Active Case Detection and Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis and Malaria in Pupils of Kotto Barombi, Southwest Cameroon Using the CyScope® Fluorescence Microscope
Helen Kuokuo Kimbi *
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Godlove B. Wepnje
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Judith Anchang-Kimbi
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Calvin Tonga
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Bate Ayukenchengamba
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Conica Njabi
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
Larissa Kouodjip Nono
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Hervé Nyabeyeu Nyabeyeu
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Leopold Gustave Lehman
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the use of the CyScope® fluorescence microscope to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis (US) and malaria in Kotto Barombi.
Experimental Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kotto Barombi, Cameroon from April to May, 2013.
Methodology: Urine and blood samples were collected from 216 pupils. US eggs were detected in urine by centrifugation and CyScope® methods for schistosome eggs. Malaria parasites were detected using Giemsa-stained blood films and CyScope® methods. The performance characteristics of the CyScope® for both infections were determined using light microscopy as gold standard.
Results: Overall prevalence of US was 43.4% and 48.5% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively. Prevalence of US was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the Kotto Barombi Island (78.3%) than Mainland (33.8%). US prevalence was not affected by age, sex and socio-economic class (SEC). Mean intensity of US was 8.1 eggs/10 ml urine (Confidence interval, CI = 4.3–11.9). It was significantly higher (P =.01) in pupils from Island (36.5 eggs/10 ml, CI: 17.7–55.3) than Mainland (8.8 eggs/10 ml; 7.1–10.5), males (19.2 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 9.2–29.2) than females (17.8 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 13.1–22.5) and highest (P = .046) in the ≤6 years age group (36.9 eggs/10 ml; CI: 20.4–53.4) when compared with pupils in other age groups. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for US were 90.6% and 83.8% respectively. Overall prevalence of malaria was 19.0% and 41.2% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively and the difference was significant (P = .01). Malaria prevalence and density were not influenced by age; sex and SEC. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for malaria were 68.3% and 64.9% respectively.
Conclusion: The CyScope® could be a useful tool for active case detection of both diseases especially in areas that lack electricity.
Keywords: Malaria, Urinary schistosomiasis, diagnosis, pupils, Partec CyScope®, Kotto Barombi