Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum epidemiology in Gambella, south-west Ethiopia
Nigatu, W.; Abebe, M.; Dejene, A.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 43(3): 181-185
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0177-2392 PMID: 1470839 Document Number: 403435
Malaria epidemiology was studied parasitologically and entomologically during 1989-90, in Gambella, south-west Ethiopia. Of the total population examined (n = 1091), 147 (13.5%) were found to be positive for malaria parasites. Prevalence rates among males and females were 13.8% and 13.1%, respectively. Differences in the prevalence rates of malaria in the 11 villages surveyed were observed, the highest (33.3%) being in Ukuna 2 and the lowest (3.9%) in Ukuna 22. 88.9% and 11.1% of the malaria cases of the general population were due to P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. It was also recognized that P. falciparum and P. vivax were prevalent in 81.6% and 18.4% of the Anuak population, respectively. The mosquito species responsible for malaria transmission were the indoor-resting Anopheles gambiae s.l. and A. pharoensis. The parasite infection rates of these species were 0.76% and 0.46% and they were found to be the exclusive vectors of P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. The present findings are not in accord with the study results previously reported 20 years ago by J.C. Armstrong (1972) [Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 39: 545-553] and E.S. Krafsur (1971) [Ethiopian Medical Journal, 9: 75-94]. The most probable contributing factors for such a switch of malaria transmission patterns were the rehabilitation and resettlement programmes and agricultural activities undertaken in Gambella for the past 10 years that may have brought changes in the socio-economic situation and environmental factors.