Do insecticide-treated curtains reduce all-cause child mortality in Burkina Faso?

To evaluate whether insecticide-treated netting (ITN) reduces child mortality in different epidemiological settings, 4 large, randomized, controlled trials were conducted in Africa. Here we report the findings from the trial in Burkina Faso, in an area of hyperendemic and markedly seasonal malaria transmission. The trial involved 158 villages, with a total population of some 90,000, grouped into 16 geographical clusters.

[Clinical signs of severe malaria in a pediatric hospital in Ouagadougou].

During the period of transmission of malaria, from August to November of 1993 and 1994, we conducted a study to determine the frequency of the clinical forms of severe and complicated malaria. The study involved children, from 6 months through 15 years old, admitted to the pediatric ward of the hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The criteria for inclusion followed the definition of severe malaria stated by the World Health Organization.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sympatric ethnic groups of Burkina Faso, west Africa.

Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate, parasite density and anti-CS antibodies were assessed in 196 subjects (age > 10 yrs) belonging to three sympatric West African ethnic groups, namely Mossi, Rimaibé and Fulani, all exposed to very high seasonal malaria transmission in the same rural village near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. No interethnic differences were noted in the use of antimalaria measures nor in the exposure to malaria vectors. However, interethnic differences were found in each of the three malariological indices.

Sensitivity to antimalarial drugs by Plasmodium falciparum in Goundry, Oubritenga province, Burkina Faso.

Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to chloroquine in vivo and to chloroquine, mefloquine, quinine, amodiaquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine in vitro was investigated in children living in Goundry village, Oubritenga Province (Burkina Faso) in November 1992. An extended WHO in vivo field test was used, with follow-up on days 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after treatment with 25 mg chloroquine per kg body weight given over 3 days, in children from 2 to 8 years old with P. falciparum monospecific infection, asexual parasitaemia > 800 parasites/microliter of blood and negative Bergqvist urine tests.

Ten-year surveillance of drug-resistant malaria in Burkina Faso (1982-1991).

To understand the evolution of drug-resistant forms of malaria in time and in space, we carried out an analysis of the results of a series of passive and active surveys conducted in Burkina Faso between 1982 and 1991. A total of 607 tests for resistance to chloroquine and mefloquine were carried out in vitro and 3,679 tests for resistance to chloroquine, quinine, and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were performed in vivo. The surveys principally involved the two main cities of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.

In vivo sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to halofantrine hydrochloride in Burkina Faso.

Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to halofantrine hydrochloride was investigated in a small village near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where the parasite was known to be chloroquine resistant. An in vivo test was carried out in July 1992 at the beginning of the rainy season in children ranging in age from two to eight years with P. falciparum monospecific infections, asexual parasitemia greater than 800/microliters of blood, and a negative result on a Bergqvist urine test for 4-aminoquinolines.

Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine and mefloquine in Ouagadougou area (Burkina Faso).

Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to chloroquine in vivo and to chloroquine and mefloquine in vitro was investigated in children living in Ouagadougou area (Burkina Faso) in October 1991. The 7-day WHO in vivo field test was used, with follow-up on days 2, 4, 7 after treatment with 25 mg base of chloroquine per kg body weight given over 3 days, on children aged 2-8 years with monospecific P. falciparum infection (parasite density higher than 800 asexual parasites/microliters of blood), and negative Bergqvist urine tests.

A national survey of the prevalence of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Burkina Faso.

Plasmodium falciparum susceptibility to chloroquine was investigated in 10 areas of Burkina Faso in the rainy seasons in 1990-1991. The 7-days in-vivo test was carried out from August to November on children aged 2-8 years with monospecific P. falciparum infection (asexual parasitaemia > 800 microliters-1 of blood), axillary temperature < 37.

[In vivo chemosensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in Burkina Faso: development of resistance 1988-1990].

A study of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine was carried out in 1988 and 1990 in 5 localities, representatives of different climatic areas of Burkina Faso. The 7-day in vivo standard test performed in 1988 showed a total clearance failure of 25%. No significant difference with 1990 data was found, except for an increase of the resistance in the area of Fada N'Gourma, close to the border with Benin, Niger and Togo.

In vitro immune recognition of synthetic peptides from the Plasmodium falciparum CS protein by individuals naturally exposed to different sporozoite challenge.

The impact of duration and intensity of sporozoite challenge on the in vitro cell immune response to synthetic peptides of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum was investigated in residents of a malaria endemic area in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production were used to assess immune recognition of synthetic peptides corresponding to the polymorphic Th2R and Th3R regions, to the conserved CS.T3 sequence and to NANP and degenerate NVDP repeats.

[Utilization of permethrin-impregnated curtains by the inhabitants of a rural community in Burkina Faso].

The degree of utilisation of permethrin-impregnated curtains was assessed in a rural community near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Results showed that in the first half of the night, until 11-11.30 p.

[Current aspects of malarial chemoresistance of subjects autochthonous in the OCCGE countries (West Africa)].

Within the context of the monitoring of malaria drug resistance in the countries of the OCCGE, a workshop has been organized in order to sum up the surveys carried out by the national teams. For active or passive monitoring mainly the in vivo tests have been used. The native population, mainly school children, was studied.

Waiting for the vaccine: sporozoite vaccine research entails important progress in malaria epidemiology.

The research efforts aimed at developing a vaccine against malaria, although failing thus far in their main objective, have produced molecular tools of great utility for epidemiological studies. For example, monoclonal antibodies directed against the repeats of Plasmodium circumsporozoite (CS) protein allowed the 2-site assay for detecting sporozoites in mosquitoes to be established. This immunoassay is advantageous compared with the conventional method of salivary gland dissection and microscopic examination, for it makes the identification of the sporozoite species possible, thanks to species-specific aminoacid sequences of the CS repeats.

[The role of malaria in febrile diseases in the urban environment of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso, West Africa)].

We studied from January to December 1988 the part played by malaria in the etiology of febrile diseases observed in three community clinics of Ouagadougou city (Burkina Faso, West Africa). The diagnosis of malaria attacks was based on the association of a body temperature equal or above 38 degrees C and a parasite density equal or above 10,000 parasitized red blood cells per mm3. We observed that fever attacks were primarily caused by malaria.

Permethrin-impregnated curtains in malaria control.

The impact of permethrin-impregnated curtains on the incidence of malaria episodes, parasitaemia and splenomegaly was assessed during a 22 month period in 2 groups of children aged 0.5-6 years. One group lived in houses where permethrin-impregnated curtains had been installed, the other group lived in houses without curtains.

[Impact of utilization of permethrin impregnated curtains on malaria in a rural zone of high transmission in Burkina Faso].

The efficacy of permethrin impregnated curtains as a malaria control measure was evaluated in a rice field area nearby Ouagadougou (BF). Two groups of children aged 1-5 years matched for age, sex and malaria exposure, were followed through the rainy season of 1987 for illness and febrile episodes. One group of 118 children lived in houses protected with impregnated curtains, the other in houses without curtains.

Further observations on chemoprophylaxis and prevalence of malaria using questionnaire data in urban and rural areas of Burkina Faso.

A cross-sectional study of malaria prevalence (98.6% Plasmodium falciparum) was carried out in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and in 3 neighbouring villages on 2117 children, zero to five years old. Data on antimalarial prophylaxis and treatment were obtained from the child's parent using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Prevalence and levels of antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum in an endemic area and their relationship to resistance against malaria infection.

A study on malaria transmission, prevalence of infection and anti-sporozoite antibodies was carried out in Burkina Faso (West Africa). The prevalence and the levels of antibodies to (NANP)3 were found to be related to the entomological sporozoite inoculation rates measured at the same time in a defined area. The major inducer of anti-(NANP)3 antibody production under field conditions is sporozoite inoculation by infected mosquitoes.

Detection and anatomical localization of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein and sporozoites in the afrotropical malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l.

Salivary glands from Anopheles gambiae s.l. collected in Burkina Faso, West Africa, were analyzed by both microscopic examination and immunoradiometric assay to determine the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rates.

CS antigen localization in malaria vectors: hypothetical refractoriness to transmission observed in the field.

Indoor resting Anopheles gambiae s.l. were collected in two villages near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and processed to investigate the presence and distribution of Plasmodium sporozoites.

Immunity to Plasmodium sporozoites: recent advances and applications to field research.

The presence of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in humans living in malaria endemic areas was measured using as antigen the synthetic peptide (NANP)3, which represents the immunodominant region of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein. The results indicate that: i) the production of anti-CS antibodies is unrelated to the presence in the circulation of blood-stage parasites; ii) anti-CS antibodies, raised by natural inoculation, could exert a protective role against natural malaria infection; iii) anti-CS antibodies can be used as indicators of the intensity of malaria transmission.

[Prevalence of malaria in Ouagadougou and the surrounding rural environment during the period of maximal transmission].

The prevalence of malaria infections was estimated in six different areas of the town of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and in three neighbouring villages. Thick and thin blood films from a total of 2,117 children less than 5 years old were examined at the peak of the transmission season (August-September). Plasmodium falciparum was found in more than 98% of the positive slides.