title: Age dependence of the multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections and of other malariological indices in an area of high endemicity.
abstract: The relationship between age and various malariological indices in the Kilombero valley of Tanzania were examined by compiling data from 6 different community studies carried out between 1989 and 1996. The rate of acquisition of Plasmodium falciparum infection was highest in children 1-5 years of age, while recovery rates were lowest between the first birthday and early adolescence. As a result, peak prevalence was reached in 3-5 years old children. However, the prevalence of clinical malaria (estimated from the excess risk of axillary temperatures > or = 37.5 degrees C attributable to parasitaemia) was highest in children under one year of age. The peak in multiplicity of infection (identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism of the msp2 locus) occurred in 3-7 years old children. There was a significant correlation between parasite density and multiplicity of infection in infants and young children (1-2 years of age) but not in older individuals.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland. smith@ubaclu.unibas.ch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitua
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mwankusye
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Felger
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fraser-Hurt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irion
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teuscher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology