Plasmodium ovale in a highly malaria endemic area of Senegal.

Abstract
During 4 months, from June to September 1990, the population of Dielmo village, Senegal, an area of intense and perennial malaria transmission, was enrolled in a follow-up study including daily clinical surveillance and bi-weekly malaria parasitaemia monitoring. Thick blood film examinations indicated that 48·5% of children () and 32·4% of adults () were infected at least once by Plasmodium ovale during the study period; 148 distinct episodes of patent parasitaemia were observed, with estimated maximum durations of 3–115 d. The mean duration at first decreased significantly with age, from 11·4 d in children under 5 years old to 4·2 d in adults aged 40·59 years, but then increased in older adults to 7·0 d. In all age groups, most infections were asymptomatic. Only high parasitaemias were significantly associated with fever; 3 clinical malaria attacks due to P. ovale were seen during the study period.

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