[Malaria, anemia and nutritional status: longitudinal study of their interaction in a sahelian zone (Senegal)]

Two villages in the sahelian zone of the Senegal river Basin, were surveyed during one year. On 5 occasions (May, July, October 1982, January, March 1983) 200 persons were clinically examined and a parasitological (parasite rate and specific antibodies), haematological and biochemical examination was done. At the same time an entomological survey was performed. The two vectors were Anopheles gambiae ss. and A. arabiensis with a predominance of the first. Although the number of infective bites is low, the transmission risk is high, at least one a year. The parasite rate is low (15%) with almost no seasonal variation although transmission occurs only during 3-4 months. Correspondingly low titres of malaria antibodies are present. The nutritional status of the population is on the limit of normal. It was not possible to make significant correlations between malaria and the nutritional status except for anaemia where evolution seems to be more related to malaria than to nutrition.