@article{fdi:010063991,
  title = {{D}istribution of {P}lasmodium falciparum gametocytes and malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes along an altitudinal transect in {W}estern {C}ameroon},
  author = {{T}chuinkam, {T}. and {N}yih-{K}ong, {B}. and {F}opa, {F}. and {S}imard, {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}ric and {A}ntonio-{N}kondjio, {C}. and {A}wono-{A}mbene, {H}. {P}. and {G}uidone, {L}. and {M}poame, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {H}ighland areas are hypoendemic zones of malaria and are therefore prone to epidemics, due to lack of protective immunity. {S}o far, {C}ameroon has not succeeded in implementing a convenient and effective method to detect, prevent and forecast malaria epidemic in these peculiar zones. {T}his monitoring and evaluation study aims to assess the operational feasibility of using the human malaria infectious reservoir ({HMIR}) and the malaria-attributable fraction of fever episodes ({MAFE}) as indicators, in designing a malaria epidemic early warning system ({MEWS}). {M}ethods: {L}ongitudinal parasitological surveys were conducted in sentinel health centres installed in three localities, located along an altitudinal transect in {W}estern {C}ameroon: {S}antchou (750 m), {D}schang (1,400 m) and {D}juttitsa (1,965 m). {T}he syndromes of outpatients with malaria-like complaints were recorded and their blood samples examined. {T}he {HMIR} and the {MAFE} were estimated and their spatial-temporal variations described. {R}esults: {T}he prevalence of asexual {P}lasmodium infection in outpatients decreased with increasing altitude; meanwhile the {HMIR} remained fairly constant, indicating that scarcity of malaria disease in highlands is likely due to absence of vectors and not parasites. {I}n lowland, children carried the heaviest malaria burden in the form of febrile episodes, and asexual parasites decreased with age, after an initial peak in the 0-5 year's age group; however, they were similar for all age groups in highland. {T}he {HMIR} did not show any variation with age in the plain; but some discrepancies were observed in the highland with extreme age groups, and migration of populations between lowland and highland was suspected to be the cause. {P}lasmodium infection was perennial in the lowland and seasonal uphill, with malaria disease occurring here mostly during the short dry season. {T}he {MAFE} was high and did not change with altitude. {C}onclusion: {I}t is obvious that a malaria outbreak will cause the sudden rise of {HMIR} and {MAFE} in highland, prior to the malaria season; the discrepancy with lowland would then help detecting an incipient malaria epidemic. {I}t is recommended that in designing the {MEWS}, the {N}ational {M}alaria {C}ontrol {P}rogramme should include these parameters and put special emphasis on: altitude, age groups and seasons.},
  keywords = {{H}ighland malaria ; {I}nfectious reservoir ; {F}ever episode ; {M}alaria early warning system ; {E}pidemic ; {CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}alaria {J}ournal},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 96 [15 p.]},
  ISSN = {1475-2875},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1186/s12936-015-0594-6},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010063991},
}