Browsing by Author "Demissie Fekadu"

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    Assesment of Public Health Implication of Malaria-Hookworm Co-Infection in Asendabo South West Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2007-08) Demissie Fekadu; Petros Beyene (Professor); Kebede Amha (PhD)
    Malaria and geo-helminth infections are causes of severe illness and poor economic growth. The present study aimed at investigating the public health importance of Malaria-hookworm co-infection with emphasis on anemia the leading co-morbid disease condition in Asendabo, south west Ethiopia during the months of October and November 2006. A total of 370 suspected malaria cases and additional 100 school children participated in the study. Modified Kato-Katz and formal-ether concentration techniques were used for stool examination. Harada Mori hookworm culture was established for identification of hookworm species. Thick and thin blood films and Paramax-3TM rapid antigen capture assay were used for detection of malaria parasites. A total of 61.6% individuals were positive for at least one intestinal helminth and/or protozoan infection. Hookworm was the most prevalent (38%) followed by Ascaris (19.2%) and Trichuris trichiura (10.3%). The majority (92.0%) of hookworm infections were N. americanus and the rest (8.0%) were A. duodenale. 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. Compared with Geimsa stained microscopy, Paramax-3TM was sensitive (90.1%) and specific (93.3%) for identification of total malaria with positive and negative predictive values of 86.4% and 95.0%, respectively. Hemoglobin measurement detected 27.6% 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 in individuals infected with either hookworm or malaria infection alone (F=69.39, P=0.000). The study has revealed that malaria co-infections with hookworm as well as other intestinal helminths worsens hemoglobin loss and that individuals co-infected must receive prompt health care to control anemia morbidity / mortality. Furthermore, deworming of the population must be considered concurrently with malaria control. Keywords:-Hookworm, Malaria, Co-infection, Paramax-3 TM, Anemia, Helminth, Asendabo, Ethiopia.