High prevalence of cannabis use among Aka foragers of the Congo Basin and its possible relationship to helminthiasis

Bibliographic Data

ID19459798
AuthorsCasey J Roulette (0000-0003-3823-9124, Department of Anthropology Washington State University Vancouver WA), Mirdad Kazanji (Institute Pasteur Bangui Central African Republic), Sébastien Breurec (0000-0003-4188-0377, Institute Pasteur Bangui Central African Republic), E H Hagen (0000-0002-5758-9093, Department of Anthropology Washington State University Vancouver WA, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume28
Issue1
Pages5-15
Publication date2016-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Human Biology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1042-0533 • E-ISSN: 1520-6300
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajhb.22740
PMID26031406
OpenAlexW1909085167
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited58

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about cannabis use in hunter-gatherers. Therefore, we investigated cannabis use in the Aka, a population of foragers of the Congo Basin. Because cannabis contains anthelminthic compounds, and the Aka have a high prevalence of helminthiasis, we also tested the hypothesis that cannabis use might be an unconscious form of self-medication against helminths. METHODS: We collected self- and peer-reports of cannabis use from all adult Aka in the Lobaye district of the Central African Republic (n = 379). Because female cannabis use was low, we restricted sample collection to men. Using an immunoassay for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-11-oic acid (THCA), a urinary biomarker of recent cannabis consumption, we validated cannabis use in men currently residing in camps near a logging road (n = 62). We also collected stool samples to assay worm burden. A longitudinal reinfection study was conducted among a subsample of the male participants (n = 23) who had been treated with a commercial anthelmintic 1 year ago. RESULTS: The prevalence of self- and peer-reported cannabis use was 70.9% among men and 6.1% among women, for a total prevalence of 38.6%. Using a 50 ng/ml threshold for THCA, 67.7% of men used cannabis. Cannabis users were significantly younger and had less material wealth than the non-cannabis users. There were significant negative associations between THCA levels and worm burden, and reinfection with helminths 1 year after treatment with a commercial anthelmintic. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cannabis use among adult Aka men was high when compared to most global populations. THCA levels were negatively correlated with parasite infection and reinfection, supporting the self-medication hypothesis

AKA · Cannabis · Environmental health · Helminthiasis · Population · Psychiatry · Demography · Helminth infection and control · Medicine · Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Immunology

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