Prevalence of malaria and dengue virus co-infection in Delta State, Nigeria

Malaria and dengue virus are significant mosquito-borne infections in Nigeria, and their co-infection poses a growing public health concern in Delta State. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria and dengue virus co-infection in Delta State, Nigeria. The study adopted a longitudinal survey design among participants. A total of 400 blood samples were collected from the volunteered participants, fifty (50) samples from each of the eight hospitals selected for the study. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all study participants. A questionnaire was administered to collect basic demographic information. Dengue virus was detected using Nexted Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques, while malaria parasitemia was identified through microscopy. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, t-tests and pearsons correlation to assess species association and seasonal trends. Out of the 800 participants examined, 243 (30.4%) were infected with malaria alone, with a higher proportion in males (35.7%) than females (26.8%). Among the 243 individuals tested for dengue, 18 (7.4%) were positive for dengue only, and an equal proportion (7.4%) had malaria–dengue co-infection, both showing higher infection rates in females (9.3%) compared to males (5.3%). Malaria infection was generally higher among males during the dry season (41.5%). In the rainy season, males had higher number of malaria infection rate (30.0%) when compared to females (27.9%) while female participants aged 21 – 39 years had the highest malaria infection rate of 40.8% when compared to other age groups. Highest malaria prevalence was recorded in Sapele (34%), followed closely by Abraka (32%) and Ughelli (32%). During the rainy season, 2 (4.2%) males and 7 (10.4%) females tested positive for dengue, while in the dry season, 4 (6.1%) males and 5 (8.1%) females tested positive. Ute-Okpu recorded the highest dengue infection rate of 16.1%, followed by Agbor (12.9%) and Ughelli (9.7%). Four serotypes of dengue D1 – D4 were detected both during the rainy and dry season. The study therefore highlights a notable prevalence of malaria, dengue, and their co-infection in Delta State, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions and enhanced vector control measures.