Background

Malaria is a complex and deadly parasitic disease caused by genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) and Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) are the predominant species globally attributing to the majority of disease burden. According to World Malaria Report 2013, there were an estimated 207 million episodes and 627,000 deaths due to malaria in 2012, of which approximately 80 % of the episodes and 90 % of the deaths were in the Africa region. Approximately, 77 % of malaria deaths globally occurred among children under 5 years [1].

Malaria is a major public health burden in Ethiopia, where its transmission and burden varies with altitude, degree of urbanization, and use of insecticides [2]. A recent malaria trend analysis in northwest Ethiopia revealed 40 % prevalence; the only species to cause the disease, as confirmed microscopically, were P. falciparum (75 %) and P. vivax (25 %) [3].

In tropical African countries, epidemiological concurrence and co-infection between malaria and helminthiasis is common [4–6]. For example, in Tanzania the prevalence of malaria-schistosomiasis co-infection was reported to be 42 % [4]. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of malaria-schistosomiasis co-infection reported to be 15 % and caused high prevalence of anemia, as compared to those infected only with malaria [6].

Earlier studies indicated a controversial interaction of helminthic co-infection with malaria [7, 8]. Intestinal schistosomiasis plays an antagonistic role against malaria, but the egg intensity of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and the age of infected individuals could determine the type of interaction [9, 10]. Although most studies were conducted on animal models, they reported that S. mansoni co-infection contributes to severe malaria presentation. They revealed that S. mansoni co-infection resulted in high Plasmodium parasitemia and increased susceptibility of infected mouse models to mortality [11–14]. In contrast, others illustrated that S. mansoni co-infection contributed to low Plasmodium parasitemia and inhibited cerebral malaria [15–17]. However, these studies suggested that the type of animal model and Plasmodium parasite used significantly affects the impact of S. mansoni co-infection with malaria.

On the other hand, a study among humans revealed the association between heavy Plasmodium parasitemia and heavy intensity schistosomiasis co-infection [18]. In order to put better clinical management and control of malaria, especially in schistosomiasis co-endemic areas, information on the prevalence and clinical outcomes of schistosomiasis co-infection with malaria is needed. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal S. mansoni and malaria co-infection and associated clinical correlates among patients in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

Study area

The study was conducted at Chwahit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Chwahit is located at 12°20ʹ4ʺN and 37°13ʹ35ʺE and at an elevation of 1837 m above sea level. There was one health center providing health care for about 30,000 people in Chwahit and its surrounding. As reported by the District Health Bureau, malaria (due to P. falciparum and P. vivax) and schistosomiasis (due to S. mansoni) are common in the study area.

Study design, period and participants

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2013 among microscopically confirmed malaria patients attending Chwahit Health Center.

Inclusion criteria

Microscopically confirmed malaria patients who provided both blood and stool samples were enrolled in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Patients who attended antiretroviral therapy and antenatal outpatient departments, and patients who had confirmed chronic diseases and concurrent intestinal helminths other than S. mansoni were excluded from participation.

Sample size and sampling techniques

Single population proportion formula was used. Assuming 15 % of malaria and S. mansoni co-infection [6], 95 % level of significance, 5 % precision and 5 % non response rate, a total of 205 study participants were recruited using a random sampling technique.

Data collection procedures

Demographic and clinical data

An interview-based questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, and clinical data was collected during physical examination at the outpatients’ department of the Health Centre. Severe malaria, in this study, was defined as: P. falciparum positive patients who presented with either circulatory collapse (a systolic pressure of less than 80 mmHg in adults and <50 mmHg in children), severe anemia less than 5 mg/dl, hypoglycemia less than 40 mg/dl, or hyper-parasitemia (≥100,000 parasites/μl of whole blood) [19].

Microscopic determination of Plasmodium parasitemia

Two drops of venous blood were placed separately on a microscopic glass slide. Thick and thin blood films were prepared and air dried. Thin blood films were fixed with absolute methanol and both films were stained with 10 % Geimsa working solution for 10 min. Then both thin and thick blood films were read by an experienced malaria microscopist with a 100× objective lens and 100 microscopic fields examined to rule out the absence of the malaria parasite. Malaria parasitemia was determined in thick blood films along with 200 white blood cells.

Determination of hematological parameters

Three milliliters venous blood was collected with tris-potassium ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) anti-coagulated tube. Blood was analysed by Cell Dyne 1800 (Abbot Hematology, IL, USA) for the determination of total white blood cells, granulocytes, lymphocytes, mixed cells, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobulin level.

Serum biochemical analysis

Three milliliters venous blood was collected with non-anticoagulated tube and allowed to clot at bench top. Then, blood centrifuged at 3000 revolution per minute for 4 min and serum was aliquoted. Then, serum was analysed by HumaStar chemistry analyzer (Human Diagnostics, USA) for serum level of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), total protein, and glucose.

Microscopic diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni

One gram of fresh stool sample was collected from every study participant. Stool samples were processed with Kato-Katz technique using standardized template measuring 41.75 mg of stool to prepare smear for detection and count of S. mansoni ova. The egg load of S. mansoni from stool was classified as light [1–100 egg/gram (epg)], medium (101–400 epg), or heavy (>400 epg) [20].

Statistical analysis

Data entered into computer data base using Epi Info 3.5.3. Cleared data was transferred to SPSS version 20 for statistical analysis using logistic regression, independent samples t test and one way ANOVA. Odds ratio (OR) with 95 % CI was used to determine strength of association between variables. Statistically significance was considered at 95 % level of confidence and P value less than 0.05.

Ethical considerations

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences Research and Ethics Committee, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. Permission was obtained from Dembia Health Bureau and Chwahit Health Center to conduct the study. Informed consent and assent were obtained from all participants and/or their guardians after being briefed on the risks and benefits of the study.

Results

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants

A total of 205 malaria positive study participants, 63.4 % (130/205) males and 36.6 % (75/205) females, were included. The mean (SD) age of study participants was 25 (12) years. The prevalence of P. falciparum and P. vivax among the study participants was 71.7 % (147/205) and 25.9 % (53/205), respectively. The remaining 2.4 % (5/205) had mixed infections. Fifty six percent (115/205) of the study participants presented with fever. Hypotension was found only among 2.9 % (6/205) of the participants. Severe malaria was observed in 25 % (38/152) of the study participants, while hyper-parasitemia was identified in only 3.9 % (6/152) of the study participants harboring P. falciparum.

Prevalence of malaria and S. mansoni co-infection

In this study, the prevalence of S. mansoni and malaria co-infection was 19.5 % (40/205). Eighty percent of the S. mansoni co-infections were observed in participants with P. falciparum, while the remaining 20 % were within those with P. vivax infection. A higher percentage of S. mansoni co-infection [32.5 % (13/40)] was observed within the age group of 16–20 years old (p < 0.05) (Table 1).

Table 1 Logistic regression for risk of S. mansoni co-infection among study participants at Chwahit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013
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Clinical correlates of malaria and S. mansoni co-infection

In this study, there was a higher frequency of fever among S. mansoni co-infected participants than malaria only infected ones (χ2 = 5.43, P < 0.022). A higher frequency of severe anemia was also observed among S. mansoni co-infected participants (35.0 %) than malaria only infected ones (25.5 %) (χ2 = 7.54, P < 0.006).

In addition, mean differences in hematological and biochemical parameters were observed among S. mansoni co-infected and malaria only infected participants. However, a significant difference was observed only in mean red blood cell count (4.42 ± 0.11 vs. 4.64 ± 0.04, p < 0.033) and hemoglobulin level (12.48 ± 0.38 vs. 13.38 ± 0.13, p < 0.006), respectively (Tables 2, 3).

Table 2 Independent t test for blood cells count, mean difference between S. mansoni co-infected and malaria only infected participants at Chwahit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013
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Table 3 Independent t test for SGOT, SGPT, glucose, total protein and parasitaemia mean difference between S. mansoni co-infected and malaria only infected participants at Chwahit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013
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There was a mean difference in malaria parasitemia among malaria only infected, light and moderate-heavy S. mansoni co-infected participants (F = 3.43, p < 0.034). In the Post Hoc analysis, this difference persisted only among light and moderate-heavy S. mansoni co-infected participants (3224 vs. 5537 parasite/μl, p < 0.027).

In this study, severe malaria was identified in 18.5 % (38/205) of the study participants. A higher frequency of severe malaria was observed among males (65.8 %) than females (34.2 %). Patients in the age group of 6–10 years old were 6.8 times more likely to experience severe malaria (p < 0.05). Twenty-six percent of the study participants with severe malaria had S. mansoni co-infection. Moderate-heavy intensity of S. mansoni was associated with severe malaria (p < 0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4 Logistic regression for severe malaria among study participants diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum at Chwahit Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013
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Discussion

Malaria and schistosomiasis co-exist in sub-Saharan African countries [4–6, 21]. In the present study, the overall prevalence of S. mansoni co-infection with malaria was 19.5 %. This prevalence was lower compared to a recent study carried out in southern Ethiopia, 22.6 % [21], and Tanzania 42 % [5]. However, it was higher than another study conducted in southern Ethiopia, 15 % [6]. A cohort study in Senegal also reported a high co-infection between malaria and schistosomiasis [22]. The difference can be explained by differences in water contact and microgeographical areas which could affect the co-infection between malaria and schistosomiasis [23, 24].

In this study, higher S. mansoni co-infection was observed among males and within the age group of 16–20 years old. In an earlier study from Kenya, children were 9.3 times more likely to be co-infected with schistosomiasis and malaria than adults [18]. Additionally, studies from Sudan and Swaziland revealed that socio-cultural factors could lead higher exposure of males for schistosomiasis [25–27].

In the current study, a higher frequency of S. mansoni co-infected participants presented with fever than malaria only infected ones. Although each case of malaria and schistosomiasis could lead to fever presentation [28, 29], schistosomiasis co-infection with malaria suggested to upregulate production of inflammatory markers that aggravate fever [30].

In this study, although significant association was found only in red blood cell count and hemoglobulin level, hematological parameters were found to be influenced by S. mansoni co-infection. In an earlier animal model study, schistosomiasis co-infection prolonged lower density malaria parasitemia time and caused anemia as compared to the malaria only infected group [31].

However, P. falciparum and P. vivax were reported to decrease hemoglobulin level, white blood cells, red blood cells and platelet counts [32]. Schistosomiasis could also result in low hemoglobulin level and lymphocyte count, but increased total white blood cell, neutrophils, eosinophiles and monocytes count [33, 34]. Therefore, concurrent schistosomiasis with malaria could lead to high co-morbidity associated with hematological parameters.

In this study, high mean Plasmodium parasitemia was observed more frequently among malaria only infected participants than S. mansoni co-infected participants. In an earlier study, reduced Plasmodium parasitemia was reported to be associated with schistosomiasis co-infection [10]. However, this contradicted a result from southern Ethiopia, where schistosomiasis co-infected malaria patients were 3.65 times more likely to be Plasmodium dense than malaria only positives [6]. The difference could be explained with variation in the intensity of schistosomiasis co-infection, which would affect Plasmodium parasitemia.

Higher mean Plasmodium parasitemia was more frequently observed among moderate-heavy S. mansoni co-infected participants than light co-infected ones. Therefore, schistosomiasis co-infection could affect Plasmodium parasitemia, depending on the intensity of the ova. Previous studies from Mali and Senegal reported that light schistosomiasis intensity is correlated with a decrease in Plasmodium parasitemia [9, 35].

In the current study, the age group of 6–10 years old and moderate-heavy intensity S. mansoni co-infection were identified as the determining factors for severe malaria. In earlier studies, children co-infected with schistosomiasis and heavy intensity of schistosomiasis were at risk of developing severe malaria [24, 30, 35]. This could be explained by the high production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in children and resulted in higher malaria parasitemia that could lead to severe malaria [30]. In the present study, 66.7 % of the study participants who presented with hyper-parasitemia were children.

Conclusions

Prevalence of malaria and S. mansoni in the study area was considerably high. Severity of malaria and parasitemia of Plasmodium were associated with certain age groups and intensity of concurrent intestinal schistosomiasis. Further study is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of interaction between malaria and S. mansoni.