@article{fdi:010065485,
  title = {{M}alaria-associated morbidity during the rainy season in {S}aharan and {S}ahelian zones in {M}auritania},
  author = {{O}uld {A}hmedou {S}alem, {M}. {S}. and {B}asco, {L}eonardo and {O}uldabdallahi, {M}. and {L}ekweiry, {K}. {M}. and {K}onate, {L}. and {F}aye, {O}. and {O}uld {M}ohamed {S}alem {B}oukhary, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{R}eliable epidemiological data based on laboratory-confirmed cases are scarce in {M}auritania. {A} large majority of reported malaria cases are based on presumptive clinical diagnosis. {T}he present study was conducted to establish a reliable database on malaria morbidity among febrile paediatric and adult patients consulting spontaneously at public health facilities in {N}ouakchott, situated in the {S}aharan zone, and in {H}odh {E}lgharbi region in the {S}ahelian zone in south-east {M}auritania during the peak transmission periods. {G}iemsa-stained thin and thick films were examined under the microscope, and the parasite density was determined according to the procedures recommended by the {W}orld {H}ealth {O}rganization. {M}icroscopy results were confirmed by rapid diagnostic test for malaria. {A} total of 1161 febrile patients (498 in {N}ouakchott and 663 in {H}odh {E}lgharbi region) were enrolled during two successive peak transmission periods in 2009 and 2010. {I}n {N}ouakchott, 253 (50.8%) febrile patients had positive smears (83% {P}lasmodium vivax monoinfections and 17% {P}lasmodium falciparum monoinfections). {I}n {H}odh {E}lgharbi, 378 of 663 patients (57.0%) were smear-positive, mostly due to {P}. falciparum monoinfections (96.6%). {U}nlike in {N}ouakchott, mixed {P}. falciparum-{P}. vivax infections, as well as {P}. vivax, {P}. ovale, and {P}. malariae monoinfections, were also observed at a very low prevalence in southern {M}auritania. {I}n {N}ouakchott, malaria occurred more frequently ({P} < 0.05) with higher slide positivity rates (42-53%) among children aged >5 years old and adults than in young children aged <5 years old in both 2009 and 2010. {I}n {H}odh {E}lgharbi, high slide positivity rates (60.9-86.2%) were observed in all age groups in 2010, and there was no significant trend ({P} > 0.05) in relation with age groups. {T}he present study confirmed the predominance of {P}. falciparum in southern {M}auritania reported in previous studies. {T}he presence of {P}. vivax in {N}ouakchott is a new epidemiological reality that requires an urgent adoption of novel strategies for parasitological and vector control to combat urban malaria. {M}oreover, the present study provides evidence-based data on malaria burden in two regions in {M}auritania that may serve as a springboard to establish and develop a national surveillance system of malaria epidemiology.},
  keywords = {{P}lasmodium vivax ; {P}lasmodium falciparum ; {M}orbidity ; {P}revalence ; {M}auritania ; {MAURITANIE} ; {SAHARA} ; {ZONE} {SAHELIENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}cta {T}ropica},
  volume = {152},
  numero = {},
  pages = {1--7},
  ISSN = {0001-706{X}},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.08.005},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065485},
}