Prevalence of P. falciparum Gametocyte Carrying between Two Sympatric Ethnic Groups Living in Seasonal Malaria Transmission Setting of Burkina Faso after Universal Bed Nets Coverage Campaigns

Aims: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of P. falciparum gametocyte carriage in two sympatric ethnic groups living in seasonal malaria transmission setting in Burkina Faso.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2017 in children aged from 2 to 12 years and living in Barkoundouba, avillage located at the Northeast part of Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso. The study participants were subject to clinical examination including axillary temperature. Blood samples were collected from finger pricks to performed RDT and blood smears for malaria diagnosis and on filter paper for molecular detection of the parasite. Any case of fever (temperature ≥ 37.5°C) with RDT positive was treated according to national guideline.

Methodology: We included 461 patients in this study. P. falciparum presence and densities were determined by microscopy using Giemsa-stained thick blood smears. The nested PCR was used to confirm the presence of the asexual parasites assessed by the microscopy.

Results: P. falciparum prevalence assessed by microscopy was 83 (32.55%) and 103 (50%) for Fulani and Mossi respectively, whereas the prevalence by nested PCR was 88 (39.11%) for Fulani and 121 (68.75%) for Mossi. The gametocyte carriage in the two ethnic groups was: 3.53% for Fulani and 11.65% for Mossi. The prevalence ratio for P. falciparum asymptomatic and gametocyte carriers was 1.5 and 3 in favor of Mossi group respectively.

Conclusion: This study showed that the Fulani have a lower prevalence of P. falciparum compared to the Mossi group despite the decrease of parasitemia and prevalence in both groups compared to previous studies.