Indicators and vectors related to malaria transmission in the Kozah and Doufel gou (Kara region, North Togo)

Abstract

Malaria is a vector-borne disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, in particular Anopheles gambiae s.l. To identify malaria vectors and establish a link between the presence of malaria vectors and malaria prevalence, a study was carried out in 7 localities of the Kara region: Lassa-Bas, Sarakawa, and Kpindi in the Kozah prefecture and Siou, Défalé, Ténéga and Broukou in the Doufelgou prefecture. Two malaria indicators were evaluated including the prevalence rate as well as consultation rate among children aged under 5 and pregnant women in the above-mentioned areas. Additionally, adult mosquitoes were collected using Human Landing Catch and Spray Catch techniques in the following localities: Lassa-Bas, Sarakawa, Siou, and Ténéga. Malaria prevalence rate was globally > 70%, the consultation rate was also > 50% among children under 5 years in the two prefectures. In pregnant women, the prevalence was > 60% while the consultation rate was 45%. A total of 592 mosquitoes were collected, divided into 3 genera: Anopheles, 521 (88%); Culex, 54 (9%); and Aedes, 17 (3%). Of the overall Anopheles mosquitoes collected, Anopheles gambiae s.l. represented 100% in all the localities (Lassa-Bas, 140; Sarakawa, 62; Ténéga, 303; and Siou, 16), followed by Aedes aegypti, Aedes sp, and Culex spp. The high rate of malaria prevalence could be potentially linked to the abundance of Anopheles mosquitoes.