Molecular epidemiology of malaria parasite amongst patients in a displaced people’s camp in Sudan

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Hamza Adam Eshag, Elfadel Elnzer, Elkhatieb Nahied, Mustafa Talib, Ali Mussa, Abd Elhafiz M. A. Muhajir, Ibrahim Khider Ibrahim, Abdulwali Sabo, Salah-Eldin Gumma Elzaki, Zeehaida Mohamed, Khalid Hajissa
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020
• Subjects: Malaria; Plasmodium; Molecular epidemiology; Displaced camp; Sudan; Nested PCR; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-020-0192-3; https://doaj.org/article/89b0e090f5ae42c1955ac7c0eade346a

Abstract Background Despite the importance of epidemiological studies in the development of effective control strategies and provision of basic health services for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), data on the prevalence of malaria are limited. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate the molecular prevalence of malaria amongst the displaced population in Ardamata IDP camp in Al-Geneina City, Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2018 to December 2018 to estimate malaria prevalence amongst the displaced population in Ardamata IDP camp in Al-Geneina City, Sudan. A total of 380 patients with suspected malaria were recruited. Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assays were performed to detect the Plasmodium genus and species. Results Of 380 patients, 232 (61.1%) were positive for malaria. Plasmodium falciparum was the only prevalent species detected amongst the study population. nPCR analysis revealed that none of the samples had Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale or Plasmodium malariae. The malaria prevalence rate was higher amongst males (67.1%) than in females (56.8%), and gender was the only risk factor that was significantly associated with malaria infection (p = .042). Conclusions Despite control programmes, malaria remains a significant cause of illness amongst a displaced population. The high prevalence of malaria infection in this study indicates that additional health facilities and control strategies should be implemented in displaced camps and the surrounding areas.