Insecticide use pattern and phenotypic susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato to commonly used insecticides in Lower Moshi, northern Tanzania.

Background: Evidence of insecticide resistance has been documented in different malaria endemic areas. Surveillance studies to allow prompt investigation of associated factors to enable effective insecticide resistance management are needed. The objective of this study was to assess insecticide use pattern and phenotypic susceptibility level of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato to insecticides commonly used in malaria control in Moshi, northern Tanzania.

Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection and use of different malaria control measures among primary school children in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania.

Background: Malaria is a public health problem in Tanzania affecting all age groups. It is known that school children are the age group most commonly infected with malaria parasites. Their infections are usually asymptomatic, go unnoticed and thus never get treated, result in anaemia, reduced ability to concentrate and learn in school and if fallen sick may lead to school absenteeism.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with human Taenia solium infections in Mbozi District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania.

Background: Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis is emerging as a serious public health and economic problem in many developing countries. This study was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of human T. solium infections in Mbeya Region, Tanzania.

Morphologic and genetic identification of Taenia tapeworms in Tanzania and DNA genotyping of Taenia solium.

Species identification of Taenia tapeworms was performed using morphologic observations and multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. In 2008 and 2009, a total of 1,057 fecal samples were collected from residents of Kongwa district of Dodoma region, Tanzania, and examined microscopically for helminth eggs and proglottids. Of these, 4 Taenia egg positive cases were identified, and the eggs were subjected to DNA analysis.

Age and gender effects in self-reported urinary schistosomiasis in Tanzania.

Objectives: To characterize age-gender prevalence profiles of urinary schistosomiasis according to the questionnaire responses, compare the profiles to field survey data from selected regions, and determine if the profiles varied spatially throughout Tanzania.

Methods: In 2004, a national school-based questionnaire survey for self-reported schistosomiasis and blood in urine (BIU) was conducted in all regions of mainland Tanzania, to assist targeted mass distribution of praziquantel. Field survey data were collected in six north-western and five coastal regions using microscopic examination of urine samples for the presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs and assessment of micro-haematuria with chemical reagent strips.

Ill-health reported by schoolchildren during questionnaire surveys in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Background: Insufficient attention has been paid to the health problems of school-age children in sub-Saharan Africa. A questionnaire administered to schoolchildren about their ill-health has been developed to identify schools in which urinary schistosomiasis occurs. The data collected during the interviews can also be used to assess other common health problems.