Introduction and objective: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 95% of all parasitic infections reported globally result from poverty, poor personal hygiene practices, open defecation practices, consumption of contaminated drinking water, and improper handling of food....

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country’s extreme weather conditions, poor sanitation, and weak economy facilitate the spread of parasitic diseases. Infections with intestinal parasites are particularly dangerous for children because they can cause malnutrition and anemia, which, in turn, have a negative effect on children’s cognitive functions and physical development. The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of intestinal parasites and to assess hematological parameters in a group of children living in northern Madagascar. The screening was conducted in May 2024 in the Clinique Medicale Beyzym in Manerinerina, the Ambatoboeny district. It involved a sample of 208 children aged 0–17 years. Single stool samples were collected from all study participants. The samples were fixed in SAF fixative and then transported from Africa to Europe for further diagnostics at the Department of Epidemiology and Tropical Medicine, the Military Institute of Medicine–the National Research Institute in Poland. First, the samples were analyzed by light microscopy methods using three different diagnostic techniques (direct smear, decantation with distilled water, and the Fülleborn method). Next, they were tested by molecular biology methods (real-time PCR). Blood samples for the assessment of hematological parameters were collected at the healthcare center in Madagascar. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in the study sample was 61.5%. Helminths were found in 15.2% of the investigated children, and Giardia intestinalis (20.5%) was found to be the most prevalent parasite in the study population. Most infections were caused by potentially pathogenic stramenopila Blastocystis spp. (32.0%). Mean Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels in the study participants were below normal values. However, no correlation was found between the presence of a parasitic infection and low hematological parameters, which are a clinical sign of anemia. High rates of infections with intestinal parasites in children living in northern Madagascar support the necessity to introduce long-term preventive measures, which would limit the spread of parasitic diseases in the Malagasy population. Low hematological parameters in non-infected children may be indicative of persistent malnutrition or infection with other parasites, e.g., malaria or schistosomiasis.

Malaria remains a major public health threat in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, Plasmodium falciparum species account for nearly 100% of the malaria cases occurring on the African continent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falciparum malaria predominates, but non-falciparum species are also present in Africa. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of asymptomatic malaria cases, as well as to identify Plasmodium species at two different settings with the lowest index of infections in Tanzania (according to the Tanzanian Ministry of Health < 1%), i.e., on the mainland (Arusha Region) and on the Pemba Island (Zanzibar Archipelago). The study was conducted in June 2023 and involved 722 individuals, including 449 residents of mainland Tanzania and 273 residents of the Zanzibar Archipelago. The screening consisted of two phases. In the first one, which was carried out at two different settings, i.e., in the Karatu Lutheran Hospital (Arusha Region, mainland Tanzania) and the Amal Hospital (Pemba, Zanzibar Archipelago), mRDTs (malaria rapid diagnostic tests) were performed, haemoglobin concentrations were measured, and blood samples for further molecular tests were collected onto Whatman micro cards from each of the individuals involved. In the second phase (conducted in Poland, Europe), RT-PCR tests for malaria were performed. The screening found asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in 4.2% of the study subjects from mainland Tanzania and in 4.8% from the Archipelago. The research confirmed cases of P. falciparum malaria but also found single cases of mixed infections with P. falciparum + P. malariae or P. ovale. The results demonstrated that the occurrence of malaria in northern mainland and Zanzibar Archipelago is higher than the official MoH reports present. The study findings are consistent with the reports by CDC, which suggest that non-falciparum species are also present in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria is a significant health problem in Africa, primarily due to the Plasmodium falciparum species, but this is not the only etiological factor responsible for malaria on the continent. The goal of the present research was to describe asymptomatic malaria cases and to identify Plasmodium species responsible for malaria in the BaAka Pygmies, inhabitants of the Central African Republic (CAR). Screening was realised in the period of August–September 2021 among 308 people, including 74 children and 234 adults reporting to a healthcare facility in Monasao (southwest CAR), an area inhabited by a semi-nomadic tribe of BaAka Pygmies. The study consisted of two phases. Phase I, which was conducted in Africa, consisted of performing malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs), taking haemoglobin measurements and collecting blood samples onto Whatman FTA cards for molecular diagnostics. Phase II, which was conducted in Poland, involved molecular tests (RT-PCR) to confirm or rule out malaria infections and to identify Plasmodium species responsible for the infections. mRDTs detected Plasmodium infections in 50.3% of children and 17.1% of adults participating in the study, whereas RT-PCR assays yielded positive results for 59.5% children and 28.6% adults. Molecular tests detected multiple Plasmodium falciparum infections but also three infections with P. malariae, three with P. ovale and one with P. vivax. The obtained results have confirmed numerous asymptomatic Plasmodium infections among the BaAka Pygmies. The rates of asymptomatic malaria cases in adults were twice as high as those in children, which may be indicative of the gradual acquisition of protective immunity with age. The study findings have also demonstrated that although most cases of malaria in Africa are caused by P. falciparum, three other species are also present in the region.

Malaria remains a major public health threat in Cameroon, with an estimated 3 million new cases of Plasmodium spp. infections reported each year. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Plasmodium infections in Cameroon in a group of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, residents of the town of Mbalmayo, located in the Central Region of Cameroon. Screening was conducted in December 2024 at the Mbalayo District Hospital. This study involved a total of 93 people aged between 1 and 70 years old, who voluntarily agreed to have their blood samples taken and tested for malaria. As part of this study, the demographic variables of the participants were taken, malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) were performed, and blood samples were applied to the Whatman FTA cards for further real-time PCR diagnostics. The occurrence of Plasmodium infections in the residents of Mbalmayo differed depending on the diagnostic method used (30.1% with mRDT vs. 60.2% when RT-PCR assays were performed). A total of 55 malaria cases were found to be caused by P. falciparum, while one case was found to be caused by P. vivax. Nearly half of the study participants exhibited no signs or symptoms of malaria, whereas 35.7% reported fever, 17.9% respiratory symptoms, and 10.7% gastrointestinal symptoms. The prevalence of malaria remains high in populations inhabiting the Central Region in Cameroon. P. falciparum is the dominant species in the region. A considerable proportion of infected individuals are asymptomatic, which supports the finding that asymptomatic carriers play a critical role in disease transmission. The differences between the results depending on the diagnostic method used (mRDT vs. RT-PCR) suggest that there is a need to use a combination of different methods for the identification of malaria, especially in cases of low parasitemia.

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium protozoa, which is a serious public health issue in Madagascar, an island country located off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Despite significant efforts to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, the country’s epidemiological situation is worrying and has been deteriorating in recent years, mostly due to poverty and limited access to healthcare. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence rates of malaria in northern Madagascar, as exemplified by the Mampikony District, between 2023 and 2024, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the methods used for malaria diagnosis. Material and methods. The study was conducted on a sample of 782 local residents who reported to healthcare centres in Mampikony between 2023 and 2024. The methods used to establish the diagnosis of malaria included rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) and molecular assays (RT-PCRs). Results. The 2023 study conducted on a sample of 484 patients demonstrated malaria prevalence of 4.5% (by mRDTs) and 8.2% (by RT-PCR), while the 2024 study carried out on a sample of 298 patients demonstrated malaria prevalence of 8.4% (by mRDTs) and 12.4% (by RT-PCR). The analysis of demographic variables showed that malaria was more prevalent in women and in adults; however, the differences between individual study groups were not statistically significant. In this study, positive malaria cases were predominantly caused by P. falciparum, but we also found cases caused by P. vivax as well as mixed infections. Conclusions. The study results support the need to apply more sensitive diagnostic tools for malaria diagnosis, e.g., RT-PCR. Also, our findings indicate the necessity to reassess and update the strategies for the treatment of malaria in the region due to a growing asymptomatic malaria carriage. To control the spread of malaria in Madagascar, it is essential to apply a wide range of interventions.