Assessment of public health implication of malaria-geohelminth co-infection with an emphasis on hookworm-malaria anemia among suspected malaria patients in asendabo, southwest Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
Malaria and geo-helminth infections are causes of severe illness and poor economic growth. Overlapping distributions of both parasites lead to high rate of co-infection.


OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to assess public health importance of Malaria-geo-helminth co-infection with an emphasis on anemia in Asendabo, south west Ethiopia.


METHODS
A total of 370 suspected malaria cases were involved in the study. Each stool sample was analyzed using Kato-Katz techniques. Thick blood films were used for detection and quantization of malaria parasites. Hemoglobin was determined using Sysmex hematology analyzer.


RESULTS
61.6% individuals were positive for at least one intestinal helminth and/or protozoan infection. Hookworm was the most prevalent (38%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (19.2%) and Trichuris trichiura (10.3%). Furthermore, 32.4% of the study participants were positive for either of the two Plasmodium species; of which 64.3% were P. falciparum and the rest 35.7% were P. vivax. Based on WHO definition of anemia, 27.6% were anemic cases and both hookworm and malaria infections were significantly associated with anemia (P < 0.05). 20.8% of study participants were co-infected with malaria and any helminth. Hookworm and malaria positive individuals had low mean hemoglobin concentration than their respective negative counter parts and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lowered in malaria-hookworm co-infected individuals than individuals infected with either hookworm or malaria infection alone (F = 69.39, P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
In general malaria hookworm co-infections worsen hemoglobin loss. And we recommend that individuals co-infected should receive prompt health care to control and prevent morbidity/mortality from anemia.
Demissie
Fekadu
F
Jimma Univerity PO Box 379 Jimma Ethiopia.
Kebede
Amha
A
Shimels
Techalew
T
Beyene
Petros
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D014258:Trichuris; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins