and 1949 (46.7%) in 2005. For B. pfeifferi, 42 (1.9%) out of 2224 snails collected in 2004 shed human cercariae and 246 (11.1(%) shed non-human cercariae. While in 2005, 33 outof 1949 snails (1.7%) shed human ccrcariae and 159 (8.2%) shed non-human cercariae. Other snails of medical importance collected included 292 B. globosus and 3094 B. tropicus. None of the Bulinus spp. collected shed any human cercariae but 37 (2.1 %) and 30 (2.3%) B. tropicus shed non-human cercariae in 2004 and 2005 respectively. In 2004 and 2005, the area received, 1729mm and 1959mm of rainfall respectively. The meanrainfall during the year was 144.05 mm and 163.3 mm in 2004 and 2005 respectively. There was a negative correlation between rainfalls and snail density dynamic.Conclusion: We have found in this study that in spite of the bush clearing of the papyrus swamps which originally was the major habitats for B. choanomphala, B. pfeifferi and the Bulinus spp the intermediate host for schistosome at all canoe landing sites at Kigungu, these snails are still present. Moreover, that their population density dynamic and infection rate are inversely proportional to the rainfall pattern