Short Communication

Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Human Malaria Infection in District Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan

Seema Perveen Memon*, Nasreen Memon, Mansoor Ali Shah, Reshma Sahito and Aiman Amur

Department of Zoology, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.

Received | April 15, 2021; Accepted | May 21, 2022; Published | June 22, 2022

*Correspondence | Seema Perveen Memon, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan; Email: seemamemon104@gmail.com

Citation | Memon, S.P., N. Memon, M.A. Shah, R. Sahito and A. Amur. 2022. Distribution and seasonal variation of human malaria infection in district Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan. Biologia (Lahore), 68(1): 26-30.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.Biologia/2022/68.1.26.30

Keywords | Disease, Plasmodium parasite species, Genders

Copyright: 2022 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

Malaria is one of the most serious and widespread tropical disease worldwide very high morbidity and mortality. Approximately 228 million malaria cases were reported and responsible for 4, 00,000 deaths globally in 2019 (WHO, 2019). Malaria was stated as the 5th leading cause of death worldwide. According to WHO, 40% of the population of the world is at risk of emerging malaria (Qureshi et al., 2019). People Socioeconomic conditions and environmental factors are responsible for the prevalence of malaria (Qureshi et al., 2019). In the Pakistan malaria is prevalent and each year approximately 4 million confirmed malaria cases are reported (Khan et al., 2019). Malaria is seasonal disease and transmitted after monsoon. The malarial parasite affected by changes in temperature above 40℃ and below 18℃ normally cannot develop (Paalmans et al., 2010). Because of high temperature, humidity, large irrigation, agricultural lands and also monsoon season provides suitable breeding environment for mosquitoes, which transfer malaria in this country (Ullah et al., 2018). According to WHO (2018) Pakistan is one of sixth eastern countries with high spread of malaria and nearly 100% of the population is at threat. Malaria prevalence varies in all provinces and even in different cities with variable environments. The female anopheles mosquitoes are responsible for transfer of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Five species of genus Plasmodium (1) P. knowlesi, (2) P. malariae, (3) P. ovale, (4) P. falciparum and (5) P. vivax are responsible for transmission of malaria infection in human (Talapko et al., 2019). Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi are the primary vectors of malaria disease in Pakistan (Yasinzai and Kakarsulemankhel, 2009). A lot of research work has been done on malaria disease and its parasite in other areas of Sindh except mentioned localities, so the present research work planned and evaluated for the spread of malaria on the basis of seasonal variation of malarial parasites in rural and urban areas from specific areas of Sindh, Pakistan for the awareness of this fatal disease.

Materials and Methods

The district Sanghar was highly prevalent area of malaria disease, due to this purpose the present research work was designed during 1st January- 31st December 2018. The data of malaria patients were collected from Anti malaria control program (AMCP) of different localities of district Sanghar. Malaria disease was observed whole the year in people of district Sanghar, that’s why monthly data were collected and examined. Blood slides of suspected cases of malaria were prepared in the laboratory for detection of malaria parasite with coordination of the malaria department of Talukas Hospitals, in which thick and thin films were prepared. After that Giemsa stain were used for staining method and immersion oil for examination under microscope (Grassi, 1900; Bruce-Chwatt, 1988). Total 26161 suspected patient of malaria were observed. Out of which 490 cases were examined with malaria positive infection. Among positive patients, 283 were observed as male patients while 207 were female.

Age-wise distribution were categorized in four groups (1) infant (2) 2-5 year’s kids (3) 6–14 years youngsters and (4) Adults. For the findings of seasonal variation, most cases were identified during the September, after the monsoon season. The meteorological data were collected monthly during 2018 from www.time.com of district Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan (202), the correlation study between Ecological parameters and malarial parasite by SPSS (Software package 21.0).

Results and Discussion

The data were collected during January-December 2018; from highly prevalent localities of district Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan. The objectives of this research paper are the seasonal changes of malaria, gender-wise and age-wise distribution of malaria disease.

Month wise and seasonal variation of malaria infection

Total 26161 suspected patient of malaria were recorded, out of which 490 cases were found malaria positive infection. The suspected cases were evaluated on the basis of species level, such as 477 patients were found malaria positive with Plasmodium vivax and 13 cases were detected Plasmodium falciparum (Table 1). The two species of Plasmodium parasite were recorded among patients; the highest population of P. vivax was recorded as compared to P. falciparum in the study areas.

Table 1: Monthly distribution of malaria cases.

The maximum numbers of positive cases were observed during September. In September 2444 suspected cases of malaria were examined. Among these cases, 67 cases were found malaria positive with Plasmodium vivax, while no any case of Plasmodium falciparum were observed.

In the study area, the maximum ratio was found in Plasmodium vivax as compared to Plasmodium falciparum (Figure 1). In district Sanghar rainfall starts from July and it was observed that the prevalence of vector mosquitoes increases after rainfall, because of stagnant water on roads and in streets. As compared to urban areas, rural have not proper sanitation, which is the suitable environment for the breeding of vector mosquitoes. When mosquito population increases, malaria infection also increases in those areas.

Gender-wise prevalence of malaria

According to gender-wise distribution of malaria high ratio was noted in male as compared to female (Table 1). After testing 490 malaria positive infections, 283 cases were observed as male while 207 cases were female. Same results were observed in district Rahim yar Khan in Pakistan, as in Rahim yar Khan males were highly infected in number (about 70%), while females were in less number such as in (30%) (Majeed et al., 2016). The reason behind that was most male works do outdoor jobs and they have more risk of exposure. Although the district Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab and district Sanghar, Sindh has almost same weather, which gives us the positive clue about seasonal variation according to co-relation between weather parameters and parasite population. The abundance of malaria vector was recorded seasonally.

Age-wise distribution of malaria

Age-wise distribution was classified in four groups (1) infant, (2) 2-5 year’s kids, (3) 6-14 years youngsters and (4) Adults. In the comparison of age-wise distribution, maximum number (73%) of malaria cases were found in adult from above mentioned study localities while the minimum number (1%) of cases was recorded in infant (Figure 2).

We have observed that rainfall and temperature is interconnected with the population of vector mosquitoes and parasite. In Figure 3A-B described (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) with the inhabitants of Plasmodium species and weather parameters in Sanghar district during 2018.

The abundance of malarial vector was observed after rainfall and because of suitable environment of vector mosquitoes, it was observed that the development of vector mosquito’s increases and malaria ratio also increases; at this stage this research clearly shows the population of vector and parasite strongly +ve correlated with temperature r=0.81 (Figure 3A-B) and rainfall r=0.43 (Figure 3A-B).

Conclusions and Recommendations

Malaria is extremely fatal disease in this district Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan. The Plasmodium vivax was dominant in study areas (90%) in District Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan as compared to Plasmodium falciparum. Among gender-wise prevalence of malaria maximum ratio was observed in male, while in age-wise malaria occurrence high ratio of malaria were found in adult out of four age groups (infant, 2-5 age group, 6-14 years and adult). It is necessary to apply the precautions against mosquitoes, such as during the summer season or rainfall seasons use the nets and mosquitoes replants, cover all the water reservoirs, spray breeding sites of vector by controlling the populations of mosquitoes we will be safe from this deadly disease.

Acknowledgements

This work is part of my M. Phil thesis. I am very great full to district Anti-Malarial Control Program center for providing me data of patients, and highly thankful for the meteorological department.

Novelty Statement

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of malaria disease in the Sanghar district of Sindh, Pakistan. A great deal of research has been done on malaria disease and its parasite in other parts of Sindh, but not in these areas. Plasmodium vivax is dominant over Plasmodium falciparum. In terms of gender, the highest ratio was found in males as compared to females, whereas in comparison with age, maximum cases of malaria have been found in adults.

Author’s Contribution

Seema Perveen Memon: Wrote the research article and performed experiments.

Nasreen Memon: Conceived and designed the experiments.

Mansoor Ali Shah: Analyzed the data.

Reshma Sahito: Contributed reagents, materials, analysis tools.

Aiman Amur: Contributed to manuscript revision.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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