Relationship of the annual parasite incidence with the child spleen and parasite rates in resurgent malaria in Karnataka State
Roy, R.G.; Ghosh, R.B.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 69: 739-745
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 511255 Document Number: 143971
Surveillance was introduced as a component of a malaria eradication program, when malariometric indices [spleen rate, parasite rate and infant parasite rate] became insensitive due to very low incidence of the disease. After the large-scale resurgence of malaria, the justification for continuing the surveillance was questioned. The annual parasite incidence (API) was compared with the spleen and parasite rate in 6 groups of villages in Karnataka [India]. The highest rates of spleen (29.49), parasite (14.53) and average enlarged spleen were found with the highest average API group of 638.62. The 2nd highest spleen rate was in the group with an average API of 62.25 and the 2nd highest parasite rate of 6.29 was in the group with an average API of 146.95. There was no regular correlation between API, spleen and parasite rate in different villages, with varying levels of API. The spleen/parasite rates have not yet regained former sensitivity. Ready availability of antimalarial drug played a very important role in affecting the value of former indices.