{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]],"date-time":"2026-02-27T05:09:21Z","timestamp":1772168961476,"version":"3.50.1"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.20997.1","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]],"date-time":"2020-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1603756800000}}],"reference-count":36,"publisher":"F1000 Research Ltd","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]],"date-time":"2020-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1603756800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["f1000research.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["F1000Res"],"abstract":"<ns4:p>\n                    <ns4:bold>Background:<\/ns4:bold>\n                    Malaria is caused by one of five currently known\n                    <ns4:italic>Plasmodium<\/ns4:italic>\n                    parasite species causing disease in humans. While modelling has provided information of the vector, the same is not entirely the case for the parasite. The World Malaria reports of 2014 to 2016 reported 100% of confirmed cases from Nigeria being due to\n                    <ns4:italic>Plasmodium falciparum<\/ns4:italic>\n                    . Generally, about 98% of cases of uncomplicated malaria in most regions surveyed in Nigeria recently is due to\n                    <ns4:italic>P. falciparum<\/ns4:italic>\n                    , with the remainder being due to\n                    <ns4:italic>P. malariae<\/ns4:italic>\n                    . This study aimed to determine the proportions of\n                    <ns4:italic>Plasmodium<\/ns4:italic>\n                    parasites causing uncomplicated malaria in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State, north-western Nigeria.\n                  <\/ns4:p>\n                  <ns4:p>\n                    <ns4:bold>Methods:<\/ns4:bold>\n                    The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted during the rainy season and dry season in north-western Nigeria. The area has a \u2018local steppe\u2019 climate and Sudanian Savannah vegetation. Sampling was via multistage cluster sampling. Selected participants were examined for pallor, palpable splenomegaly and signs of complicated malaria. Blood samples were also taken for rapid diagnosis of malaria and thick and thin films to identify parasitaemia and the parasite species. Participants found to have malaria were treated with Artemether\/Lumefantrine and those with complicated malaria were referred to the nearest hospital.\n                  <\/ns4:p>\n                  <ns4:p>\n                    <ns4:bold>\u00a0Results:<\/ns4:bold>\n                    We found a parasite prevalence of 34.8% overall, which was higher in the rainy season (49.3%) than in the dry season (20.2%). There was monoparasitaemia of\n                    <ns4:italic>Plasmodium falciparum<\/ns4:italic>\n                    throughout the study area, irrespective of the clinical status of the participant. Mapping of the parasite was extended throughout the Local Government Area and the State.\n                  <\/ns4:p>\n                  <ns4:p>\n                    <ns4:bold>Conclusions:<\/ns4:bold>\n                    Despite the intermediate endemicity in the area.\n                    <ns4:italic>P. falciparum<\/ns4:italic>\n                    monoparasitaemia affirms theories of disappearance of other parasite species, either due to faltering control of\n                    <ns4:italic>P. falciparum<\/ns4:italic>\n                    or more efficient control of other species.\n                  <\/ns4:p>","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.20997.2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]],"date-time":"2020-10-27T07:19:29Z","timestamp":1603783169000},"page":"301","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/f1000research.crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Where have all the parasites gone? Unusual Plasmodium falciparum monoparasitaemia in a cross-sectional malariometric survey in northern Nigeria"],"prefix":"10.12688","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4885-9485","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Usman Nasir","family":"Nakakana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ben O.","family":"Onankpa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ismaila Ahmed","family":"Mohammed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ridwan M.","family":"Jega","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nma Muhammad","family":"Jiya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"2560","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e824","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0000824","article-title":"Malaria in Africa: vector species\u2019 niche models and relative risk maps.","volume":"2","author":"A Moffett","year":"2007","journal-title":"PLoS One."},{"key":"ref-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13851","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-018-32254-z","article-title":"Susceptibility to Plasmodium vivax malaria associated with DARC (Duffy antigen) polymorphisms is influenced by the time of exposure to malaria.","volume":"8","author":"F Kano","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci Rep."},{"key":"ref-3","article-title":"World malaria report 2014.","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref-4","article-title":"World Malaria Report 2015.","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref-5","article-title":"Federal republic of Nigeria, National Antimalarial Treatment policy","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref-6","first-page":"883-97","article-title":"Serological malaria surveys in Nigeria.","volume":"39","author":"A Voller","year":"1968","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ."},{"key":"ref-7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-14-168","article-title":"Malaria prevalence, anemia and baseline intervention coverage prior to mass net distributions in Abia and Plateau States, Nigeria.","volume":"14","author":"G Noland","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis."},{"key":"ref-8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"487250","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/487250","article-title":"Malariometric survey of ibeshe community in ikorodu, lagos state: dry season.","volume":"2013","author":"O Aina","year":"2013","journal-title":"Malar Res Treat."},{"key":"ref-9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"863-7","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1972.21.863","article-title":"Malariometric indices and hemoglobin type.","volume":"21","author":"A Boyo","year":"1972","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg."},{"key":"ref-10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"716805","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/716805","article-title":"Malariometric Indices among Nigerian Children in a Rural Setting.","volume":"2013","author":"E Udoh","year":"2013","journal-title":"Malar Res Treat."},{"key":"ref-11","article-title":"Federal Republic of Nigeria Housing Census 2010","volume":"III","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref-12","article-title":"Statistical Methods","author":"G Snedecor","year":"1989"},{"key":"ref-13","first-page":"7101-5","article-title":"Malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria.","volume":"8","author":"K Abdullahi","year":"2009","journal-title":"African J Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref-14","article-title":"Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) 2010","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref-15","first-page":"121-33","article-title":"Spleen measurement in malaria.","volume":"3","author":"L Hackett","year":"1944","journal-title":"NatMalariaSoc."},{"key":"ref-16","first-page":"71-88","article-title":"Treatment of Severe Malaria","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref-17","first-page":"69-75","article-title":"Basic malaria microscopy","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref-18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-12-446","article-title":"Correct dosing of artemether-lumefantrine for management of uncomplicated malaria in rural Tanzania: do facility and patient characteristics matter?","volume":"12","author":"I Masanja","year":"2013","journal-title":"Malar J."},{"key":"ref-19","first-page":"27-31","article-title":"Diagnosis of malaria.","year":"2015","journal-title":"In: WHO, editor. Malaria treatment guidelines 2015. 3rd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press."},{"key":"ref-20","article-title":"complete data.xlsx.","author":"U Nakakana","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref-21","first-page":"41-42","article-title":"Management of Severe malaria, a practical handbook","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref-22","article-title":"Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2015: Key Indicators","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref-23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"378","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-10-378","article-title":"A new world malaria map: Plasmodium falciparum endemicity in 2010.","volume":"10","author":"P Gething","year":"2011","journal-title":"Malar J."},{"key":"ref-24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"133-43","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-12-133","article-title":"Urbanization and the global malaria recession.","volume":"12","author":"A Tatem","year":"2013","journal-title":"Malar J."},{"key":"ref-25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29-34","DOI":"10.4314\/smj2.v13i1.67500","article-title":"Prevalence of uncomplicated malaria in a paediatric out patient department of a tertiary health institution in Sokoto, Nigeria.","volume":"13","author":"N Jiya","year":"2010","journal-title":"Sahel Med J."},{"key":"ref-26","first-page":"1","article-title":"Malaria map of Africa","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref-27","first-page":"188-192","article-title":"A New Short Textbook of Preventive Medicine for the Tropics: Malaria.","author":"A Lucas","year":"1998"},{"key":"ref-28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"865-8","DOI":"10.1016\/S1995-7645(13)60154-6","article-title":"Malaria prevalence in north-eastern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"6","author":"C Houben","year":"2013","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Trop Med."},{"key":"ref-29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12-9","DOI":"10.4314\/njpar.v24i1.37802","article-title":"Studies on prevalence of malaria and management practices of the Azia community, Ihiala L.G.A., Anambra State, south-east Nigeria.","volume":"24","author":"D Aribodor","year":"2003","journal-title":"Niger J Parasitol."},{"key":"ref-30","first-page":"6-12","article-title":"Pattern and Outcome of Severe Malaria among Children in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria.","volume":"3","author":"N Jiya","year":"2016","journal-title":"WJBiomed Res."},{"key":"ref-31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"264-81","DOI":"10.4314\/afrrev.v5i5.21","article-title":"Prevalence of Malaria among Children 1 \u2013 10 Years Old in Communities in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State South East Nigeria.","volume":"5","author":"O Nwaorgu","year":"2011","journal-title":"African Res Rev."},{"key":"ref-32","first-page":"47-51","article-title":"The Prevalence of Malaria in Children between the Ages 2\u201315 Visiting Gwarinpa General Hospital Life-Camp.","volume":"5","author":"P Nmadu","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Health Sci."},{"key":"ref-33","article-title":"The Garki project: research on the Epidemiology and Control of Malaria in the Sudan Savanna of West Africa","author":"L Molineaux","year":"1980"},{"key":"ref-34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"545-55","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(10)70096-7","article-title":"Changes in the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.","volume":"10","author":"W O\u2019Meara","year":"2010","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis."},{"key":"ref-35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"779-86","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-3156.2001.00790.x","article-title":"An empirical malaria distribution map for West Africa.","volume":"6","author":"I Kleinschmidt","year":"2001","journal-title":"Trop Med Int Health."},{"key":"ref-36","first-page":"xii-xiv","article-title":"World malaria report 2018.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Geneva, Switzerland."}],"container-title":["F1000Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2\/pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2\/iparadigms","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,11]],"date-time":"2020-11-11T05:40:12Z","timestamp":1605073212000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]]},"references-count":36,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/f1000research.20997.2","relation":{"has-review":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5256\/f1000research.29448.r73708","asserted-by":"subject"},{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5256\/f1000research.29448.r73708","asserted-by":"object"},{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5256\/f1000research.29448.r73707","asserted-by":"object"},{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.5256\/f1000research.29448.r73706","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["2046-1402"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2046-1402","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]]},"assertion":[{"value":"Indexed","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2#article-reports","order":0,"name":"referee-status","label":"Referee status","group":{"name":"current-referee-status","label":"Current Referee Status"}},{"value":"10.5256\/f1000research.23106.r69662, Manuela Runge, Ifeoma Ozodiegwu, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, 01 Sep 2020, version 1, 3 approved with reservations","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v1#referee-response-69662","order":0,"name":"referee-response-69662","label":"Referee Report","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"<b>Usman Nasir Nakakana<\/b>; \n<i>Posted: 16 Sep 2020<\/i>;  Please elaborate on your methods.  If cluster sampling proportionate to size was used, list all the wards and settlement in a table with their population sizes. This can be included in the supplement. How was cluster selection done? Did you stratify by ward and settlement sizes before random sampling? Be explicit about what was done and how it was done&nbsp; \n<b>This has been done, there were two strata, selected independently. The first stratum was proportional to size, i.e at the ward level.<\/b>&nbsp;   Please use the discussion section to discuss the implications of your study for treatment and control and the wider scientific community. What are the study limitations? The bulk of this section should not be spent comparing your findings with other studies. We&nbsp;would refer the authors to this&nbsp;link&nbsp;on how to write a discussion section. There are other resources online as well.\n<b>I have added sections and modified the discussion as per your recommendations. Implications to the wider scientific community are included.<\/b>&nbsp; In the discussion, studies are cited that report monoparasitaemia, which seems circular\/contradictory to the title of \u2018\n<i>unusual<\/i>\u2019 monoparasitaemia, as the discussion indicates that this could have been expected?&nbsp; The authors may consider&nbsp;rephrasing the title or to add a stronger argumentation in the introduction and discussion (see major comment 1).\n<b>It has been explained why the results are unusual, given the population studied i.e community-based. this is reflected in the introduction and conclusions as suggested<\/b>&nbsp; The conclusions are missing in the main text, but included in the abstract.\n<b>They have now been included in the main text.<\/b>&nbsp; The potential reasons for the disappearance \u201c\n<i>either due to faltering control of P. falciparum or more efficient control of other species<\/i>\u201d (last part of the abstract conclusion) could be discussed more in the discussion as one would expect from the title.\n<b>This has been included in the discussion.<\/b>&nbsp; Severe versus clinical malaria. The study aim states a focus on uncomplicated malaria, however, Table 4 only shows severe malaria, which should also show uncomplicated malaria (or instead). The WHO criteria for severe malaria were used, does that include criteria for uncomplicated malaria if not which criteria were used? (Paragraph on Procedures, line 9). How were severe cases treated in the study did they also receive ALu at home or were referred to the next hospital or health facility? Moreover, it would be relevant to show uncomplicated malaria per age in addition to parasitaemia in Table 3.\n<b>Table 3 has been modified to include other parameters such as the age-specific prevalence of uncomplicated and severe, complicated malaria. Figure 2 has also been modified for more clarity<\/b>  &nbsp;\n<b>Minor comments<\/b>  Previous studies reported the highest parasitaemia among school-aged children&nbsp;\n<sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;and prevalence curves that peak among school children while incidence curves peak in children under the age of five&nbsp;\n<sup>2<\/sup>. The article here found that parasitaemia is highest at age two and then decreases by age. A sentence for clarification on this would be helpful that explain the decrease over age?\n<b>This has been explained as the steady-state assumption.<\/b>&nbsp; The authors found 65% to be non-malaria fevers, this is interesting and&nbsp;the authors may consider highlighting it as a finding and adding it to the discussion (Fig 2).\n<b>The figure has been changed for clarity. What is reported was that 34.8% of all children had malaria parasitaemia and the nature of parasitaemia i.e symptomatic and asymptomatic has been clarified.<\/b>&nbsp; \u201c\n<i>Scientists have modelled the anopheles mosquito vector extensively based on its characteristics, but not so much the parasite<\/i>\u201d the reference to this study and to niche models of vectors is confusing, as the author\u2019s study is not doing niche modelling or geographic mapping of parasites. It would seem more appropriate to have a description of the geographical occurrence of parasites leading over to the next sentence.\n<b>The sentence has been rephrased.<\/b>&nbsp; Missing reference for the Duffy antigen sentence line 6 to 9 in the first paragraph (\u201c\n<i>An absence of the Duffy antigen on red blood cells of West Africans has long been postulated to be responsible for the absence of P. vivax in these areas, but cases of P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale, in order of decreasing occurrence, have been found<\/i>\u201d).\n<b>Reference provided.<\/b>&nbsp; \u201c\n<i>Participants were visited at their homes and while in the household<\/i>\u201d Perhaps should be \u201cwhile being at home\u201d? Also, were participants visited after identifying the head, or happened both at the same time, visiting the household and then identifying the household head?\n<b>Clarified that it happened in the house.<\/b>&nbsp; Confusing use of household head \u2013 parent - caregivers, are these refer all to the same (i.e. are household heads always parents?)\n<b>Clarified, the household head gives permission and it could be a parent or other person.<\/b>&nbsp; The authors cite the Nigerian national treatment policies for parasite co-infections, which however is not the main source which remains unclear, is there an actual study that could be cited?\n<b>The treatment guidelines are the ones cited.<\/b>&nbsp; \u201c\n<i>five to 10 years<\/i>\u201d write out numbers below twenty, or use numbers consistently.\n<b>I thought this was one to nine, it has been edited.<\/b>&nbsp; Possible gender bias in writing \u2018he\u2019 for the pediatrician \u201cHe performed a physical examination for each participant and graded splenomegaly according to Hackett\u2019s criteria\u201d.\n<b>Clarified, the lead investigator is the corresponding author and is male.<\/b>&nbsp; &nbsp;\u201c\n<i>Concomitantly, during the same session\u2026\u201d<\/i>&nbsp;consider removing duplication?\n<b>Done.<\/b>&nbsp; \u201c\n<i>The study numbers<\/i>\u201d is not explained before; do the authors mean participant identifiers or study participant numbers?\n<b>Study number is explained.<\/b>&nbsp; Unclear sentence: \u201c\n<i>The tail segment of the thin films was viewed to identify the species of malaria parasite, using the typical description of parasite species, having been trained on parasite identification<\/i>\u201d, who has been trained?\n<b>Clarified.<\/b>&nbsp; Unclear sentence: \u201c\n<i>We determined the prevalence of malaria by parasitaemia and RDT by determining proportions<\/i>.\u201d Maybe the authors could add formula pos mRDT\/tested by mRDt; pos BS\/ tested by BS to be clearer?\n<b>Formula provided for each instance.<\/b>&nbsp; Consider reducing the black background in figures and tables and not using 3D plots, see some general rules on scientific figures in&nbsp;\n<sup>3<\/sup>.\n<b>Figure changed.<\/b>&nbsp; Be consistent with \u2018malaria\u2019 or \u2018clinical malaria\u2019 to distinguish malaria infection from clinical malaria, i.e. Fig 2 caption and title, and text description.\n<b>Figure 2 has been modified.<\/b>&nbsp; Confusing Fig 2, as it reads as if \u2018no parasite can also cause malaria\u2019? Would a barchart be more appropriate? Or consider rephrasing the figure title.\n<b>Figure 2 changed.<\/b>&nbsp; Reference number 36 is missing or not needed (sample procedures line 11), reference list goes only up to 33.\n<b>References updated.<\/b>&nbsp; \u2018\n<i>The finding of P. falciparum mono-parasitaemia supports the fact that P. falciparum is the dominant species of Plasmodium in Sub- Saharan Africa\u2019&nbsp;<\/i>Consider rephrasing like \u2018confirms\/ support the other findings of mono-parasitaemia\u2019 to avoid the term \u2018fact\u2019.\n<b>Fact has been deleted<\/b>&nbsp; The discussion structure might need some revision for better understanding, for example, the last paragraph on severe malaria in the discussion might fit better after discussing uncomplicated malaria and before discussing monoparasitaemia in other studies&nbsp; \n<b>Some modification has been done<\/b>","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2#referee-comment-5947","order":1,"name":"referee-comment-5947","label":"Referee Comment","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"10.5256\/f1000research.29448.r73708, Richard Mwaiswelo, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 11 Nov 2020, version 2, indexed","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2#referee-response-73708","order":2,"name":"referee-response-73708","label":"Referee Report","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"10.5256\/f1000research.23106.r69663, Linda Eva Amoah, Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 18 Sep 2020, version 1, 3 approved with reservations","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v1#referee-response-69663","order":3,"name":"referee-response-69663","label":"Referee Report","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"<b>Usman Nasir Nakakana<\/b>; \n<i>Posted: 19 Sep 2020<\/i>; \n<b>Abstract\/Introduction:<\/b>  What is monoparasitaemia? Do you mean mono species parasitaemia?\n<b>Yes, this is clarified in the text<\/b> The first sentence of the abstract\/introduction should be revised as malaria in other animals is caused by other&nbsp;\n<i>Plasmodium&nbsp;<\/i>species.\n<b>It has been rephrased for clarity<\/b> The reference WHO 2014 and 2016 are not current, what is the current data? \n<b>The data was collected in 2016 and written up in 2017, the data is referencing the time around which the data was collected to ensure comparability, considering the constantly changing data<\/b> What is meant by \u2018parasite mapping\u2019 and why is this important to the reader? \n<b>Parasite mapping refers to the description of geographical spread of the prasite species and how it can be extended to other parts of the state, based on climatic and geographic information.<\/b> Check the text and remove spaces before full stops as well include a space before the falciparum in\n<i>&nbsp;P. falciparum<\/i>.\n<b>Checked and corrected<\/b> \u2018not so much the parasite\u2019? I do not understand what this means. There is no modeling in this study so the second sentence in the introduction is not relevant, especially as it is very confusing.\n<b>Reference to modelling is deleted, the statement has been rephrased<\/b> What is the definition of \u2018confirmed cases?\u2019 confirmed cases is defined as those with a positive malaria parasite test and clinical symptoms.\n<b>This has been elaborated<\/b> What does \u2018crucially\u2019 mean?\n<b>Changed to 'notably'<\/b>  \n<b>Methods:<\/b>  Is April the peak of the malaria season? The description of malaria indices in the study site is not sufficient.\n<b>Some information has been provided<\/b> The blood draw procedure can be rewritten to enhance clarity. Overall, how many drops of blood were&nbsp;collected? And what processes\/procedures were performed?\n<b>It has been re-written to increase clarity<\/b>  \n<b>Tables:<\/b>  Tables 1, 2, 3, and 5 can easily be merged. It would reduce the repetition. \n<b>Table 3 contains more data including data on the age distribution<\/b> Table 2 can be stratified by age as the other tables.\n<b>The data is provided in table 3<\/b> Table 4 should be age stratified and other cases separated into asymptomatic and uncomplicated cases.\n<b>The data is provided in table 3<\/b>  \n<b>Figure 2:&nbsp;<\/b>  The title is wrong as it includes \u2018no parasites\u2019. No parasites do not cause malaria. There are items in the legend that are not on the graph, it would be best to remove and just state in the foot notes that none of those other species were identified.\n<b>The figure has been changed entirely in version 2<\/b>  \n<b> Results:<\/b>  Was the parasite density at the two time points significantly different? \n<b>There was no test of significance performed but it is much higher in the rainy than the dry season.<\/b>  \n<b>Discussion:<\/b>  It would be very easy to compare the results from the current study with the data in the MIS by comparing similarly aged children. The statement can be revised if the analysis is redone for children aged 5 years and below.\n<b>The prevalence of malaria is described as it relates to the parasite species distribution and the impact of malaria endemicity. The metric for endemicity is the prevalence of falciparum malaria among children 2 to 10 years of age, which is the age group we studied. We also did not collect any data in children 6 months to 2 years and so even if we consider children under 5 years, we still would not be able to compare the data directly with MIS data.<\/b> I think the last paragraph should be a summary of the major findings and provide information related to the main aim or relevance to the title but it is presently not so.\n<b>It has been revised<\/b>","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/9-301\/v2#referee-comment-5960","order":4,"name":"referee-comment-5960","label":"Referee Comment","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"The study was funded by a dissertation grant awarded to UNN by Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.","order":5,"name":"grant-information","label":"Grant Information"},{"value":"This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.","order":0,"name":"copyright-info","label":"Copyright"}]}}