Control of malaria and other vector-borne protozoan diseases in the tropics: enduring challenges despite considerable progress and achievements

Abstract

Vector-borne protozoan diseases represent a serious public health challenge, especially in the tropics where poverty together with vector-favorable climates are the aggravating factors. Each of the various strategies currently employed to face these scourges is seriously inadequate. Despite enormous efforts, vaccines—which represent the ideal weapon against these parasitic diseases—are yet to be sufficiently developed and implemented. Chemotherapy and vector control are therefore the sole effective attempts to minimize the disease burden. Nowadays, both strategies are also highly challenged by the phenomenon of drug and insecticide resistance, which affects virtually all interventions currently used. The recently growing support from international organizations and governments of some endemic countries is warmly welcome, and should be optimally exploited in the various approaches to drug and insecticide research and development to overcome the burden of these prevalent diseases, especially malaria, leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), and Chagas disease.

Efficacy of praziquantel on Schistosoma haematobium and re-infection rates among school-going children in the Ndumo area of uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Similar results were reported in studies conducted in rural communities of Abeokuta of Nigeria [36], in Senegal [41], and in Loum, Cameroun [42]. In contrast to our findings, a study carried out in Zimbabwe found satisfactory efficacy with praziquantel after the first dose [43].…”

“…We found high treatment failures amongst 13 and 14 years old children with heavy intensity. CR and failure cases observed were consistent with findings in a study conducted in Abeokuta, Nigeria [36]. A high load of eggs in the urine indicates implicitly a high number of mature worms, which may require a higher dose than the standard dose.…”

“…Efficacy was defined as an absence of eggs in the specimen 4 weeks post treatment in participants who initially tested positive. To assess the praziquantel efficacy, cure rate (CR) and egg reduction rate (ERR), the following formulae used in previous studies [35, 36] were used.…”

Cytochrome P450s in Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) and Insecticide Resistance in Africa: A Mini Review

“…Malaria continues to be a major global public health problem with about half of the global population (3.2 billion people) at risk in more than 106 endemic countries [3]. With an estimated 0.65-1.2 million deaths annually, it accounts for about 40 to 45 million DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) [4] and the cost to Africa alone in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at £7.13 billion annually which accounts for 40% of the continent's public health spending [5].…”

Community Health Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Malaria Control and Prevention in Bamenda, Cameroon: A Community Based Study

“…In Cameroon, malaria accounts for 30% of all morbidity cases, 36% of outpatient consultations, 67% of childhood deaths and 48% of all hospital admissions [8,9].…”