EC Pharmacology and Toxicology

Dengue and malaria are mosquito-borne diseases that potentially pose significant public health challenges in Nigeria especially in riverine regions, where ecological conditions favor vector fecundity. This cross-sectional study, investigated the Sero-molecular prevalence and spatial distribution of dengue and malaria co-infection outcomes among 182 febrile patients in some health care facilities in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Aseptic venous blood samples were collected and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow assay protocol were explored for dengue IgM/IgG antibodies, and Giemsa-staining technique which is a gold standard for microscopy malaria studies, was explored for malaria parasitemia assay. Well-structured questionnaire were deployed to generate the demographics and potential environmental risk factors, while Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping was used to identify infection hotspots. Results revealed dengue IgM seroprevalence of 3.8% (7/182), IgG seroprevalence of 1.6%, malaria prevalence of 91.2% (166/182), and co-infection rate of malaria and dengue of 3.8%. Lateral flow assays showed 71.4% sensitivity compared to ELISA (κ = 0.65), indicating diagnostic limitations. GIS mapping highlighted higher dengue prevalence in riverine wards (7.2%) versus urban areas (4.8%). Significant risk factors implicated open water storage (OR = 2.8, p = 0.004) and daytime net disuse (OR = 3.2, p = 0.001), contributing 69% to population-attributable risk. Co-infections were predominant among farmers and fishers (p = 0.03). These findings confirm low but notable dengue circulation in a malaria-hyperendemic region, emphasizing the need for integrated diagnostic strategies, GIS-guided vector control, and enhanced surveillance to address co-infection menace in Yenagoa’s riverine communities, thus informing targeted public health interventions.

 Keywords: Dengue; Malaria; Co-Infection; Sero-Molecular Surveillance; GIS Mapping; Yenagoa; Risk Factor

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