Prevalence and Density of Malaria Parasites in Asymptomatic Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

Aim: Malaria is a complex disease that varies widely in epidemiology and clinical manifestation in different parts of the world. The research was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasitaemia in asymptomatic students of the Federal university of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

Place and Duration of Study: Post Graduate Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, between February and August, 2018.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in which blood samples were collected from students who volunteered. Relevant information such as sex and age was obtained through a well-designed questionnaire. Thick and thin blood smears were prepared and microscopy was used to establish malaria infection, parasite identification and intensity.

Results: A total of 200 students were examined, out of which 153 (76.5%) were positive for malaria infection. Female had higher prevalence of 80.9% while male had lower prevalence 73.3%. The age group 21 to 25 years had the highest prevalence of 80.8% while age group <16 years had the lowest prevalence of 62.5%. The genotype HbAA had the highest prevalence and intensity of malaria (63.0%) while genotype HbAS had the lowest malaria intensity of 33.0%. HbSS recorded 0% of malaria parasites. Blood group AB had the highest prevalence and intensity of 86.7% while type O had the lowest parasitaemia of 54.5%.Students who live on campus had higher prevalence of 80.8% while those who live off campus had the least of 75.0%. Students who sleep under ITNs recorded higher prevalence of 87.5% while those who did not sleep under ITNs had 73.0%.

Conclusion: These findings further confirm the endemicity of malaria infection in the student population. Measures to control the transmission should be taken into consideration.