Epidemiology of Malaria in three Geo-Ecological Zones along the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline

Eva Songue^{1, 2,} , Claudel Tagne², Pretty Mbouyap², Paul Essomba² and Roger Moyou –Somo³

¹University of Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France

²University of Yaoundé I, Faculty of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: Department of Microbiology, Hematology, Parasitology &Infectious diseases, Yaoundé, Cameroon

³University of Yaoundé I, Faculty of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: Department of Microbiology, Hematology, Parasitology &Infectious diseases and Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants studies (IMPM), Yaoundé, Cameroon

Cite this paper:
Eva Songue, Claudel Tagne, Pretty Mbouyap, Paul Essomba and Roger Moyou –Somo. Epidemiology of Malaria in three Geo-Ecological Zones along the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2013; 1(4):27-33. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-1-4-1

Abstract

Background: Cameroon is endemic for malaria; however, the level of endemicity varies between the various eco-epidemiological zones. A public private partnership including many stakeholders was set up to control malaria along the Chad-Cameroon pipeline corridor. The present paper presents the baseline epidemiological data obtained in the zone prior to the implementation of control measures. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in three sites along the Chad-Cameroon pipeline including Bipindi in the forest humid zone, Meidougou in the high Guinean savanna and Dompta in the sudano-sahelian zone. A total of 2492 participants aged from 6 months to 10 years were included in the survey. Finger prick blood was taken to prepare thick and thin blood films for the determination of parasite density and identification of parasite species. Results: Malaria prevalence was 12.74% in dry season versus 55.5% in wet season in Bipindi; 2.77% against 3.6% in Meidougou and 26.8% versus 29.7% in Dompta. In wet season plasmodic index was 54.82% in Bipindi, 4.04% in Meidougou and 31.3% in Dompta site versus 13.40%; 4.09% and 28.8% during dry season. Only Plasmodium falciparum infections were detected. Splenic index in Bipindi was 52.79% in wet season versus 43.81% in dry season; 17.04% against 16.20% in Meidougou and 28.1% versus 25.8% in Dompta. Bipindi wasmeso-endemic for malaria in dry season and hyper-endemic in wet season. Meidougou was hypo-endemic and Dompta wasmeso-endemic in both seasons. Conclusion: This study along the Chad-Cameroon pipeline highlighted variations of the intensity of malaria transmission which is high and perennial in the forest humid zone, low and seasonal in the high savanna zone, moderate and perennial in the sudano-sahelian zone. These baseline results will help to evaluate the impact of control measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.

Keywords:
malaria public-private partnership transmission prevalence Cameroon

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Plan stratégique national de lutte contre le paludisme 2011-2015. Ministère de la Santé Publique. Cameroun.2012:82p.
[2]	World Health Organization: Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratory. World Health Organization, Geneva. Switzerland; 1980.
[3]	Bigoga JD, Nanfack FM, Awono-Ambene PH, Patchoké S, Atangana J, Otia VS, Fondjo E, MoyouRS and Leke RGF,“Seasonal prevalence of malaria vectors and entomological inoculation rates in the rubber cultivated area of Niete, South Region of Cameroon”,Parasites& Vectors,5:197, 2012.
[4]	Bigoga JD, Manga L, Titanji VPK, Coetzee M and Leke RGF,“Malaria vectors and transmission dynamics in coastal south-western Cameroon”,MalariaJournal,6:5, Jan.2007.
[5]	Nzeyimana I, Henry MC,Dossou-Yovo J, Doannio JMC, Diawara L, Carnevale P, “Epidémiologie du paludisme dans le sud-ouest forestier de la cote d’Ivoire (region de Taï)”, Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique, 95, 2, 89-94,2002.
[6]	Mbackop WM : Faune anophélienne et transmission du paludisme en saison sèche dans trois villages du district de santé de Lolodorf, Région du Sud-Cameroun. Thèse de médecine. Faculté de médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales. Yaoundé. 2011. 99p.
[7]	Mouchet J, Carnevale P, Coosemans M, Ravaonjanahary C, Richard A and Robert V,“Typologie du paludisme en Afrique”,Cahiers Santé, 3, 320-338, 1993.
[8]	Momo NA : Etude comparative des indices parasitologiques et cliniques de la transmission palustre en période de saison sèche chaude et froide dans le cercle de Menaka (Mali). Thèse de Médecine. Faculté de Médecine de Pharmacie et d’Odontostomatologie. Bamako. 2006. 97p.
[9]	Asante KP, Zandoh C, Dery DB, Brown C, Adjei G, Antwi-Dadzie Y, Adjuik M, Tchum K, Dosoo D, Amenga-Etego S, Mensah C, Owusu-Sekyere KB, Anderson C, Krieger G and Owusu-Agyei S,“Malaria epidemiology in the Ahafo area of Ghana”, MalariaJournal,10:211, 2011.
[10]	Rogier C, Henry MC, Trape JF, “Evaluation épidémiologique du paludisme en zone d'endémie”,Medecine Tropicale,69: 123-142, 2009.
[11]	Ngo Hiol HB: Données socio-anthropologiques du paludisme dans le district de santé de Lolodorf. Thèse de médecine. Faculté de médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales. Yaoundé. 2011. 125p.
[12]	Nsiéwé-Tchoubou NM: Connaissances, aptitudes et pratiques du paludisme dans les aires de santé de Meidougou et Dompta, Nord- Cameroun. Thèse de médecine. Université des Montagnes. Bagangté. 2011. 120p.
[13]	Mabunda S, Casimiro S, Quinto L and Alonso P, “A country-wide malaria survey in Mozambique: I. Plasmodium falciparum infection in children in different epidemiological settings”,Malaria Journal, 7:216, Oct.2008.
[14]	Sumbele NIU, Samje M and Nkuo-Akenji T, “A longitudinal study on anaemia in children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in the mount Cameroon region: prevalence, risk factors and perceptions by caregivers”,BMC Infectious Diseases, 13:123, 2013.
[15]	Matchuindem C : Coinfection paludisme et géohelminthiases chez les enfants âgés de 6 mois à 10 ans dans l’aire de santé de Bélabo et impact sur l’anémie et la nutrition. Thèse de médecine. Université des Montagnes.Bagangté. 2011. 104p.
[16]	Kimbi HK, Nformi D, Patchong AM and NdamukongKJN, “Influence of urbanization on asymptomatic malaria in school children in molyko, South west Cameroon”,East African Medical Journal, 83:602-609,Nov.2006.
[17]	Achidi EA, Apinjoh TO, Anchang-Kimbi JK, Mugri RN, NgwaiAN andYafi CN: Severe and uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children from three regions and three ethnic groups in Cameroon: prospective study: Malaria Journal, 11:215,2012.
[18]	Mabunda S, Aponte J, Tiago A and Alonso P: A country-wide malaria survey in Mozambique: II. Malaria attributable proportion of fever and establishement of malaria case definition in children across different epidemiological settings. Malaria Journal, 8:74, 2009.