MALARIA EPIDEMIOLOGY IN THE PROVINCE OF MOYEN-OGOOV, GABON

In the course of epidemiological and immunological baseline studies pa rasitological surveys were conducted, in 1992, in three localities sit uated in our near rain forest in the area of Lambarene, Gabon, western Central Africa. Anopheles gambiae s.s. and A. funestus are considered to be the main vectors of malaria. The three localities represent str ata with obvious differences in the intensity of malaria transmission. The lowest parasite rates were recorded in the village around the Alb ert-Schweitzer-Hospital where environmental sanitation and easy access to diagnostic and therapeutic facilities afford a fair measure of mal aria control. The villages of Bellevue and Tchad show a much higher pr evalence of Plasmodium falciparum, followed by P. malariae and P. oval e. In all three villages parasite rates and geometric mean parasite de nsities of P. falciparum showed the age pattern typical for areas with stable, hyperendemic malaria. Analysis by season showed the period of the long rains to be the epidemiologically calmest while the dry seas on and even more the short rainy season produced an increase of parasi te rates and densities. In Tchad, the most affected of the three villa ges, the parasite rates in female adults were significantly lower than in male adults. This was accompanied by lower parasite densities in f emale adults.