African Journal of Parasitology, Mycology and Entomology

Background: Anemia, malaria, and intestinal parasitic infection pose significant health threats to children in developing countries, adversely affecting their cognitive development and nutritional status and increasing their susceptibility to other infectious diseases. In Mauritania, the high prevalence of anemia, particularly in rural areas, along the Senegal River is alarmingly high and remains a critical public health concern. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between August and October 2022 in six health facilities along the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River. Anemia was defined according to WHO criteria, and hemoglobin levels were measured using a HemoCue® Hb 301 analyzer. Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection was diagnosed using the adhesive tape (Scotch tape test) method. Malaria was diagnosed via thick blood smears stained with 10% Giemsa and examined under a microscope. Although thin smears were not performed due to resource limitations, Plasmodium falciparum was identified based on its distinctive morphological features observed in thick smears. Results: Anemia was detected in 75.1% of the 361 children enrolled, with a mean hemoglobin level of 7.3 g/dL. The highest prevalence (90%) was found among children aged 6 to 24 months. Pinworm infection was observed in 20.3% of participants, while malaria showed a low overall prevalence of 2.9%, with all cases confined to the upper valley and attributed to P. falciparum. Conclusion: This study highlights a high burden of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months on the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River basin. The co-occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections and malaria, though limited, further emphasizes the need for integrated control strategies, including nutritional support and preventive deworming. Full article

Introduction: Moniezia species are common tapeworms infecting domestic ruminants worldwide. However, their morphological similarities make species-level identification challenging, often leading to diagnostic confusion among veterinarians. Studies on the population dynamics of these parasites remain scarce in many regions, including Senegal, a West African country. Methods: We investigated the diversity, population structure, and dynamics of the genus Moniezia using 29 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) sequences and 22 nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. These were obtained from three species: Moniezia expansa, Moniezia benedeni, and Moniezia sp., collected from domestic ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle) at Dakar’s main slaughterhouse, SOGAS (formerly SERAS), between June 2013 and May 2014. Sequence alignment was performed using BioEdit, and genetic analyses were conducted with DnaSP, MEGA, Arlequin, and Network software. Results: Polymorphism analysis revealed that M. benedeni exhibited the highest genetic diversity (378 polymorphic sites in SSU rDNA), followed by Moniezia sp. (177 polymorphic sites in Cox1) and M. expansa (105 polymorphic sites in Cox1). The predominance of synonymous over non-synonymous mutations suggests the presence of purifying (negative) selection. Genetic structure analysis indicated clear differentiation between M. expansa and M. benedeni. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that genetic variation was independent of host species and geographic origin. Furthermore, haplotype network analysis revealed evidence of cryptic species within the Moniezia genus. Conclusion: The Moniezia genus may represent a species complex, including M. expansa, M. benedeni, and potentially other yet undescribed species. Full article

To tackle the impact of malaria in countries where it is prevalent, it is crucial for important parties to participate in control initiatives. However, in Côte d’Ivoire, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has excluded the private sector nursery activities, which play an important role in malaria surveillance. Therefore, a study was conducted in Abidjan to assess the knowledge and practices of private nurseries in regard to the National Malaria Treatment Policy. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from January to June 2012. The survey targeted all private nursery health professionals who treated patients with suspected malaria cases in the Abidjan District of Côte d’Ivoire. A questionnaire was administered to the practitioners to evaluate their knowledge and practices regarding malaria and the National Malaria Treatment Policy. We interviewed 161 practitioners who worked at 200 private nurseries that were visited. Among them, 96 (55.1%) were nurses and 46 (28.6%) were orderlies. The remaining practitioners were made up of physicians (9.3%) and midwives (2.5%) who were hired. The study found a significant relationship between the professional status of the practitioners and their knowledge of new NMCP guidelines or activities. The majority of the practitioners (89/161; 55.3%) provided antimalarial treatment using artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in the event of a negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) result. This practice was observed across all professional status categories, with orderlies (58.7%), nurses (58.4%), and midwives (50%) being more inclined to offer this treatment. It is necessary to implement targeted interventions to enhance health workers’ practice. Full article

Introduction: Knowledge gaps still exist in Burkina Faso regarding the diagnostic performance of the highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test (hsRDT) for the detection of Plasmodium (P.) falciparum malaria infection in pregnant women during antenatal care visits in Bobo-Dioulasso city. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 288 pregnant women was conducted between October and December 2022. P. falciparum malaria infection in peripheral blood was detected using the hsRDT, conventional RDT (cRDT), microscopy, and an ultrasensitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The hsRDT, cRDT, and microscopy performance were assessed using qPCR as the gold standard. Cohen’s Kappa test was used to estimate the agreement between the different diagnostic tests. Results: The prevalence of P. falciparum infection was 59.72% (172/288) by qPCR. The sensitivity of the hsRDT, cRDT, and microscopy was 51.16% [95% CI (43.44–58.85)], 50.58% [95% CI (42.87–58.28)], and 32.56% [95% CI (25.62–40.11)], respectively. The specificities were 98.28% [95% CI (93.91–99.79)], 99.14% [95% CI (95.29–99.98)], and 99.14% [95% CI (95.29–99.98)] for the hsRDT, cRDT, and microscopy, respectively. The agreement between the hsRDT and qPCR was moderate (Kappa = 0.44; p < 0.001). For parasite density by qPCR below 100 parasites/µL, the hsRDT and cRDT had the same sensitivity of 28.81% [95% CI (20.85–37.87)] but higher than that of microscopy [5.93% (95% CI 2.42–11.84)]. Conclusions: The sensitivity of the hsRDT is similar to that of the cRDT but better than that of microscopy. These results highlight the need for further studies to better guide recommendations on using the hsRDT malaria control and elimination. Full article

Introduction: Neonatal anemia remains a significant yet under-recognized public health concern, particularly in low-resource settings. Neonatal anemia is characterized by a decreased hemoglobin level in the blood of newborns. Its complications include tissue hypoxia and delayed neurodevelopment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity, associated factors, and outcomes of anemia among hospitalized neonates in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and September 2021 among 242 neonates admitted to a tertiary hospital. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Anemia was defined based on WHO criteria. Statistical associations between anemia and potential risk factors were analyzed using Chi-squared tests. Results: The prevalence of neonatal anemia was 16.5%. Among anemic neonates, 52.2% had mild anemia, 37.5% moderate, and 10% severe. Low birth weight was present in 62.5% of anemic cases. Neonatal infections were diagnosed in 40% and Rhesus incompatibility in 22.5% of anemic newborns. Significant associations were found between anemia and neonatal infection (p = 0.03), as well as lack of maternal iron supplementation during pregnancy (p = 0.02). Management included antibiotics (40%), phototherapy (30%), and blood transfusion (15%). While 80% of anemic neonates recovered, 20% died during hospitalization. Conclusion: Neonatal anemia affects one in six hospitalized newborns in the Hôpital de l’Amitié of Nouakchott. It is associated with preventable risk factors such as infection and inadequate maternal iron supplementation. The wider aim of this research is to improve the rates of neonatal anemia in this setting. Full article

Background: The decision to treat infections due to Candida spp. should be based on the susceptibility of Candida isolates. The resistance of Candida spp. to antifungals is increasing with the use of empirical or repeated treatments. In Mali, there are few data on Candida species distribution and in vitro susceptibility to antifungals. We aim to describe the distribution and in vitro susceptibility of Candida isolates. Methods: A retrospective and prospective study was conducted from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2019. A total of 1224 samples from inpatients and outpatients, including both males and females, were collected. The identification of the Candida species and in vitro antifungal susceptibility were performed using VITEK-2 (AST-YSO8 cards, bioMérieux). Results: In total, 1175 (95.9%) samples tested positive for Candida spp.; 54.33% were from community health care centers; 89% were female; 85% of the Candida spp. were isolated from vaginal discharge and 10.40% were isolated from pus; and the most common species were Candida albicans (68%), Candida glabrata (11%), and Candida tropicalis (6%). Fluconazole was the most potent antifungal, with 99.81% susceptibility to all Candida isolates. Susceptibility to flucytosine was 98% for C. albicans, 100% for C. glabrata, 97% for C. tropicalis, and 36.96% for C. krusei. Susceptibility to amphotericin B was 96% for C. albicans, 97% for C. glabrata, 100% for C. tropicalis, and 81% for C. krusei. Conclusions: C. albicans and C. glabrata were common and susceptible to the antifungals tested. C. krusei and C. rugosa were the most resistant. Systematic antifungal in vitro susceptibility tests before the treatment of candidiasis infections should be reinforced in health care facilities in Mali. Full article