Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.

<h4>Background</h4>Malaria and HIV are leading causes of death in Africa, including Cameroon. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expected to boost immunity and reduce vulnerability to opportunistic infections. Reports on comorbidities including malaria are common in Cameroon.<h4>Objec...

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Main Authors: Calvin Bisong Ebai, Cedric Yamssi, Flore Nguemaïm Ngoufo, Nicaise Ngouemeta Tchoffo, Omarine Nfor Nlinwe, Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317120
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author Calvin Bisong Ebai
Cedric Yamssi
Flore Nguemaïm Ngoufo
Nicaise Ngouemeta Tchoffo
Omarine Nfor Nlinwe
Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
author_facet Calvin Bisong Ebai
Cedric Yamssi
Flore Nguemaïm Ngoufo
Nicaise Ngouemeta Tchoffo
Omarine Nfor Nlinwe
Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
author_sort Calvin Bisong Ebai
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Malaria and HIV are leading causes of death in Africa, including Cameroon. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expected to boost immunity and reduce vulnerability to opportunistic infections. Reports on comorbidities including malaria are common in Cameroon.<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia, clinical manifestations, treatment related factors and prevention methods associated with malaria parasitaemia as well as parasite density among HIV patients on ART.<h4>Methods</h4>It was a cross-sectional study among HIV patients on ART at the Regional Hospital Bamenda. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' socio-demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, history of HIV treatment and malaria prevention methods. Microscopy was used for malaria parasite diagnosis and to determine white blood cell (WBC) count. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.<h4>Results</h4>The study included 181 participants. The overall prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 9.4%. Although there were no significant statistical differences, the following trends were observed in the results: 55-71 year old age group (14%) was most infected with malaria parasite with the highest prevalence among those on the 8A first-line ART (10.3%, 14/122); (χ2=1.03, p=0.96), only participants in the 8A and 12A ART protocols were infected; parasite prevalence was higher in patients with detectable viral load (14.3%, 3/21), (OR=.0.57 (CI: 0.15-2.2), p=0.41), while GMPD varied from 45.7-53.3-±23.1/μl of blood.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Low malaria parasite prevalence and density were detected amongst HIV patients receiving ART. A systematic malaria test could be helpful to avert morbidity and improve the general health of patients on ART.
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spelling doaj-art-1c244e566ebe4ca3808b68833ee2707c2025-02-05T05:31:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031712010.1371/journal.pone.0317120Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.Calvin Bisong EbaiCedric YamssiFlore Nguemaïm NgoufoNicaise Ngouemeta TchoffoOmarine Nfor NlinweHelen Kuokuo Kimbi<h4>Background</h4>Malaria and HIV are leading causes of death in Africa, including Cameroon. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expected to boost immunity and reduce vulnerability to opportunistic infections. Reports on comorbidities including malaria are common in Cameroon.<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia, clinical manifestations, treatment related factors and prevention methods associated with malaria parasitaemia as well as parasite density among HIV patients on ART.<h4>Methods</h4>It was a cross-sectional study among HIV patients on ART at the Regional Hospital Bamenda. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' socio-demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, history of HIV treatment and malaria prevention methods. Microscopy was used for malaria parasite diagnosis and to determine white blood cell (WBC) count. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.<h4>Results</h4>The study included 181 participants. The overall prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 9.4%. Although there were no significant statistical differences, the following trends were observed in the results: 55-71 year old age group (14%) was most infected with malaria parasite with the highest prevalence among those on the 8A first-line ART (10.3%, 14/122); (χ2=1.03, p=0.96), only participants in the 8A and 12A ART protocols were infected; parasite prevalence was higher in patients with detectable viral load (14.3%, 3/21), (OR=.0.57 (CI: 0.15-2.2), p=0.41), while GMPD varied from 45.7-53.3-±23.1/μl of blood.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Low malaria parasite prevalence and density were detected amongst HIV patients receiving ART. A systematic malaria test could be helpful to avert morbidity and improve the general health of patients on ART.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317120
spellingShingle Calvin Bisong Ebai
Cedric Yamssi
Flore Nguemaïm Ngoufo
Nicaise Ngouemeta Tchoffo
Omarine Nfor Nlinwe
Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
PLoS ONE
title Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
title_full Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
title_fullStr Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
title_full_unstemmed Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
title_short Low levels of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon.
title_sort low levels of plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the treatment centre of the regional hospital bamenda northwest cameroon
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317120
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