Corresponding author: Udujih Helan
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0.
Prevalence, intensity and vector dynamics of malaria in Anambra east local
government area of Anambra State, Nigeria
Udujih Helen Ifeoma
1, *
, Dike-Ndudim Joy Nkiru
1
, Udujih, Obinna Godwin
2
, Dike Uchechi Pamela
2
, Amadi Joy
Adaku Chibuzo
3
, Ogoamaka Ann Ijeoma
4
and Onyeneke Esther- Ben Ninikanwa
3
1
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
2
Department of Public Health, School Of Health Technology, Federal University Of Technology Owerri, Imo Sate, Nigeria.
3
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Science, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
4
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2021, 06(02), 073–080
Publication history: Received on 29 March 2021; revised on 14 May 2021; accepted on 17 May 2021.
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2021.6.2.0041
Abstract
The prevalence, intensity and some vector dynamics of malaria in two communities of Anambra East Local Government
Area LGA was carried out using standard parasitological and entomological techniques for rapid assessment of malaria
infection, level of parasitaemia and morphological features of mosquitoes. Results showed an overall malaria RDT
(Rapid Diagnostic Test) prevalence of 22% and community based prevalence of 13 (30%) and 22(24%) for Umuoba -
Anam and Nando respectively. Overall, age related prevalence in the Anambra West LGA showed that the age bracket
35 to 42 years had the highest malaria prevalence 3(42.9 %). Overall sex related prevalence in Anambra East LGA
showed no statistical significance in prevalence among males (12.0%) and females (10.0%) (P<0.05). The intensity of
malaria infection from each of the communities revealed that both low (50-500 parasites/ µl) and medium (>500-2000
parasites/µl) parasitaemia. There was no high parasitaemia recorded in Umuoba-Anam. Overall, a total of 225
mosquitoes were encountered with anopheles making up 61%. A hundred and twenty one (53.8% of the total mosquito
population in the study was found to be unfed with blood meal whereas 54(24%) and 50 (22.2%) were freshly and
previously fed respectively. One hundred and twenty one (53.8%) of the mosquitoes appeared non-gravid against
82(36.4%) that are gravid. The mosquitoes encountered were Anopheles gambiae 31(13.8%), Anopheles funestus
77(34.22%), and Culex Specie 117(52%). The two communities recorded variations in prevalence, intensity and vector
dynamics. There should be intensified effort to continuously educate the masses on all the strategies of malaria
prevention.
Keywords: Malaria; Mosquitoes; Anambra state
1. Introduction
Malaria is one of the most important public health problems in the world with Nigeria accounting for the greatest
number of cases and deaths among all the countries in the world. [1,2]. It is a disease of humans and animals caused by
protozoan parasites of the genus plasmodium [3,4]. In humans, malaria is caused by P. falciparium, P. Malariae, P.ovale
and p.vivax with P. falciparium as the most common cause of human infection responsible for about 90% of deaths [5].
The female mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus serve as the primary hosts and transmission vectors of the parasites.
Malaria is endemic throughout most of the tropical countries with an ongoing transmission in 95% countries and
territories according to [6].