Prevalence of asymptomatic parasitaemia among household members of children under seasonal malaria chemoprevention coverage and comparison of the performance of standard rapid diagnostic tests versus ultrasensitive RDT for the detection of asymptomatic parasitaemia in Nanoro, Burkina Faso

Asymptomatic carriers of Plasmodium falciparum represent important parasite reservoirs maintaining malaria transmission in the community. This study aimed on the one hand to screen the other household members living with children under seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) coverage in order to determine the level of malaria infection in this population and on the other hand to determine the appropriate type of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for this screening to detect these asymptomatic carriers in the community. During the 2022 SMC campaign (July to October), a cross-sectional survey was carried out in 745 participants who were screened by ultrasensitive rapid diagnostic test (usRDT), standard rapid diagnostic test (rRDT) and microscopy. Out of them, 395 had microscopy results available and were included in the data analysis. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum was 26.58% (105/395) while sexual forms were found in 5.32% (21/395) of the study population. Children from 5 to 15 years had the highest prevalence of P. falciparum asexual forms 35.76% (59/165) compared with older participants. Malaria positivity rate for rRDT and usRDT was 29.40% (219/745) and 40.49% (305/745) respectively. The usRDT had a higher sensitivity than the rRDT (72.38% (95% CI 62.8-80.66) vs. 60.95% (95% CI 50.94-70.33)). In terms of specificity, rRDT had a higher specificity 82.41% (95% CI 77.53-86.62) versus 69.66% (95% CI 64.01-74.89) for usRDT. This study reports a high prevalence of parasite carriers in household members of children under SMC coverage in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. In conclusion, usRDT seems more appropriate for strategies based on detection and treatment of parasite carriers within the community.