Co-infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma mansoni and intestinal helminths among schoolchildren in endemic areas of northwestern Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundMalaria, schistosomiasis and intestinal helminth infections are causes of high morbidity in most tropical parts of the world. Even though these infections often co-exist, most studies focus on individual diseases. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum-malaria, intestinal schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminth infections, and the respective co-infections, among schoolchildren in northwest Tanzania.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren living in villages located close to the shores of Lake Victoria. The Kato Katz technique was employed to screen faecal samples for S. mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth eggs. Giemsa stained thick and thin blood smears were analysed for the presence of malaria parasites.ResultsOf the 400 children included in the study, 218 (54.5%) were infected with a single parasite species, 116 (29%) with two or more species, and 66 (16.5%) had no infection. The prevalences of P. falciparum and S. mansoni were 13.5% (95% CI, 10.2-16.8), and 64.3% (95% CI, 59.6-68.9) respectively. Prevalence of hookworm infection was 38% (95% CI, 33.2-42.8). A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were not detected. Of the children 26.5% (95% CI, 21.9-30.6) that harbored two parasite species, combination of S. mansoni and hookworm co-infections was the most common (69%). Prevalence of S. mansoni - P. falciparum co-infections was 22.6% (95%CI, 15.3-31.3) and that of hookworm - P. falciparum co-infections 5.7% (95%CI, 2.6-12.8). Prevalence of co-infection of P. falciparum, S. mansoni and hookworm was 2.8% (95%CI, 1.15-4.4).ConclusionMultiple parasitic infections are common among schoolchildren in rural northwest Tanzania. These findings can be used for the design and implementation of sound intervention strategies to mitigate morbidity and co-morbidity.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among patients attending Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, north-western Tanzania: a retrospective study

“…Contrary to findings from field epidemiological studies, this study observed a low prevalence of S. mansoni (5.6%). Prevalence between 64% and 68% have recently been reported (Standley et al, 2010;Mazigo et al 2010b). The prevalence of E. histolytica/ E. dispar and G. lamblia reported in the present study was similar to that reported from Cameroon (Mbuh et al, 2010).…”

“…The trend of increasing prevalence of helminths with age observed in this study has been previously reported by other workers in the region Mazigo et al, 2010b). However, it was different from the normal U-shaped curve reported from a study by Kurup et al (2010).…”

“…On the other hand, the prevalence of other helminths, A. lumbricoides, E. vermicularis and Trichuris trichiura were very low. Indeed, earlier studies in the nearby Magu district, reported a prevalence of <1% of A. lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and E. vermicularis while one of our previous studies in the nearby Sengerema district did not detect any A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or E. vermicularis (Mazigo et al, 2010b). The low prevalence of these parasites is likely to be influenced by the ecological factors within the Lake Victoria basin.…”

“…The prevalence of intestinal helminth observed in this study, confirm that intestinal helminthiases, mainly hookworm infection, are prevalent among patients attending Bugando Medical Centre, and mostly likely in its catchment area. Previous epidemiological surveys within the Lake Victoria basin have also reported a high prevalence of hookworm infections than other geohelminths Mazigo et al, 2010b). The higher prevalence of hookworm infections has previously been reported in other rural tropical areas of low socio-economic status (Hotez, 2003;Standley et al, 2010).…”

Malaria among relatives escorting sick patients during the dry season to Karume Health Centre, Mwanza, Northwestern Tanzania

“…The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among patients was 16.4%, which was higher than that recently reported in school children in Tanzania (Nzobo et al, 2015). This is almost similar to the previous study in school children in a nearby place, which was 14.3% (Mazigo et al, 2010). In different parts of Africa, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria varies considerably and prevalence up to 80% was reported in Cameroon (Okell et al, 2012).…”