Abstract

Man-made development projects have usually been pointed to significantly influence the epidemiological features of communicable parasitic diseases in sub-Saharan countries as a result of anthropogenic environmental changes. This study aimed to assess the current health status of dwellers of the Hevecam agroindustrial complex established after rainforest deforestation in Southern Cameroon, and to monitor its evolution compared to data collected 31 years ago. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014 in the same four villages which were previously investigated 31 years ago in the Hevecam area. Assessment focused on prevalence of malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and the risk factors of these diseases. Present data were then compared with those collected in 1983. Data from four villages investigated indicated that malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiasis were mesoendemic and hypoendemic, respectively in the area. The malaria endemicity level was similar in either study village according to both parasitological results and spleen index. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae caused 98.8 and 1.2% of malaria cases recorded. P. falciparum parasites loads ranged from light to heavy. Prevalence rates of Plasmodium carriage were significantly influenced by sex, age and occupation. Intestinal helminths parasites occurred in 14.1% subjects. The main infective agents were Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, found either as monospecfic or mixed infections. A. lumbricoides infections were the most frequent. Helminths intensities of infections were predominantly light. Prevalence significantly varied with villages, age, occupation and regular deworming status. Mixed infections by malaria and helminths parasites were recorded in some subjects. Comparing current to previous data, malaria and intestinal helminthiasis have evolved significantly in divergent ways in 31 years within the Hevecam villages. Malaria infections increased from hypoendemic to mesoendemic, while intestinal helminth infections decreased from hyperendemic to hypoendemic. Evolution of these diseases indicated a need for health facilities located in Hevecam to improve specific control measures for malaria and sustained helminth control tools.

Key words: Malaria, intestinal helminthiasis, prevalence, evolution, Hevecam.