High prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and soil-transmitted helminth co-infections in a periurban community in Kwara State, Nigeria

Prevalence of malaria and soil-transmitted helminth infections, and the burden of disease are enormous in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-infections aggravate the clinical outcome, but are common due to an overlap of endemic areas. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess prevalence, intensity of infection and association between malaria and soil-transmitted helminth infections in a typical periurban community in Kwara State. Fresh blood and faecal samples were examined using thick blood film and Kato-Katz smear techniques. A total of 383/471 study participants (81.3%) were infected with at least one parasite species, with the following prevalences and mean infection intensities: Plasmodium falciparum 63.7% (2313.6 parasites/μl); Ascaris lumbricoides 63.1% (3152.1 epg); Trichuris trichiura 53.3% (1043.5 epg); and hookworms 30.1% (981.7 epg). Sixty-three percent of the study population were co-infected with two or more parasite species. The prevalence of ascariasis was significantly higher in individuals infected with P. falciparum (adjusted OR: 5.87; 95% CI: 3.30–10.42). Heavy A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections were associated with high P. falciparum parasitaemia. Co-endemicity of malaria and soil transmitted helminth infections is an important public health problem in the study area. Multi-target integrated approaches focusing on disease intervention are essential to mitigate morbidity caused by multiple infections