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. 2006 Nov 3:5:99.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-5-99.

The co-distribution of Plasmodium falciparum and hookworm among African schoolchildren

Simon Brooker  1 , Archie C A Clements, Peter J Hotez, Simon I Hay, Andrew J Tatem, Donald A P Bundy, Robert W Snow
Affiliations

The co-distribution of Plasmodium falciparum and hookworm among African schoolchildren

Simon Brooker et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Surprisingly little is known about the geographical overlap between malaria and other tropical diseases, including helminth infections. This is despite the potential public health importance of co-infection and synergistic opportunities for control.

Methods: Statistical models are presented that predict the large-scale distribution of hookworm in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), based on the relationship between prevalence of infection among schoolchildren and remotely sensed environmental variables. Using a climate-based spatial model of the transmission potential for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, adjusted for urbanization, the spatial congruence of populations at coincident risk of infection is determined.

Results: The model of hookworm indicates that the infection is widespread throughout Africa and that, of the 179.3 million school-aged children who live on the continent, 50.0 (95% CI: 48.9-51.1) million (27.9% of total population) are infected with hookworm and 45.1 (95% CI: 43.9-46) million are estimated to be at risk of coincident infection.

Conclusion: Malaria and hookworm infection are widespread throughout SSA and over a quarter of school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa appear to be at risk of coincident infection and thus at enhanced risk of clinical disease. The results suggest that the control of parasitic helminths and of malaria in school children could be viewed as essential co-contributors to promoting the health of schoolchildren.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(top) Predicted prevalence of hookworm, based on relationships between observed prevalence of infection among school-aged children (insert) and satellite-derived environmental data; (middle) map of climatic suitability for P. falciparum malaria transmission based on Craig et al. (24), adjusted for urbanization (28); and (bottom) map of geographic overlap of moderate-high hookworm (prevalence >20%) and P. falciparum transmission. Grey indicates population density <1 km2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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