Study of the transmission of malaria in the dry season at the level of the Senegal River Valley: case of the city of Kaédi-Mauritania.

Abstract

Introduction: In view of the current and predicted environmental and climatic changes, the epidemiology of malaria in the town of Kaédi (Mauritania), bordering the Senegal River valley, requires particular attention. Cases of malaria are recorded in health facilities throughout the year, with an average of 150,000 presumptive annual cases, and current climatic and ecological conditions favor seasonal transmission. Methods : This descriptive cross‑sectional survey conducted in Kaédi city in May 2015 during the dry season, to assess the transmission of malaria. All household members underwent microscopic examination (Thick Drop). Adult malaria larvae and mosquitoes were searched and collected in the larval hovels by prospecting and in the houses of the houses by spraying and by light traps. Results : A total of 4642 thick drops were made. Twelve (0.26) were carriers of plasmodium. The only plasmodial species encountered was Plasmodium falciparum. The plasmodic index did not vary according to the age groups and the highest parasitic loads (500 ‑ 4 999 parasites / μl of blood) were mainly observed in the age groups 0‑5 and> 18 years . And 86% of patients are apyretic. Larval fauna is dominated by larvae of the genus Culex (99.6%). Anophelian fauna is only 0.4%. Six (6) mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles were harvested in this study. Conclusion : Our study showed a transmission in the dry season at the level of this riverside town of the Senegal river valley