Prevalence, intensity and some vector dynamics of malaria in Ogbaru local government area of Anambara State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the prevalence, intensity and some vector dynamics of malaria was carried out in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State using standard parasitological and entomological techniques for rapid assessment of malaria infection, level of parasitaemia and morphological features of mosquitoes. The results showed an overall malaria RDT prevalence of 20% and community based prevalence of 13 (16.0%) and 22(24%) for Odekpe and Ogbakuba respectively. In Odekpe, the age range (1-7 years) had the highest prevalence while in Ogbakuba the highest prevalence was the age range 7-14 years. Overall, males had lower malaria prevalence (14.0%) than females (21.0%). The intensity of malaria infection from each of the communities revealed that both high (>2000 - 250000parasites/µl) and medium (>500-2000 parasites/µl) parasitaemia was more in Ogbakuba community. Two hundred and thirty (230) mosquitoes were collected. One hundred and four (45%) of the total mosquito population in the study were found to be unfed with blood meal, whereas 86(37%) and 40(17%) were freshly and previously fed respectively. One hundred and forty two (61.7%) of the mosquitoes appeared gravid against 88(38%) that were non-gravid. The mosquitoes encountered were Anopheles gambiae 76(33.04%), Anopheles funestus 86(37.39%), and Culex specie 68(29.56%). Malaria transmission and possibility of an ongoing transmission of other mosquito-borne diseases among residents in the study area should necessitate design for further studies that would explore the interactions of mosquito species and the diseases they transmit in co- endemic communities as well as effective methods for their control.