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Sumboh JG, Agyenkwa-Mawuli K, Schwinger E, Donkor IO, Akorli JEB, Dwomoh D, Ashong Y, Osabutey D, Ababio FO, Koram KA, Humphries D, Cappello M, Kwofie SK, Wilson MD. Investigating Environmental Determinants of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Transmission using GPS Tracking and Metagenomics Technologies. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.17.23292808. [PMID: 37503260 PMCID: PMC10371187 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.23292808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The Global Health community aims to eliminate soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections by 2030. Current preventive methods such as Mass Drug Administration, WASH practices, and health education needs to be complimented to halt transmission. We tracked the movement of hookworm-infected and non-infected persons and investigated soil factors in the places they frequented within an endemic community to further understand the role of human movement and sources of infections. Methods 59 positive and negative participants wore GPS tracking devices for 10 consecutive days and their movement data captured in real time. The data was overlaid on the community map to determine where each group differentially spent most of their time. Soil samples were collected from these identified sites and other communal places. Physical and chemical properties were determined for each sample using standard methods and helminth eggs cultured into larvae using the Baermann technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine associations between larvae counts and soil factors. Helminth species were identified with metagenomic sequencing and their distributions mapped to sampling sites in the community. Results The study found that there was no significant difference in the average larvae counts in soil between sites assessed by infected and non-infected participants (P=0.59). However, soil factors, such as pH, carbon and sandy-loamy texture were associated with high larvae counts (P<0.001) while nitrogen and clay content were associated with low counts(P<0.001). The dominant helminth species identified were Panagrolaimus superbus (an anhydrobiotic helminth), Parastrongyloides trichosuri (a parasite of small mammals), Trichuris trichuria (whipworm), and Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm). Notably, no Necator americanus was identified in any soil sample. Conclusion This study provides important insights into the association between soil factors and soil-transmitted helminths. These findings contribute to our understanding of STH epidemiology and support evidence-based decision-making for elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Gabriel Sumboh
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwasi Agyenkwa-Mawuli
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eyram Schwinger
- Department of Mathematics, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Irene Owusu Donkor
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jewelna E. B. Akorli
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yvonne Ashong
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dickson Osabutey
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Felix Owusu Ababio
- Soil Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Ansah Koram
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Debbie Humphries
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Michael Cappello
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
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Yousefi Y, Haq S, Banskota S, Kwon YH, Khan WI. Trichuris muris Model: Role in Understanding Intestinal Immune Response, Inflammation and Host Defense. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080925. [PMID: 34451389 PMCID: PMC8399713 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several parasites have evolved to survive in the human intestinal tract and over 1 billion people around the world, specifically in developing countries, are infected with enteric helminths. Trichuris trichiura is one of the world’s most common intestinal parasites that causes human parasitic infections. Trichuris muris, as an immunologically well-defined mouse model of T. trichiura, is extensively used to study different aspects of the innate and adaptive components of the immune system. Studies on T. muris model offer insights into understanding host immunity, since this parasite generates two distinct immune responses in resistant and susceptible strains of mouse. Apart from the immune cells, T. muris infection also influences various components of the intestinal tract, especially the gut microbiota, mucus layer, epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Here, we reviewed the different immune responses generated by innate and adaptive immune components during acute and chronic T. muris infections. Furthermore, we discussed the importance of studying T. muris model in understanding host–parasite interaction in the context of alteration in the host’s microbiota, intestinal barrier, inflammation, and host defense, and in parasite infection-mediated modulation of other immune and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeganeh Yousefi
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre Room 3N7, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (Y.Y.); (S.H.); (S.B.); (Y.H.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Sabah Haq
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre Room 3N7, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (Y.Y.); (S.H.); (S.B.); (Y.H.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Suhrid Banskota
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre Room 3N7, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (Y.Y.); (S.H.); (S.B.); (Y.H.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Yun Han Kwon
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre Room 3N7, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (Y.Y.); (S.H.); (S.B.); (Y.H.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Waliul I. Khan
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre Room 3N7, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (Y.Y.); (S.H.); (S.B.); (Y.H.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-905-521-2100 (ext. 22846)
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