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Viriato de Freitas V, Goulart Madeira N. Effectiveness of a School Intervention Based on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Soil-Transmitted Helminths. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:263-269. [PMID: 38190744 PMCID: PMC10859796 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 1.5 billion people are infected by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) worldwide, comprising one of the world's most serious public health problems. School-age children are the most affected as a result of precarious hygienic habits, especially in economically poor areas that lack appropriate sanitation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate a didactic method via a health education approach as a complement to the school curriculum of the sixth-grade students of public schools, distributed among six cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For this, a didactic booklet was elaborated with educational explanatory activities about worms, their life cycle, and how to avoid infections. The intervention was measured by the change caused by knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), in students before and after using the notebook, through a questionnaire with high validity and internal consistency. Schools were assigned randomly into intervention and control groups, receiving both the didactic material and the questionnaires, versus the questionnaires only, respectively. The results were submitted to an analysis of covariance that revealed a significant difference pre- and postintervention for knowledge (P < 0.001), with greater means (0.54) compared with the control group (0.44); attitude (P < 0.005), with respective means of 0.56 versus 0.48; and practice (P < 0.001), with means of 0.75 versus 0.57. These findings set the didactic material as a potential tool to complement the school curriculum through KAP without disrupting the teaching system, in addition to assisting teachers in health education at schools aiming to prevent children's infections by STHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviany Viriato de Freitas
- Department of Biodiversity and Biostatistics, Section of Parasitology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Newton Goulart Madeira
- Department of Biodiversity and Biostatistics, Section of Parasitology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
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Candela E, Goizueta C, Sandon L, Muñoz-Antoli C, Periago MV. The Relationship Between Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Environmental Factors in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e41568. [PMID: 37934580 PMCID: PMC10664009 DOI: 10.2196/41568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are widely distributed throughout the world. Various factors, including the environment, socioeconomic characteristics, and access to water and sanitation, play an important role in the spread and persistence of these parasites within communities. They, in turn, affect the growth and development of members of the community, especially children. Studies in the northern provinces of Argentina have shown variable prevalence of STHs, but the factors associated with their presence have not been completely elucidated. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the socioeconomic and environmental factors related to STH infection in indigenous villages located in Puerto Iguazú (Misiones), Argentina. METHODS Between 2018 and 2019, stool samples were collected from individuals ≥1 year residing in 3 villages: Mini-Marangatú, Yriapú, and Fortín Mbororé. Standard parasitological methods were used to determine STH prevalence. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess participants' habits, customs, and household characteristics, and environmental data were obtained through satellite imagery. Multilinear regression with Akaike information criterion stepwise variables was used to explore relevant associations. RESULTS A total of 342 individuals from the 3 villages participated in this study. The prevalence of STHs varied across villages: 89.6% (43/48), in Mini-Marangatú, 80.8% (101/125) in Yriapú, and 68.5% (115/169) in Fortín Mbororé. Notably, there was a significant difference in hookworm infection among the villages (P=.02). The analysis highlighted the significant influence of specific environmental factors on STH presence and spatial distribution, particularly in relation to hookworm infection. Vegetation patterns represented by the Vegetation Heterogeneity Index, created ad hoc for this study, emerged as a critical factor, with 2 significant predictors related to it (P=.002 and P=.004) alongside impervious surface density with a significant predictor (P<.001). The multilinear regression model yielded a high F test score (F108=4.75, P<.001), indicating a strong fit (R2=0.5465). Furthermore, socioeconomic factors, including walking barefoot in houses with dirt floors and overcrowding, were significantly correlated with hookworm infection intensity (P<.001 and P=.001, respectively). We also used the multilinear regression model to calculate hookworm infection intensity (F110=21.15, P<.001; R2=0.4971). CONCLUSIONS Our study underscores the complexity of STH transmission, as villages with similar living conditions and environmental characteristics displayed varied STH prevalence and spatial distribution. Specific environmental factors, such as vegetation pattern and impervious surface density, played major roles in STH presence, demonstrating the crucial relationship between environmental factors and hookworm infection distribution. Moreover, our findings emphasize the significant influence of socioeconomic factors on hookworm infection intensity. By gaining insights into this complex interplay, our research contributes to a better understanding of STH transmission characteristics, thereby informing targeted public health interventions for effective control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Candela
- Department of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | | | | | - Carla Muñoz-Antoli
- Department of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Maria Victoria Periago
- Mundo Sano Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Gerber DJF, Dhakal S, Islam MN, Al Kawsar A, Khair MA, Rahman MM, Karim MJ, Rahman MS, Aktaruzzaman MM, Tupps C, Stephens M, Emerson PM, Utzinger J, Vounatsou P. Distribution and treatment needs of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Bangladesh: A Bayesian geostatistical analysis of 2017-2020 national survey data. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011656. [PMID: 37930980 PMCID: PMC10662736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Bangladesh, preventive chemotherapy targeting soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in school-age children has been implemented since 2008. To evaluate the success of this strategy, surveys were conducted between 2017 and 2020 in 10 out of 64 districts. We estimate the geographic distribution of STH infections by species at high spatial resolution, identify risk factors, and estimate treatment needs at different population subgroups. METHODOLOGY Bayesian geostatistical models were fitted to prevalence data of each STH species. Climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic predictors were extracted from satellite images, open-access, model-based databases, and demographic household surveys, and used to predict the prevalence of infection over a gridded surface at 1 x 1 km spatial resolution across the country, via Bayesian kriging. These estimates were combined with gridded population data to estimate the number of required treatments for different risk groups. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The population-adjusted prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm across all ages is estimated at 9.9% (95% Bayesian credible interval: 8.0-13.0%), 4.3% (3.0-7.3%), and 0.6% (0.4-0.9%), respectively. There were 24 out of 64 districts with an estimated population-adjusted STH infection prevalence above 20%. The proportion of households with improved sanitation showed a statistically important, protective association for both, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura prevalence. Precipitation in the driest month of the year was negatively associated with A. lumbricoides prevalence. High organic carbon concentration in the soil's fine earth fraction was related to a high hookworm prevalence. Furthermore, we estimated that 30.5 (27.2; 36.0) million dosages of anthelmintic treatments for school-age children were required per year in Bangladesh. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE For each of the STH species, the prevalence was reduced by at least 80% since treatment was scaled up more than a decade ago. The current number of deworming dosages could be reduced by up to 61% if the treatment strategy was adapted to the local prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. F. Gerber
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sanjaya Dhakal
- Children Without Worms, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Md. Nazmul Islam
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdullah Al Kawsar
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abul Khair
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mujibur Rahman
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Jahirul Karim
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Shafiqur Rahman
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. M. Aktaruzzaman
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Cara Tupps
- Children Without Worms, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mariana Stephens
- Children Without Worms, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Emerson
- Children Without Worms, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Penelope Vounatsou
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Puchner KP, Bottazzi ME, Periago V, Grobusch M, Maizels R, McCarthy J, Lee B, Gaspari E, Diemert D, Hotez P. Vaccine value profile for Hookworm. Vaccine 2023:S0264-410X(23)00540-6. [PMID: 37863671 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Hookworm, a parasitic infection, retains a considerable burden of disease, affecting the most underprivileged segments of the general population in endemic countries and remains one of the leading causes of mild to severe anemia in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), particularly in pregnancy and children under 5. Despite repeated large scale Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) interventions since more than 3 decades, there is broad consensus among scholars that elimination targets set in the newly launched NTD roadmap will require additional tools and interventions. Development of a vaccine could constitute a promising expansion of the existing arsenal against hookworm. Therefore, we have evaluated the biological and implementation feasibility of the vaccine development as well as the added value of such a novel tool. Based on pipeline landscaping and the current knowledge on key biological aspects of the pathogen and its interactions with the host, we found biological feasibility of development of a hookworm vaccine to be moderate. Also, our analysis on manufacturing and regulatory issues as well as potential uptake yielded moderate implementation feasibility. Modelling studies suggest a that introduction of a vaccine in parallel with ongoing integrated interventions (PC, WASH, shoe campaigns), could substantially reduce burden of disease in a cost - saving mode. Finally a set of actions are recommended that might impact positively the likelihood of timely development and introduction of a hookworm vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor, TX, USA
| | | | - Martin Grobusch
- Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rick Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - James McCarthy
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bruce Lee
- Public Health Informatics, Computational, and Operations Research, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erika Gaspari
- European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - David Diemert
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter Hotez
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor, TX, USA
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Neto AFR, Di Christine Oliveira YL, de Oliveira LM, La Corte R, Jain S, de Lyra Junior DP, Fujiwara RT, Dolabella SS. Why Are We Still a Worm World in the 2020s? An Overview of Risk Factors and Endemicity for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis. Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:481-495. [PMID: 37531011 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is one of the most common chronic infections in developing countries associated with poor socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. The main objective of this overview was to evaluate the influence of environmental factors, risk factors related to the host, and control strategies on the prevalence of STH in different regions of the world. METHODS LILACS, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Trials (gray literature) databases were used to obtain the systematic reviews published until December 2020. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed using the standard criteria recommended by AMSTAR. RESULTS The initial results of the bibliographic search identified 1448 articles, of which 66 studies were read in full and 16 met the inclusion criteria. All the reviews included in this overview associated variations in the global prevalence of STH with at least one of the factors related to the environment, host, and/or control strategies. Climate, temperature, soil moisture, precipitation, mass drug administration, lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and non-use of footwear were considered the main factors associated with the prevalence of STH. Socioeconomic factors, low educational level, and wearing shoes were universal factors related to prevalence, regardless of the location studied. CONCLUSION The combination of environmental factors, with factors associated with hosts that predispose infection and reinfection of helminths, as well as the adoption of control strategies based on the treatment of target populations instead of the entire population, influenced the prevalence of STH in all the continents evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelson Ferreira Ramos Neto
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Maria de Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Center of Biology and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil
| | - Roseli La Corte
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil
| | - Sona Jain
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Tiradentes University, Aracaju, SE, 49010-390, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Silvio Santana Dolabella
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49100-000, Brazil.
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Dermauw V, Van De Vijver E, Dorny P, Giorgi E, Ganaba R, Millogo A, Tarnagda Z, Cissé AK, Carabin H. Geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis: Results of a large-scale study in 60 villages in Burkina Faso. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011437. [PMID: 37494329 PMCID: PMC10370738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the larval stage of the zoonotic tapeworm (Taenia solium). While there is a clear spatial component in the occurrence of the parasite, no geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis has been conducted yet, nor has such an analysis been conducted for Sub-Saharan Africa, albeit relevant for guiding prevention and control strategies. The goal of this study was to conduct a geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis, using data from the baseline cross-sectional component of a large-scale study in 60 villages in Burkina Faso. The outcome was the prevalence of active human cysticercosis (hCC), determined using the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA, while various environmental variables linked with the transmission and spread of the disease were explored as potential explanatory variables for the spatial distribution of T. solium. A generalized linear geostatistical model (GLGM) was run, and prediction maps were generated. Analyses were conducted using data generated at two levels: individual participant data and grouped village data. The best model was selected using a backward variable selection procedure and models were compared using likelihood ratio testing. The best individual-level GLGM included precipitation (increasing values were associated with an increased odds of positive test result), distance to the nearest river (decreased odds) and night land temperature (decreased odds) as predictors for active hCC, whereas the village-level GLGM only retained precipitation and distance to the nearest river. The range of spatial correlation was estimated at 45.0 [95%CI: 34.3; 57.8] meters and 28.2 [95%CI: 14.0; 56.2] km for the individual- and village-level datasets, respectively. Individual- and village-level GLGM unravelled large areas with active hCC predicted prevalence estimates of at least 4% in the south-east, the extreme south, and north-west of the study area, while patches of prevalence estimates below 2% were seen in the north and west. More research designed to analyse the spatial characteristics of hCC is needed with sampling strategies ensuring appropriate characterisation of spatial variability, and incorporating the uncertainty linked to the measurement of outcome and environmental variables in the geostatistical analysis. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT0309339.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronique Dermauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ellen Van De Vijver
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Emanuele Giorgi
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing, and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | | | - Athanase Millogo
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sourô Sanou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Université Ouagadougou, Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Zékiba Tarnagda
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Assana Kone Cissé
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Hélène Carabin
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montreal, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Montreal, Canada
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
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Scavuzzo CM, Delgado C, Goy M, Crudo F, Porcasi X, Periago MV. Intestinal parasitic infections in a community from Pampa del Indio, Chaco (Argentina) and their association with socioeconomic and environmental factors. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285371. [PMID: 37384739 PMCID: PMC10310042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases are a group of 20 disabling diseases, which, in particular, are the most common chronic infections in the most vulnerable people. This study aimed to characterize the infection by intestinal parasites (IPs) in dwellings from a peri-urban neighborhood in Pampa del Indio, Chaco (Argentina), and its association with socioeconomic and environmental variables. Single stool samples were collected from all individuals older than 1 year through household visits and processed using coprological sedimentation and flotation techniques. Standardized questionnaires were used at the household level to collect socio-economic information. Environmental variables were obtained from the Planetscope image, Landsat 8 images and remote sensors, while land-use layers were obtained through the use of a maximum likelihood algorithm. Stool samples were provided by 314 individuals. The prevalence of IPs found was 30.6% (n = 96), with a predominance of Giardia lamblia (12.7%, n = 40) and Hymenolepis nana (7.6%, n = 24). The only soil-transmitted helminth found was Strongyloides stercoralis with a 2.5% prevalence (n = 8). Individuals of adult age (> 18 years) were 0.65 times less likely to present parasitic infections with respect to children and adolescents. The only environmental variable that was closely associated with the presence of IPs, was the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), a measure of humidity; being higher around houses with positive individuals. Most of the IPs found in this study were of water-borne transmission and those transmitted directly from person-to-person, therefore fecal contamination is present. We believe that the low prevalence of STH in this area, which requires a passage through the soil, is related to the environmental characteristics, which are unsuitable for the development/permanence of the infective stages of these parasites. The geospatial data and tools used herein proved to be useful for the study of the relationship between the different factors that influence the presence of IPs in a community, from an eco-health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Matias Scavuzzo
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Marcia Goy
- Hospital Dr. Dante Tardelli, Pampa del Indio, Chaco, Argentina
| | - Favio Crudo
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ximena Porcasi
- Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Periago
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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The spatial-temporal distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Guangdong Province, China: A geostatistical analysis of data derived from the three national parasitic surveys. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010622. [PMID: 35849623 PMCID: PMC9333454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The results of the latest national survey on important human parasitic diseases in 2015–2016 showed Guangdong Province is still a moderately endemic area, with the weighted prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) higher than the national average. High-resolution age- and gender-specific spatial-temporal risk maps can support the prevention and control of STHs, but not yet available in Guangdong. Methodology Georeferenced age- and gender-specific disease data of STH infections in Guangdong Province was derived from three national surveys on important human parasitic diseases, conducted in 1988–1992, 2002–2003, and 2015–2016, respectively. Potential influencing factors (e.g., environmental and socioeconomic factors) were collected from open-access databases. Bayesian geostatistical models were developed to analyze the above data, based on which, high-resolution maps depicting the STH infection risk were produced in the three survey years in Guangdong Province. Principal findings There were 120, 31, 71 survey locations in the first, second, and third national survey in Guangdong, respectively. The overall population-weighted prevalence of STH infections decreased significantly over time, from 68.66% (95% Bayesian credible interval, BCI: 64.51–73.06%) in 1988–1992 to 0.97% (95% BCI: 0.69–1.49%) in 2015–2016. In 2015–2016, only low to moderate infection risk were found across Guangdong, with hookworm becoming the dominant species. Areas with relatively higher risk (>5%) were mostly distributed in the western region. Females had higher infection risk of STHs than males. The infection risk of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were higher in children, while middle-aged and elderly people had higher infection risk of hookworm. Precipitation, elevation, land cover, and human influence index (HII) were significantly related with STH infection risk. Conclusions/Significance We produced the high-resolution, age- and gender-specific risk maps of STH infections in the three national survey periods across nearly 30 years in Guangdong Province, which can provide important information assisting the control and prevention strategies. Even though the overall infection risk of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Guangdong Province decreased over time, it is still higher than the national average. Risk maps can assist spatial-targeting control and intervention. We developed Bayesian geostatistical models based on the data derived from three national surveys on important human parasitic diseases in Guangdong, conducted in 1988–1992, 2002–2003, and 2015–2016, respectively. Based on these, high-resolution, age- and gender-specific infection risk maps were produced. We found that the overall STH infection risk sharply decreased over time, from 68.66% to 0.97%. We identified that moderately endemic risk (>5%) mostly distributed in small areas of western Guangdong, and prevalence in all other areas was below 5% in 2015–2016. The higher infection risk of STHs was found among females. Children were most likely to be infected with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, however, middle-aged and elderly people had higher infection risk of hookworm. Therefore, results of this study suggested that the government can pay more attention to people in western Guangdong, especially middle-aged and elderly people engaged in farming. As such, the government may continue to strengthen the monitoring net in the historical endemic areas to avoid the re-infection.
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Estimating the population at risk with soil transmitted helminthiasis and annual drug requirements for preventive chemotherapy in Ogun State, Nigeria. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2027. [PMID: 35132144 PMCID: PMC8821603 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06012-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common human infections worldwide with over 1 billion people affected. Many estimates of STH infection are often based on school-aged children (SAC). This study produced predictive risk-maps of STH on a more finite scale, estimated the number of people infected, and the amount of drug required for preventive chemotherapy (PC) in Ogun state, Nigeria. Georeferenced STH infection data obtained from a cross-sectional survey at 33 locations between July 2016 and November 2018, together with remotely-sensed environmental and socio-economic data were analyzed using Bayesian geostatistical modelling. Stepwise variable selection procedure was employed to select a parsimonious set of predictors to predict risk and spatial distribution of STH infections. The number of persons (pre-school ages children, SAC and adults) infected with STH were estimated, with the amount of tablets needed for preventive chemotherapy. An overall prevalence of 17.2% (95% CI 14.9, 19.5) was recorded for any STH infection. Ascaris lumbricoides infections was the most predominant, with an overall prevalence of 13.6% (95% CI 11.5, 15.7), while Hookworm and Trichuris trichiura had overall prevalence of 4.6% (95% CI 3.3, 5.9) and 1.7% (95% CI 0.9, 2.4), respectively. The model-based prevalence predictions ranged from 5.0 to 23.8% for Ascaris lumbricoides, from 2.0 to 14.5% for hookworms, and from 0.1 to 5.7% for Trichuris trichiura across the implementation units. The predictive maps revealed a spatial pattern of high risk in the central, western and on the border of Republic of Benin. The model identified soil pH, soil moisture and elevation as the main predictors of infection for A. lumbricoides, Hookworms and T. trichiura respectively. About 50% (10/20) of the implementation units require biannual rounds of mass drug administration. Approximately, a total of 1.1 million persons were infected and require 7.8 million doses. However, a sub-total of 375,374 SAC were estimated to be infected, requiring 2.7 million doses. Our predictive risk maps and estimated PC needs provide useful information for the elimination of STH, either for resource acquisition or identifying priority areas for delivery of interventions in Ogun State, Nigeria.
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Kokaliaris C, Garba A, Matuska M, Bronzan RN, Colley DG, Dorkenoo AM, Ekpo UF, Fleming FM, French MD, Kabore A, Mbonigaba JB, Midzi N, Mwinzi PNM, N'Goran EK, Polo MR, Sacko M, Tchuem Tchuenté LA, Tukahebwa EM, Uvon PA, Yang G, Wiesner L, Zhang Y, Utzinger J, Vounatsou P. Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study. THE LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:136-149. [PMID: 34863336 PMCID: PMC8695385 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00090-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Over the past 20 years, schistosomiasis control has been scaled up. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is the main intervention. We aimed to assess the effect of preventive chemotherapy on schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, comparing 2000–10 with 2011–14 and 2015–19. Methods In this spatiotemporal modelling study, we analysed survey data from school-aged children (aged 5–14 years) in 44 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The data were extracted from the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases database and augmented by 2018 and 2019 survey data obtained from disease control programmes. Bayesian geostatistical models were fitted to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni survey data. The models included data on climatic predictors obtained from satellites and other open-source environmental databases and socioeconomic predictors obtained from various household surveys. Temporal changes in Schistosoma species prevalence were estimated by a categorical variable with values corresponding to the three time periods (2000–10, 2011–14, and 2015–19) during which preventive chemotherapy interventions were scaled up. Findings We identified 781 references with relevant geolocated schistosomiasis survey data for 2000–19. There were 19 166 unique survey locations for S haematobium and 23 861 for S mansoni, of which 77% (14 757 locations for S haematobium and 18 372 locations for S mansoni) corresponded to 2011–19. Schistosomiasis prevalence among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa decreased from 23·0% (95% Bayesian credible interval 22·1–24·1) in 2000–10 to 9·6% (9·1–10·2) in 2015–19, an overall reduction of 58·3%. The reduction of S haematobium was 67·9% (64·6–71·1) and that of S mansoni 53·6% (45·2–58·3) when comparing 2000–10 with 2015–19. Interpretation Our model-based estimates suggest that schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa has decreased considerably, most likely explained by the scale-up of preventive chemotherapy. There is a need to consolidate gains in the control of schistosomiasis by means of preventive chemotherapy, coupled with other interventions to interrupt disease transmission. Funding European Research Council and WHO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Kokaliaris
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Amadou Garba
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martin Matuska
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel G Colley
- Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ameyo M Dorkenoo
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Uwem F Ekpo
- Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | - Jean B Mbonigaba
- Malaria and Other Parasitic Disease Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Nicholas Midzi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Pauline N M Mwinzi
- Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Eliézer K N'Goran
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire; Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Maria Rebollo Polo
- Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Moussa Sacko
- Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Research, Institut National de Recherche en Santé Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuenté
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Ecology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Pitchouna A Uvon
- Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Guojing Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Wiesner
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yaobi Zhang
- Regional Office for Africa, Helen Keller International, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Penelope Vounatsou
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Oliveira LM, Oliveira YLDC, Oliveira YLM, Ramos ACS, Andrade GF, Sá VL, Geraldi RM, Pinheiro CS, Bueno LL, Fujiwara RT, Dolabella SS. Intestinal polyparasitism and levels of mucosal anthelmintic SIgA in children from endemic areas in Northeastern Brazil. Parasite Immunol 2021; 44:e12899. [PMID: 34861047 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between parasites during co-infections are often complex and can impact immunization and treatment programmes, as well as disease outcomes and morbidity. However, little is known about these interactions and the mechanisms involved. In this study, a coproparasitological survey was carried out in school-age children living in endemic areas of parasitic infection in the state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil. Anti-helminth-specific and total secretory immunoglobulin-A (SIgA) levels were measured in stool and saliva samples and were compared in children presenting monoparasitism, polyparasitism (helminths and/or intestinal protozoa) and no infections. The survey showed that protozoa were more prevalent than helminths, and that there was a high frequency of polyparasitism in the studied population, mainly from combinations of protozoan species. Although less frequent, combinations between species of protozoa and helminths were also observed. The levels of salivary SIgA in these co-infected individuals were lower than the average observed in infections with helminths alone. Although the children participating in this survey were asymptomatic, and it was, therefore, not possible to evaluate the impact of salivary SIgA reduction on the diseases, and the study highlights the need for further investigations of co-infections by intestinal parasites and the effects on immune response induced by the interactions between different parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana M Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil.,Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
| | - Yvanna L D C Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | - Yrna L M Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | - Anne Caroline S Ramos
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | - Gabriela F Andrade
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
| | - Vitor L Sá
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
| | - Ricardo M Geraldi
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
| | - Carina S Pinheiro
- Department of Biointeraction, Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Lilian L Bueno
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T Fujiwara
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil.,Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Silvio S Dolabella
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil.,Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Brazil
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Tidman R, Abela-Ridder B, de Castañeda RR. The impact of climate change on neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:147-168. [PMID: 33508094 PMCID: PMC7842100 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of diseases that continue to affect >1 billion people, with these diseases disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations and territories. Climate change is having an increasing impact on public health in tropical and subtropical areas and across the world and can affect disease distribution and transmission in potentially diverse ways. Improving our understanding of how climate change influences NTDs can help identify populations at risk to include in future public health interventions. Articles were identified by searching electronic databases for reports of climate change and NTDs between 1 January 2010 and 1 March 2020. Climate change may influence the emergence and re-emergence of multiple NTDs, particularly those that involve a vector or intermediate host for transmission. Although specific predictions are conflicting depending on the geographic area, the type of NTD and associated vectors and hosts, it is anticipated that multiple NTDs will have changes in their transmission period and geographic range and will likely encroach on regions and populations that have been previously unaffected. There is a need for improved surveillance and monitoring to identify areas of NTD incursion and emergence and include these in future public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Tidman
- Consultant, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bernadette Abela-Ridder
- Department of the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Ruiz de Castañeda
- Department of the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Global Health, Department of Community Health and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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Anegagrie M, Lanfri S, Aramendia AA, Scavuzzo CM, Herrador Z, Benito A, Periago MV. Environmental characteristics around the household and their association with hookworm infection in rural communities from Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009466. [PMID: 34157019 PMCID: PMC8219153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) are highly prevalent Neglected Tropical Disease in Ethiopia, an estimated 26 million are infected. Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies assist data mapping and analysis, and the prediction of the spatial distribution of infection in relation to environmental variables. The influence of socioeconomic, environmental and soil characteristics on hookworm infection at the individual and household level is explored in order to identify spatial patterns of infection in rural villages from Zenzelema (Amhara region). Inhabitants greater than 5 years old were recruited in order to assess the presence of STH. Socioeconomic and hookworm infection variables at the household level and environmental variables and soil characteristics using RS were obtained. The dominant STH found was hookworm. Individuals which practiced open defecation and those without electricity had a significant higher number of hookworm eggs in their stool. Additionally, adults showed statistically higher hookworm egg counts than children. Nonetheless, the probability of hookworm infection was not determined by socioeconomic conditions but by environmental characteristics surrounding the households, including a combination of vigorous vegetation and bare soil, high temperatures, and compacted soils (high bulk density) with more acidic pH, given a pH of 6.0 is optimal for hatching of hookworm eggs. The identification of high-risk environmental areas provides a useful tool for planning, targeting and monitoring of control measures, including not only children but also adults when hookworm is concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melaku Anegagrie
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Madrid, Spain
- National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofía Lanfri
- Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aranzazu Amor Aramendia
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Madrid, Spain
- National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Matías Scavuzzo
- Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Zaida Herrador
- National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín Benito
- National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Calegar DA, Bacelar PA, Monteiro KJL, dos Santos JP, Gonçalves AB, Boia MN, Jaeger LH, Coronato-Nunes B, Carvalho-Costa FA. A community-based, cross-sectional study to assess interactions between income, nutritional status and enteric parasitism in two Brazilian cities: are we moving positively towards 2030? JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2021; 40:26. [PMID: 34099052 PMCID: PMC8186086 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-021-00252-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study assessed the interactions between income, nutritional status and intestinal parasitism in children in Brazil. METHODS A cross-sectional study (n = 421 children aged 1 to 14 years living in the states of Piauí (rural communities in the city of Teresina) and Rio de Janeiro (rural and periurban communities in the city of Cachoeiras de Macacu) was performed in order to obtain income and anthropometric data, as well as fecal samples for parasitological analyses through the Ritchie technique. RESULTS Children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides had significantly lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 1.36 ± 0.75 vs. - 0.11 ± 1.02; p < 0.001), weight-for-age z scores (- 1.23 ± 0.74 vs. 0.09 ± 1.15; p = 0.001), and weight-for-height z scores (- 0.68 ± 0.44 vs. 0.23 ± 1.25; p = 0.006) when compared with uninfected children. Infection with hookworm was also associated with lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 1.08 ± 1.17 vs. - 0.12 ± 1.02; p = 0.015) and weight-for-age z scores (- 1.03 ± 1.13 vs. 0.08 ± 1.15; p = 0.012). Children infected with Entamoeba coli presented significantly lower means of height-for-age z scores (- 0.54 ± 1.02 vs. - 0.09 ± 1.02; p = 0.005) and weight-for-age z scores (- 0.44 ± 1.15 vs. 0.12 ± 1.15; p = 0.002). The multivariate multiple linear regression analysis showed that height-for-age z scores are independently influenced by monthly per capita family income (β = 0.145; p = 0.003), female gender (β = 0.117; p = 0.015), and infections with A. lumbricoides (β = - 0.141; p = 0.006) and Entamoeba coli (β = - 0.100; p = 0.043). Weight-for-age z scores are influenced by monthly per capita family income (β = 0.175; p < 0.001), female gender (β = 0.123; p = 0.010), and infections with A. lumbricoides (β = - 0.127; p = 0.012), and Entamoeba coli (β = - 0.101; p = 0.039). Monthly per capita family income (β = 0.102; p = 0.039) and female gender (β = 0.134; p = 0.007) positively influences mid upper arm circumpherence. CONCLUSIONS Intestinal parasitism and low family income negatively influence the physical development of children in low-income communities in different Brazilian regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deiviane A. Calegar
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Polyanna A. Bacelar
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Escritório Técnico Regional - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Piauí, Rua Magalhães Filho, 519, Centro/Norte, Teresina, Piauí Brazil
| | - Kerla J. L. Monteiro
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Escritório Técnico Regional - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Piauí, Rua Magalhães Filho, 519, Centro/Norte, Teresina, Piauí Brazil
| | - Jessica P. dos Santos
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Escritório Técnico Regional - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Piauí, Rua Magalhães Filho, 519, Centro/Norte, Teresina, Piauí Brazil
| | - Andressa B. Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Márcio N. Boia
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Lauren H. Jaeger
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n – Campus Universitário Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Beatriz Coronato-Nunes
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina de Petrópolis (FMP)/ Centro Universitário Arthur Sá Earp Neto (UNIFASE), Rua Machado Fagundes, 326, Cascatinha, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Filipe A. Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Mingoti Poague KIH, Mingoti SA, Heller L. Association between water and sanitation and soil-transmitted helminthiases: Analysis of the Brazilian National Survey of Prevalence (2011-2015). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 79:83. [PMID: 34011389 PMCID: PMC8132366 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-021-00602-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background Most of the studies conducted in Brazil assessing the relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, have focused on cases, reflecting the reality of small areas and not of a countrywide situation. In order to fill this gap, the current paper presents an epidemiological study exploring the association between water and sanitation and STHs prevalence in students from 7 to 17 years old, in all 27 Brazilian Federation Units. Methods Three ecological studies were carried out considering the prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm as outcome variables. The sample consisted of 197,567 students aged 7–17 years old living in 521 Brazilian municipalities. Data were retrieved from the National Survey on the Prevalence of Schistosomiasis mansoni and Soil-transmitted helminth infections (2011–2015). The Generalized Linear Model with the negative binomial distribution was used to evaluate the statistical association between outcomes and explanatory variables. Univariate and Multivariate analyses were conducted with 25 and 5 % significance levels, respectively. Data were aggregated considering municipalities as the geographical unit for analysis. Results Protective association was found between access to filtered water and adequate sanitation in schools with ascariasis (RR 0.989, CI 95 % 0.983–0.996; RR 0.988, CI 95 % 0.977–0.998), access to filtered water in schools with trichuriasis (RR 0.986, CI 95 % 0.979–0.993) and adequate sanitation at home with hookworm ((RR 0.989, CI 95 % 0.982–0.996). The percentage of population served with Bolsa Família Program, used as a proxy for poverty, was the only significant variable common to all models. Conclusions Our findings support that WASH, both in schools and homes, are essential to schoolchildren health with regard to STHs. However, sanitary interventions will not be fully effective in preventing STH infections without promoting access to quality public services, particularly for people living in poverty, the most vulnerable group. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13690-021-00602-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasandra Isabella Helouise Mingoti Poague
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
| | | | - Léo Heller
- René Rachou Institute, The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in the State of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Intestinal parasites in child and youth populations of Argentina: Environmental factors determining geographic distribution. Rev Argent Microbiol 2021; 53:225-232. [PMID: 33413969 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmission of intestinal parasites is generally considered to be "mediated by the environment" which suggests that they are particularly sensitive to the changes that occur in it. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the environmental variables that act as risk factors for intestinal parasitosis in children and youths in Argentina. The association between environmental variables related to temperature, precipitation and soil and parasitosis found in children and youths from different provinces was evaluated, including land use/cover classes obtained from satellite images. Of the total population analyzed, 66.9% of the participants were parasitized. The total number of identified parasite species was 17 and the most prevalent were Blastocystis sp. (42.2%), Enterobius vermicularis (33.6%) and Giardia lamblia (17.0%). Infection by protozoa, and by G. lamblia in particular, was greater when the mean summer temperature was higher (OR=1.2 for both). Blastocystis sp. and geohelminths were greater due to an increase in isothermality (OR=1.1 and 1.2, respectively). The risk of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides was associated with an increase in the temperature in the wettest quarter (OR=1.2). Hookworm infection was associated with an increase in the normalized difference vegetation index (OR=32.5). Most of participants infected with hookworms lived in areas with abundant arboreal-shrubby and agropastoral use vegetation. The heterogeneous distribution of enteric parasites is indicative of the wide environmental variability of Argentina.
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Incani RN, Grillet ME, Mughini-Gras L. Hotspots and correlates of soil-transmitted helminth infections in a Venezuelan rural community: Which are the "wormy" houses? J Infect 2020; 82:143-149. [PMID: 33271168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine spatial clustering and risk factors for occurrence and intensity of infection for soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworms in a Venezuelan rural community. METHODS MIF-fixed faecal samples were individually collected for STH testing. The Getis-Ord statistic was used to determine significant STH clustering within 25/50/100 m radiuses around houses. Individual- and house-level factors associated with STH occurrence and intensity of infection were determined using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS Significant clusters of "wormy" houses for one or multiple parasites were found at distances of 25-50 m around 13 houses. Risk factors differed between occurrence and intensity of infection. Overcrowding in the house increased occurrence of S. stercoralis, T. trichiura and hookworm infections, while poor housing conditions increased A. lumbricoides infection risk. Overcrowding, poor faecal disposal system, economic dependency and lack of basic services differentially influenced the STHs. The "wormy" houses were mainly those built with waste materials, under economic dependency and lacking indoor water supply. CONCLUSIONS STH distribution in a community is clustered, with significant hotspots of STH occurrence and intensity of infection and different associated risk factors. Targeting the "wormy" houses is expected to affect STH morbidity more efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo Nino Incani
- Department de Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela.
| | - María Eugenia Grillet
- Laboratorio de Biología de Vectores y Parásitos, Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Center for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Almeida MM, Monteiro KJL, Bacelar PAA, Santos JPD, Freitas SPCD, Evangelista BBC, Leal DN, Silva DDAE, Cardoso AB, Nascimento EFD, Moraes Neto AHAD, Carvalho-Costa FA. Interactions between malnutrition, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and poverty among children living in periurban communities in Maranhao State, Northeastern Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2020; 62:e73. [PMID: 33027397 PMCID: PMC7534403 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202062073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Poverty, malnutrition and neglected tropical diseases such as soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) interact in a multi-causal feedback network. This study aimed to assess the relationships between STHs, income and nutritional status of children in impoverished communities in the city of Caxias, Maranhao State, Northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional survey (n=259 children) was carried out with the collection of fecal samples and assessment of sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and sanitation data. Hookworm infection and ascariasis presented prevalence rates of 14.3% and 9.3%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis showed that hookworm infection was more frequent in males (odds ratio [OR]=3.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.45-8.08), children aged 11-15 years old (OR=3.72; 95% CI=1.19-11.62), children living in poor families (OR=2.44; 95% CI=1.04-5.68) and those living in rented houses (OR=5.74; 95%CI=1.91-17.25). Concerning ascariasis, living in the Caldeiroes community (OR=0.01; 95%CI=0-0.17) and belonging to the 11-15 years age group (OR=0.21; 95%CI=0.04-1.02) were protection factors. Poor children have a significantly lower frequency of consumption of meat, milk, vegetables, tubers and fruits than not poor children. The frequent consumption of meat, milk and tubers was associated with significant higher values in the parameter height-for-age, whereas the consumption of meat and milk positively influenced the weight-for-age. The frequencies of stunting, underweight and wasting were 8.1%, 4.9% and 2.9%, respectively. The multivariate model demonstrated that stunting was significantly associated with economic poverty (OR=2.82; 95%CI=1.03-7.70) and low weight was associated with male sex (OR=6.43; 95% CI=1.35-30.68). In conclusion, the study describes the interactions between the dimensions of development represented by income, STHs and nutritional status revealing the importance of raising income levels to improve the living conditions of families in impoverished communities in Northeastern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayron Morais Almeida
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Escritório Técnico Regional Fiocruz Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | - Polyanna Araújo Alves Bacelar
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Escritório Técnico Regional Fiocruz Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Pereira Dos Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Escritório Técnico Regional Fiocruz Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Elaine Ferreira do Nascimento
- Escritório Técnico Regional Fiocruz Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Piauí, Coordenação do Programa de Pós‑Graduação em Políticas Públicas, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | - Filipe Anibal Carvalho-Costa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Escritório Técnico Regional Fiocruz Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
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Infections with Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/ Entamoeba dispar as Hidden and Prevalent Conditions in Periurban Communities in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. J Trop Med 2020; 2020:3134849. [PMID: 32733575 PMCID: PMC7376428 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3134849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to assess the prevalence, distribution, and etiological profile of intestinal parasitism in children living in periurban areas in Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A community-based cross-sectional survey (n = 479) was carried out. Prevalence of infection with G. duodenalis and E. histolytica/E. dispar was 8.6% (n = 41) and 13.4% (n = 64), respectively. Infection with G. duodenalis was significantly more frequent among children living in poor families (24/187 (12.8%) vs. 16/272 (5.9%); prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–3.99; p=0.011). This difference was also significant for infection with any pathogenic parasite (43/187 (23%) vs. 40/272 (14/7%); PR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.06–2.30; p=0.026). In addition, people residing in houses with more than four inhabitants showed significantly higher positivity for infections with G. duodenalis and with E. histolytica/E. dispar (22/138 (15.9%) vs. 16/311 (5.1%); PR = 3.09; 95% CI = 1.68–5.71; p < 0.001 for G. duodenalis and 32/138 (23.2%) vs. 30/311 (9.6%); PR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.52–3.79; p < 0.001 for E. histolytica/E. dispar). Laboratory diagnosis of protozoan enteric infections and effective drugs for their treatment are unmet goals in the primary health care system. Therefore, giardiasis and amebiasis are neglected conditions.
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Factors that affect blood eosinophil counts in a non-asthmatic population: Post hoc analysis of data from Brazil. World Allergy Organ J 2020; 13:100119. [PMID: 32435326 PMCID: PMC7232113 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Improved understanding of the normal range of blood eosinophil counts (BEC) and conditions that influence them in non-asthmatic individuals should allow more accurate estimation of the threshold at which eosinophilic disease should be considered, diagnosed, and treated. This analysis investigated the impact of atopy, smoking, and parasitic infection on BEC. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of non-asthmatic subjects from a case-control study (CONEP 450/10) conducted at the Program for Control of Asthma in Bahia (ProAR). Participant BECs were measured at baseline; correlations between predefined risk factors and BEC were assessed via univariate and stratified analysis. Results Of the 454 participants included, 3% were helminth parasite-positive, 18% were non-helminth parasite-positive; and 450 had BEC data. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) BEC was 152 (96, 252) cells/μL. Any positive skin prick test, elevated total immunoglobulin E, allergic rhinitis, and being a current smoker were all individually associated with higher BEC (p < 0.05) compared with BEC in participants without these factors, but having a non-helminthic parasitic infection was not. Participants with all 4 risk factors that were associated with higher BEC had a median (IQR) BEC of 192 cells/μL (94, 416) versus 106 cells/μL (70, 164) for those with no risk factors. Conclusions In non-asthmatic subjects, atopy, allergic rhinitis, and current smoking status were associated with higher BEC compared with subjects without these factors, but BEC values were well below the threshold commonly accepted as normal. Therefore, BEC should be interpreted in the context of an individual's medical conditions and other BEC-influencing factors.
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Key Words
- AR, allergic rhinitis
- Atopy
- BEC, blood eosinophil counts
- BMI, body mass index
- Biomarker
- COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- EGPA, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Eosinophil
- FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1s
- GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma
- IL, interleukin
- IQR, interquartile range
- IgE, immunoglobulin E
- Normal range
- Parasite
- ProAR, Program for Control of Asthma in Bahia
- SPT, skin prick test
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Risk map development for soil-transmitted helminth infections in Argentina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008000. [PMID: 32040473 PMCID: PMC7010237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) comprise a group of helminth parasites that are included in the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases and require a passage through the soil to become infective. Several studies have detected that infection with STHs are associated with certain socioeconomic, environmental and soil characteristics. In Argentina, the presence of these parasites has been detected through a few point studies conducted in localities from 11 of the 23 provinces that comprise the country. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The most important characteristics previously associated with the presence of STHs were identified and ranked through the use of an expert survey and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in order to construct a risk map of STHs specific for Argentina. Prevalence data from previous studies was used to validate the generated risk map. The map shows that half of Argentina, from the Central provinces to the North, contains localities with the characteristics necessary for the development of these parasites. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The predicted map should serve as a useful tool for guiding the identification of survey areas for the generation of baseline data, detecting hotspots of infection, planning and prioritizing areas for control interventions, and eventually performing post-implementation surveillance activities.
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Strongyloides stercoralis: Spatial distribution of a highly prevalent and ubiquitous soil-transmitted helminth in Cambodia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006943. [PMID: 31220075 PMCID: PMC6586258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Strongyloides stercoralis is a neglected soil-transmitted helminth that occurs worldwide, though it is particularly endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. It can cause long-lasting and potentially fatal infections due to its ability to replicate within its host. S. stercoralis causes gastrointestinal and dermatological morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess the S. stercoralis infection risk and, using geostatistical models, to predict its geographical distribution in Cambodia. Methodology / Principal findings A nation-wide, community-based parasitological survey was conducted among the Cambodian population, aged 6 years and older. S. stercoralis was diagnosed using a serological diagnostic test that detects IgG antibodies in urine. Data on demography, hygiene and knowledge about helminth infection were collected. S. stercoralis prevalence among 7,246 participants with a complete data record was 30.5%, ranging from 10.9% to 48.2% across provinces. The parasite was ubiquitous in Cambodia; only five south-eastern provinces had prevalence rates below 20%. Infection risk increased with age for both men and women, although girls under the age of 13 and women aged 50 years and over had lower odds of infection than their male counterparts. Open defecation was associated with higher odds of infection, while having some knowledge of the health problems caused by worms was a protective factor. Infection risk was positively associated with nighttime maximum temperature, minimum rainfall, and distance to water; it was negatively associated with land occupied by rice fields. Conclusions / Significance S. stercoralis infection is rampant in Cambodia. Control programs delivering ivermectin are needed to manage the parasite. However, the high cost of this drug in Cambodia currently precludes the implementation of control initiatives. Donations, subsidies or affordable generics are needed so that S. stercoralis, which infects almost a third of the Cambodian population, can be addressed through an adequate control program. The threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, is a highly neglected worm infection, transmitted through infective larvae in the soil. Threadworms occur worldwide, particularly in tropical climates. It may cause long-lasting and potentially fatal infections due to the parasite’s ability to replicate within its host. This study aimed to assess the risk of threadworm infection at national level in Cambodia. We conducted a nation-wide, community-based parasitological survey of the Cambodian population, aged 6 years and over. The threadworm was diagnosed using a serological diagnostic test that detects antibodies in urine. Data on demography, hygiene and knowledge about helminth infection were collected. The purpose of this study was to predict the risk of S. stercoralis infection in unsurveyed locations, assess risk factors for infection, and map its geographical distribution in Cambodia. About one third (30.5%) of the enrolled study participants (n = 7,246) were infected with threadworms. At provincial level, the lowest and highest infection rates were 10.9% and 48.2%, respectively. Prevalence rates below 20% were found in just five south-eastern provinces. The risk of a threadworm infection increased with age for both men and women. Open defecation was associated with higher risk of infection, while having some knowledge of the health problems caused by worms was a protective factor. Infection risk was positively associated with environmental factors, such as nighttime maximum temperature, minimum rainfall, and distance to water; it was negatively associated with land occupied by rice fields. Threadworm infection is highly prevalent in Cambodia and adequate control measures, including access to treatment, are warranted to address the burden of this Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) in Cambodia.
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de la Luz Galván-Ramírez M, Madriz-Elisondo AL, Ramírez CGT, de Jesús Romero Rameño J, de la O Carrasco DA, López MAC. Enteroparasitism and Risk Factors Associated with Clinical Manifestations in Children and Adults of Jalisco State in Western Mexico. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2019; 10:39-48. [PMID: 30847270 PMCID: PMC6396823 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.1.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal parasites in the population of San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. Methods A total of 277 samples from 104 participants were analysed using direct smear, flotation, formaldehyde/ethyl acetate, and modified Kinyoun's acid-fast stain methods. The Graham method was applied only for samples from children under 12 years of age for the diagnosis of Enterobius vermicularis. Results The prevalence of parasite infections in the study population was 77.9% including: Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii/E. bangladeshi (37.5%), Giardia intestinalis (11.5%); commensals: Endolimax nana (44.2%), Entamoeba coli (27.9%), Chilomastix mesnili (6.7%) and Iodamoeba bütschlii, (2.9%); emerging intestinal protozoans: Blastocystis spp. (49%), Cryptosporidium spp. (7.7%) and Cyclospora cayetanensis (2.9%); and helminths: Enterobius vermicularis (18.3%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (5.8%). The results also showed that 58.64% of the studied population presented polyparasitism. A significant association was found between protozoan infections and housewives, and houses that were not built with concrete ceilings, brick walls and cement floors (p < 0.05). Conclusion Polyparasitism was observed in over half the study population. The most prevalent parasite was Blastocystis spp, whilst the prevalence of helminths was less than that of protozoans. The risk factors for infection to intestinal parasites were being a housewife and not having solid brick, cement and concrete materials for house construction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Luisa Madriz-Elisondo
- Department of Medical Sciences and Life, University Center of the Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Cynthia Guadalupe Temores Ramírez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University Center of Biological and Agricultural Sciences. University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Jorge de Jesús Romero Rameño
- Department of Medical Sciences and Life, University Center of the Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | | | - Marco Antonio Cardona López
- Department of Medical Sciences and Life, University Center of the Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Osei FB, Stein A, Ofosu A. Poisson-Gamma Mixture Spatially Varying Coefficient Modeling of Small-Area Intestinal Parasites Infection. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16030339. [PMID: 30691092 PMCID: PMC6388120 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16030339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the spatially varying effects of demographic factors on the spatio-temporal variation of intestinal parasites infections is important for public health intervention and monitoring. This paper presents a hierarchical Bayesian spatially varying coefficient model to evaluate the effects demographic factors on intestinal parasites morbidities in Ghana. The modeling relied on morbidity data collected by the District Health Information Management Systems. We developed Poisson and Poisson-gamma spatially varying coefficient models. We used the demographic factors, unsafe drinking water, unsafe toilet, and unsafe liquid waste disposal as model covariates. The models were fitted using the integrated nested Laplace approximations (INLA). The overall risk of intestinal parasites infection was estimated to be 10.9 per 100 people with a wide spatial variation in the district-specific posterior risk estimates. Substantial spatial variation of increasing multiplicative effects of unsafe drinking water, unsafe toilet, and unsafe liquid waste disposal occurs on the variation of intestinal parasites risk. The structured residual spatial variation widely dominates the unstructured component, suggesting that the unaccounted-for risk factors are spatially continuous in nature. The study concludes that both the spatial distribution of the posterior risk and the associated exceedance probability maps are essential for monitoring and control of intestinal parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Badu Osei
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Alfred Stein
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Anthony Ofosu
- Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME)⁻Ghana Health Service; Accra, Ghana.
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Mekonnen Z, Getachew M, Bogers J, Vercruysse J, Levecke B. Assessment of seasonality in soil-transmitted helminth infections across 14 schools in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. Pan Afr Med J 2019; 32:6. [PMID: 31068999 PMCID: PMC6492303 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2019.32.6.16085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Up to date, the frequency of preventive chemotherapy based on the prevalence is the only strategy in the control programmes of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). However, prevalence of STHs may be affected by climatic and/or seasonal changes, particularly when these are important determinants of transmission of STH infections. Our objective was to describe the prevalence and infection intensity and seasonal variation (mainly dry vs rainy season) of any STHs among school age children. Methods Assessment of infection intensity and prevalence of STHs was carried out during dry season (February-March, 2012) and end of rainy season (September-October, 2012) across 14 primary schools in Jimma Town, Jimma, Ethiopia. A total of 1,680 school children (840 in each season) were included. All stool samples were processed by the McMaster egg counting method. Odds of infection and intensity was performed to assess any differences in prevalence and infection intensity between the schools and the two seasons. The pooled odd ratio and their 95% confidence interval was also computed and presented using the "metafor" package of the statistical software R. The level of significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results Infections with any STH were observed in 824/1,680 (49.0%) subjects. T. trichiura was the most prevalent (35.5%), followed by A. lumbricoides (23.4%) and hookworms (9.9%). Among the schools there were a huge variation in prevalence, ranging from 16.7% to 68.3% for any STH, 6.7% to 39.2% for A. lumbricoides, 10.8% to 55.0% for T. trichiura and 0 % to 28.3% for hookworms. A significant difference in prevalence (for T. trichiura) and in infection intensity (for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura) across seasons was observed. Generally, STH infections were more prevalent in the dry season (52.4%) compared to the rainy season (45.7%) and as well intensity of all three STH infections was higher in the dry season. Conclusion Our data suggested that there were huge variation in STH prevalence among schools and a significant difference in infection intensity and prevalence across seasons. This in turn might limits how national governments and international organizations define and target resources to combat the disease burden due to STH infection. Long term studies are needed to confirm the influence of seasonal factors and related ecological, environmental and socio-economic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeleke Mekonnen
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Mestawet Getachew
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Johannes Bogers
- Applied Molecular Biology Research (AMBIOR) Group, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, University of Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bruno Levecke
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, University of Ghent, Belgium
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Monteiro KJL, Jaeger LH, Nunes BC, Calegar DA, Reis ERCD, Bacelar PAA, Santos JPD, Bóia MN, Carvalho-Costa FA. Mitochondrial DNA reveals species composition and phylogenetic relationships of hookworms in northeastern Brazil. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 68:105-112. [PMID: 30508686 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hookworm infection persists focally in rural communities in Brazil. In this study, we analyze the mitochondrial nucleotide sequences obtained from hookworms infecting humans in order to characterize species composition and assess their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Field expeditions and cross-sectional surveys were carried out in three Brazilian municipalities from 2013 to 2017: Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (n = 605) and Teresina (n = 297), in the state of Piauí, and Russas (n = 213) in the State of Ceará. Parasitological methods were used to evaluate fecal samples. Hookworm-positive samples had a partial mtDNA cox1 amplified and sequenced. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analysis demonstrated two strongly-supported clades, including Group A, corresponding to Necator americanus, and Groups B and C, corresponding to Necator sp. Group A was divided into three main clusters: A1 grouped with Asian sequences, A2 grouped with African sequences, and A3 had only Asian sequences. Group B was closely related to Necator sp., showing a sequence similarity of 98%-99% with African samples circulating zoonotically among humans and non-human primates. Twenty three N. americanus haplotypes were identified. N. americanus Median-Joining network revealed three distinct groups, designated again as A1, A2, and A3. Group A1 presented a star-like shape, with one dominant haplotype. The molecular dating suggested that the two clades dividing N. americanus and Necator sp. began to diverge during the middle Pleistocene. The most recent common ancestor among N. americanus groups was dated to the late Pleistocene. Hookworms circulating in the studied communities are structured in well-defined subpopulations presenting both Asian and African genetic backgrounds. This reveals a double origin for hookworms in northeastern Brazil and opens up new possibilities in phylogeographic, evolutionary, and molecular epidemiological studies in regions where hookworms persists focally, despite control efforts. The presence of potentially zoonotic species and the specific identification of Necator sp. should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerla Joeline Lima Monteiro
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Lauren Hubert Jaeger
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Coronato Nunes
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Deiviane Aparecida Calegar
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elis Regina Chaves Dos Reis
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Polyanna Araújo Alves Bacelar
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Pereira Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Márcio Neves Bóia
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Filipe Anibal Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
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Monteiro KJL, Reis ERCD, Nunes BC, Jaeger LH, Calegar DA, Santos JPD, Maia ADO, Xavier SCDC, Bóia MN, Carvalho-Costa FA. Focal persistence of soil-transmitted helminthiases in impoverished areas in the State of Piaui, Northeastern Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2018; 60:e24. [PMID: 29972463 PMCID: PMC6029850 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201860024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to describe the prevalence, distribution, and factors associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) in rural localities in Piaui, Brazil. Two cross-sectional surveys (n=605 subjects; 172 families) were carried out in order to obtain socio-demographic, anthropometric, spatial and parasitological data. Parasites were evaluated using Kato-Katz and centrifugal sedimentation techniques. Eggs were measured to assess infection with zoonotic Strongylida parasites. Kernel maps were constructed with Q-GIS. The prevalence of hookworm infection was 12.4% (75/605). Other helminthes found were Trichuris trichiura (n=1; 0.2%) and Hymenolepis nana (n=1; 0.2%). The hookworm positivity rate was significantly lower among subjects who had used albendazole when compared with individuals who had not used anthelmintics or had used antiprotozoal drugs in the last 6 months (8/134 [6.0%] vs. 59/415 [14.2%]; p=0.009). A total of 39/172 (22.7%) families had at least one infected member. The association between the number of dwellers and hookworm positivity in the family was present in a logistic regression multivariate model. Assessment of worm burdens showed 92.2% light, 6.2% moderate, and 1.6% heavy infections. Hookworm eggs (n=34) measured 57.2 - 75.4 µm in length and 36.4 - 44.2 µm in width (mean ± SD = 65.86 ± 4.66 µm L and 40.05 ± 1.99 µm W), commensurate with human hookworms. Hotspots suggest that transmission has a focal pattern. STHs persist in impoverished rural areas in Northeastern Brazil where currently available control strategies (mass drug administration) apparently do not allow the elimination of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerla Joeline Lima Monteiro
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elis Regina Chaves Dos Reis
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Coronato Nunes
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lauren Hubert Jaeger
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Deiviane Aparecida Calegar
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Alexander de Oliveira Maia
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Márcio Neves Bóia
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Filipe Anibal Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Prevalence, intensity and spatial co-distribution of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths infections in Ogun state, Nigeria. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1017/pao.2018.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractA cross-sectional survey was carried out in primary schools to determine prevalence, intensity and spatial co-distribution of Schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) infections in Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 2148 pupils from 42 schools were examined forSchistosomaand STH infections from urine and fresh fecal samples respectively. Ethyl ether concentration method prepared in sodium acetate – acetic acid – formalin ether was used to concentrate parasites’ ova before microscopic examination. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis and STH infections were 4.0% (95% CI = 3.21–4.92) and 34.64% (95% CI = 32.62–36.69) respectively.Schistosoma haematobiumandAscaris lumbricoideswere the most prevalent across the study area among theSchistosomaand STH species respectively. Overall, intensity of infection was higher in males than in females for allSchistosomaand STH infections, but with no significant difference (P > 0.05), except forTrichuris trichiura(χ2 = 6.490,P < 0.05). Infection intensity was significantly inversely correlated (χ2 = 12.953,P < 0.05) with an increase in age group. Co-distribution ofSchistosomaand STH infections occurred in 15 (35.7%) out of 42 schools, and only 30 children (1.4%) had co-infection ofSchistosomaand STH. This study provides information on the prevalence and spatial risk of schistosomiasis and STH in Ogun State. This will serve as decision-support tool for Ogun State programme managers to help facilitate integration of schistosomiasis and STH control.
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Yang X, Zhou H, Pan X. Exploration on the risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis incidence in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken area. J Evid Based Med 2017; 10:281-286. [PMID: 28276626 DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis incidence in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken area during a nine-year period of time. METHODS The incidence and socioeconomic indicators in the 181 counties of Sichuan province from 2004 to 2012 were collected, multilevel extra-Poisson model was performed for variable screening, and Bayesian spatiotemporal models were fitted. RESULTS The morbidity showed a downward time trend from 2004 to 2012. The spatiotemporal interaction model was applied with the smallest deviance information criterion. The risk factors included: county latitude (0.949, 95%CI 0.765 to 1.098), float proportion (0.368, 95%CI 0.354 to 0.380), per capita GDP (-0.225, 95%CI -0.235 to -0.216), population density (0.072, 95%CI 0.041 to 0.105), and minority inhabited area (0.302, 95%CI 0.241 to 0.372). The variation of posterior median and Bayesian credibility interval was small, and the spatiotemporal patterns were similar among different periods. CONCLUSIONS The incidence presented a smooth curve without bursting after the earthquake during 2004 to 2012, and with a tendency of decreasing from north to south in Sichuan province; PTB countermeasures should be focused on the migrating population and in the minority inhabited and economic underdeveloped regions. Geographical adjacent structure was an important factor and regional collaborative prevention and control should be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Yang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hailong Zhou
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoping Pan
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- National Center for Women and Children's Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
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Osei FB, Stein A. Spatio-temporal analysis of small-area intestinal parasites infections in Ghana. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12217. [PMID: 28939818 PMCID: PMC5610349 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal parasites infection is a major public health burden in low and middle-income countries. In Ghana, it is amongst the top five morbidities. In order to optimize scarce resources, reliable information on its geographical distribution is needed to guide periodic mass drug administration to populations of high risk. We analyzed district level morbidities of intestinal parasites between 2010 and 2014 using exploratory spatial analysis and geostatistics. We found a significantly positive Moran’s Index of spatial autocorrelation for each year, suggesting that adjoining districts have similar risk levels. Using local Moran’s Index, we found high-high clusters extending towards the Guinea and Sudan Savannah ecological zones, whereas low-low clusters extended within the semi-deciduous forest and transitional ecological zones. Variograms indicated that local and regional scale risk factors modulate the variation of intestinal parasites. Poisson kriging maps showed smoothed spatially varied distribution of intestinal parasites risk. These emphasize the need for a follow-up investigation into the exact determining factors modulating the observed patterns. The findings also underscored the potential of exploratory spatial analysis and geostatistics as tools for visualizing the spatial distribution of small area intestinal worms infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- F B Osei
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. .,Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
| | - A Stein
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
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Wardell R, Clements ACA, Lal A, Summers D, Llewellyn S, Campbell SJ, McCarthy J, Gray DJ, V. Nery S. An environmental assessment and risk map of Ascaris lumbricoides and Necator americanus distributions in Manufahi District, Timor-Leste. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005565. [PMID: 28489889 PMCID: PMC5440046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Timor-Leste there have been intermittent and ineffective soil-transmitted helminth (STH) deworming programs since 2004. In a resource-constrained setting, having information on the geographic distribution of STH can aid in prioritising high risk communities for intervention. This study aimed to quantify the environmental risk factors for STH infection and to produce a risk map of STH in Manufahi district, Timor-Leste. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Georeferenced cross-sectional data and stool samples were obtained from 2,194 participants in 606 households in 24 villages in the Manufahi District as part of cross sectional surveys done in the context of the "WASH for Worms" randomised controlled trial. Infection status was determined for Ascaris lumbricoides and Necator americanus using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Baseline infection data were linked to environmental data obtained for each household. Univariable and multivariable multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis with random effects at the village and household level were conducted, with all models adjusted for age and sex. For A. lumbricoides, being a school-aged child increased the odds of infection, whilst higher temperatures in the coolest quarter of the year, alkaline soils, clay loam/loam soils and woody savannas around households were associated with decreased infection odds. For N. americanus, greater precipitation in the driest month, higher average enhanced vegetation index, age and sandy loam soils increased infection odds, whereas being female and living at higher elevations decreased the odds of infection. Predictive risk maps generated for Manufahi based upon these final models highlight the high predicted risk of N. americanus infection across the district and the more focal nature of A. lumbricoides infection. The predicted risk of any STH infection is high across the entire district. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The widespread predicted risk of any STH infection in 6 to 18 year olds provides strong evidence to support strategies for control across the entire geographical area. As few studies include soil texture and pH in their analysis, this study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting these factors influence STH infection distribution. This study also further supports that A. lumbricoides prefers acidic soils, highlighting a potential relatively unexplored avenue for control. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov ACTRN12614000680662.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Wardell
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Archie C. A. Clements
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Aparna Lal
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - David Summers
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stacey Llewellyn
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Suzy J. Campbell
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - James McCarthy
- Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Darren J. Gray
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Susana V. Nery
- Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Santos da Silva E, Asam C, Lackner P, Hofer H, Wallner M, Silva Pinheiro C, Alcântara-Neves NM, Ferreira F. Allergens of Blomia tropicalis: An Overview of Recombinant Molecules. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2017; 172:203-214. [PMID: 28456805 PMCID: PMC5472214 DOI: 10.1159/000464325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergic diseases are considered a major problem for healthcare systems in both developed and developing countries. House dust mites are well-known triggers of allergic manifestations. While the Dermatophagoides genus is widely distributed globally, Blomia tropicalis is the most prominent mite species in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Over the last decades, an increase in sensitization rates to B. tropicalis has been reported, leading to increased research efforts on Blomia allergens. In fact, 8 new allergens have been identified and characterized to different degrees. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments concerning the identification and production of recombinant Blomia allergens, as well as their structural and immunological characterization. Although considerable progress has been achieved, detailed molecule-based studies are still needed to better define the clinical relevance of Blomia allergens. Thus, the establishment of a well-standardized and fully characterized panel of allergens remains a challenge for the development of better diagnosis and therapy of allergic diseases induced by B. tropicalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Santos da Silva
- Laboratório de Alergia e Acarologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Recife, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia da Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Recife, Brazil
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Claudia Asam
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter Lackner
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Heidi Hofer
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael Wallner
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Carina Silva Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Alergia e Acarologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Recife, Brazil
| | - Neuza Maria Alcântara-Neves
- Laboratório de Alergia e Acarologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Recife, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia da Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Recife, Brazil
| | - Fatima Ferreira
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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Steinbaum L, Kwong LH, Ercumen A, Negash MS, Lovely AJ, Njenga SM, Boehm AB, Pickering AJ, Nelson KL. Detecting and enumerating soil-transmitted helminth eggs in soil: New method development and results from field testing in Kenya and Bangladesh. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005522. [PMID: 28379956 PMCID: PMC5393894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, about 1.5 billion people are infected with at least one species of soil-transmitted helminth (STH). Soil is a critical environmental reservoir of STH, yet there is no standard method for detecting STH eggs in soil. We developed a field method for enumerating STH eggs in soil and tested the method in Bangladesh and Kenya. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method for enumerating Ascaris eggs in biosolids was modified through a series of recovery efficiency experiments; we seeded soil samples with a known number of Ascaris suum eggs and assessed the effect of protocol modifications on egg recovery. We found the use of 1% 7X as a surfactant compared to 0.1% Tween 80 significantly improved recovery efficiency (two-sided t-test, t = 5.03, p = 0.007) while other protocol modifications—including different agitation and flotation methods—did not have a significant impact. Soil texture affected the egg recovery efficiency; sandy samples resulted in higher recovery compared to loamy samples processed using the same method (two-sided t-test, t = 2.56, p = 0.083). We documented a recovery efficiency of 73% for the final improved method using loamy soil in the lab. To field test the improved method, we processed soil samples from 100 households in Bangladesh and 100 households in Kenya from June to November 2015. The prevalence of any STH (Ascaris, Trichuris or hookworm) egg in soil was 78% in Bangladesh and 37% in Kenya. The median concentration of STH eggs in soil in positive samples was 0.59 eggs/g dry soil in Bangladesh and 0.15 eggs/g dry soil in Kenya. The prevalence of STH eggs in soil was significantly higher in Bangladesh than Kenya (chi-square, χ2 = 34.39, p < 0.001) as was the concentration (Mann-Whitney, z = 7.10, p < 0.001). This new method allows for detecting STH eggs in soil in low-resource settings and could be used for standardizing soil STH detection globally. Intestinal worm infections are common in populations living in tropical, low-income countries. People primarily become infected when they consume intestinal worm eggs from contaminated water, hands, and food. Intestinal worm eggs are transmitted from infected people and spread through the environment, particularly via soil. There is no standard laboratory method for counting intestinal worm eggs in soil, which is a major barrier to comprehensive research on the transmission of infection. We tested different laboratory protocol steps to extract soil-transmitted helminth eggs, which is one type of intestinal worm, from soil and propose a new, fast, and efficient field method. We tested the method in Kenya and Bangladesh and found that soil contamination with helminth eggs was prevalent in both study areas. We propose that environmental contamination be included in discussions about intestinal worm transmission, control, and elimination, especially in areas with low infection prevalence. The method we propose will help researchers assess soil contamination, which can be used to examine the effectiveness of intestinal worm transmission control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Steinbaum
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Laura H. Kwong
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ayse Ercumen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Makeda S. Negash
- Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Amira J. Lovely
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sammy M. Njenga
- Eastern and Southern Africa Center of International Parasite Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Alexandria B. Boehm
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Amy J. Pickering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Kara L. Nelson
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, including Brazil. We performed a nationwide population-based study including all deaths in Brazil from 2000 to 2011, in which STHs (ascariasis, trichuriasis and/or hookworm infection) were mentioned on death certificates, either as underlying or as associated causes of death. Epidemiological characteristics, time trends and spatial analysis of STH-related mortality were analysed. STHs was identified on 853/12 491 280 death certificates: 827 (97·0%) deaths related to ascariasis, 25 (2·9%) to hookworm infections, and 1 (0·1%) to trichuriasis. The average annual age-adjusted mortality rate was 0·34/1 000 000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval: 0·27-0·44). Females, children <10 years of age, indigenous ethnic groups and residents in the Northeast region had highest STH-related mortality rates. Nationwide mortality decreased significantly over time (annual percent change: -5·7%; 95% CI: -6·9 to -4·4), with regional differences. We identified spatial high-risk clusters for STH-related mortality mainly in the North, Northeast and South regions. Diseases of the digestive system and infectious/parasitic diseases were the most commonly associated causes of death mentioned in the STH-related deaths. Despite decreasing mortality in Brazil, a considerable number of deaths is caused by STHs, with ascariasis responsible for the vast majority. There were marked regional differences, affecting mainly children and vulnerable populations.
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Bonnell TR, Ghai RR, Goldberg TL, Sengupta R, Chapman CA. Spatial patterns of persistence for environmentally transmitted parasites: Effects of regional climate and local landscape. Ecol Modell 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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