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Moutongo Mouandza R, M'bondoukwe NP, Obiang Ndong GP, Nzaou Nziengui A, Batchy Ognagosso FB, Nziengui Tirogo C, Moutombi Ditombi B, Mawili-Mboumba DP, Bouyou-Akotet MK. Anaemia in asymptomatic parasite carriers living in urban, rural and peri-urban settings of Gabon. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2020; 114:618-626. [DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
This cross-sectional study was carried out in different settlements of Gabon to determine the influence of single or multiple parasite carriage on haemoglobin (Hb) levels.
Methods
Between April 2015 and June 2016, healthy volunteers from urban, peri-urban and rural areas were screened for malaria, blood filariasis and intestinal parasitic infections using microscopic methods. Hb concentration was measured with a Hemocue analyser. The association between parasite carriage and anaemia was assessed.
Results
Among the 775 volunteers examined, 319 (41.2%) were from rural villages and 76.0% were adults. Filariasis, intestinal parasitic infections, Plasmodium falciparum and polyparasitism were detected in 15.6, 14.6, 9.5 and 6.8% of participants, respectively. Anaemia prevalence was 72.6%, with rates of mild, moderate and severe anaemia being 30.9, 61.1 and 8.0%, respectively. The median Hb level was lowest in the presence of hookworms (7.1 g/dl [interquartile range {IQR} 6.8–7.5]), Schistosoma intercalatum (6.9 g/dl), Trichuris trichiura (10.1 g/dl [IQR 8.9–11.5]) and Plasmodium falciparum (10.0 g/dl [IQR 9.1–11.2]) compared with filariaemia (12.1 g/dl [IQR 10.5–13.2]) (p=0.03). Moderate to severe anaemia predominated among those single-infected with P. falciparum (69.5%) or co-infected with intestinal parasitic infections and P. falciparum (76.2%), while it was found in only 23.2% of individuals with filariasis. All participants with soil-transmitted helminths and more than half with a Blastocystis sp. (68.8%) infection had moderate anaemia.
Conclusions
The prevalence of anaemia is high. Asymptomatic parasite carriage is associated with anaemia in this surveyed population in Gabon.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Moutongo Mouandza
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - N P M'bondoukwe
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | | | - A Nzaou Nziengui
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - F B Batchy Ognagosso
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - C Nziengui Tirogo
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - B Moutombi Ditombi
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - D P Mawili-Mboumba
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
| | - M K Bouyou-Akotet
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, BP 4009, Libreville, Gabon
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