1
|
Rahimi BA, Rafiqi N, Tareen Z, Kakar KA, Wafa MH, Stanikzai MH, Beg MA, Dost AK, Taylor WR. Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kandahar, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional analytical study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011614. [PMID: 37695763 PMCID: PMC10513306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011614] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are global health problem, especially in low-income countries. Main objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and intensity of STH and its risk factors among school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This was a school-based cross-sectional analytical study, with data collected during eight-month-period (May-December, 2022) from 6- and 12-years old school children in Kandahar city, Afghanistan. All the stool samples were examined by saline wet mount method and Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 1275 children from eight schools of Kandahar city were included in this study. Mean age of these children was 8.3 years with 53.3% boys. The overall prevalence of any intestinal parasitic infection was 68.4%. The overall prevalence of STH infection was 39.1%, with Ascaris lumbricoides (29.4%) as the most prevalent STH species. Mean intensity of overall STH infection was 97.8. Multivariate logistic regression revealed playing barefoot (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2), not washing hands after defecating and before eating (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7), having untrimmed nails (AOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8), and belonging to poor families (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) as the risk factors associated with the predisposition of school children for getting STH in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE There is high prevalence of STH among school children of Kandahar city in Afghanistan. Most of the risk factors are related to poverty, decreased sanitation, and improper hygiene. Improvement of socioeconomic status, sanitation, and health education to promote public awareness about health and hygiene together with periodic mass deworming programs are better strategies for the control of STH infections in Afghanistan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Ahmad Rahimi
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Malalay Institute of Higher Education, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Najeebullah Rafiqi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Zarghoon Tareen
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Khalil Ahmad Kakar
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Malalay Institute of Higher Education, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Mohammad Hashim Wafa
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | | | - Mohammad Asim Beg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Khaliq Dost
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Kandahar, Afghanistan
| | - Walter R. Taylor
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Clinical Research Unit (MORU), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Taborda RLM, Silva LAD, Orlandi PP, Batista FS, Rodrigues RS, Matos NB. CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROAGGREGATIVE ESCHERICHIA COLI AMONG DIARRHEAL CHILDRENIN WESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZON. ARQUIVOS DE GASTROENTEROLOGIA 2019; 55:390-396. [PMID: 30785524 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-2803.201800000-84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is one of the main acute and chronic diarrhea causes both in children and adults, mainly in developing countries. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study is to characterize EAEC strains isolated from faecal samples and to identify genes potentially contributing to virulence, biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance in children admitted to a pediatric hospital in Porto Velho, Rondônia State. METHODS The total of 1,625 E. coli specimens were isolated from 591 children in the age group 6 years or younger who were hospitalized in Cosme and Damião Children Hospital in Porto Velho, between February 2010 and February 2012, with acute gastroenteritis. Colonies suggestive of E. coli were subjected to polymerase chain reaction testing in order to identify the virulence factors. The in vitro adhesion assays using HEp-2 adherence were tests. Biofilm detection through spectrophotometry and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted in the disk diffusion method. RESULTS The mentioned study examined 591 stool samples from children with diarrhea. Diarrheogenic E. coli was found in 27.4% (162/591) of the children. EAEC was the diarreagenic E. coli most frequently associated with diarrhea 52.4% (85/162), which was followed by enteropathogenic E. coli 43.8% (71/162), enterotoxigenic E. coli 2.4% (4/162), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli 1.2% (2/162). The aggR gene was detected in 63.5% (54/85) of EAEC isolates; moreover, statistically significant correlation was observed among typical EAEC (aggR) and aatA (P<0.0001), irp2 (P=0.0357) and shf (P=0.0328). It was recorded that 69% (59/85) of the 85 analyzed EAEC strains were biofilm producers; 73% (43/59) of the biofilm producers carried the aggR gene versus 42.3% (11/26) of non-producers (P=0.0135). In addition, there was association between the aatA gene and biofilm production; 61% (36/59) of the samples presented producer strains, versus 19.2% (5/26) of non-producers (P<0.0004). Antibiotic sensitivity test evidenced that most EAEC were ampicillin 70.6% (60/85), sulfamethoxazole 60% (51/85), tetracycline 44.7% (38/85) and cefotaxime 22.4% (19/85) resistant. CONCLUSION As far as it is known, the present study is pioneer in Northern Brazil to investigate EAEC virulence factors and to show the antimicrobial susceptibility of EAEC strains isolated from children with diarrhea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Najla Benevides Matos
- Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ - Porto Velho, RO, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Havt A, Lima IF, Medeiros PH, Clementino MA, Santos AK, Amaral MS, Veras HN, Prata MM, Lima NL, Di Moura A, Leite ÁM, Soares AM, Filho JQ, Houpt ER, Nataro JP, Guerrant RL, Lima AA. Prevalence and virulence gene profiling of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in malnourished and nourished Brazilian children. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 89:98-105. [PMID: 28780245 PMCID: PMC5608016 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The impact of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) infection on childhood malnutrition and inflammation has been suggested, regardless of diarrhea. We investigated whether EAEC and its virulence-related genes (VRGs) are associated with malnutrition in a case-control study. Children aged 6-24 months from Brazil were enrolled as malnourished if weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) ≤ -2 and nourished if WAZ > -1. Stools were cultured and examined for E. coli. DNA was extracted from fecal isolates and tested for EAEC by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were analyzed by 5 multiplex PCRs to identify 20 EAEC VRGs. Biomarkers of intestinal barrier function and inflammation were measured. The prevalence of EAEC was 39.94%. Samples that presented both aaiC and aatA genes were associated with malnutrition (P = 0.045). A high prevalence of VRGs was observed and the aafC gene was significantly associated with malnourished (P = 0.0101). Strains lacking aar and pic genes were associated with malnutrition (P = 0.018), while the concomitant presence of aar, pic, agg4A, and capU genes was associated with nourished (P = 0.031). These data reinforce the EAEC impact on malnutrition, the importance of aar as negative regulator and the great contribution of AAF/II fimbria for the pathobiology of EAEC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Havt
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil.
| | - Ila Fn Lima
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Pedro Hqs Medeiros
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Marco Af Clementino
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ana Ks Santos
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Marília Smg Amaral
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Herlice N Veras
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Mara Mg Prata
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Noélia L Lima
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Di Moura
- Institute for the Promotion of Nutrition and Human Development, 15 Professor Carlos Lobo, 60281-740, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Álvaro M Leite
- Institute for the Promotion of Nutrition and Human Development, 15 Professor Carlos Lobo, 60281-740, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Alberto M Soares
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - José Q Filho
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Eric R Houpt
- Center for Global Health & Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, 1400 W Main Street, 22908-1379, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - James P Nataro
- Center for Global Health & Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, 1400 W Main Street, 22908-1379, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Richard L Guerrant
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil; Center for Global Health & Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, 1400 W Main Street, 22908-1379, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Aldo Am Lima
- Institute of Biomedicine for Brazilian Semiarid, Federal University of Ceará, 1315 Coronel Nunes de Melo, 60430-270, Fortaleza, Brazil; Center for Global Health & Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, 1400 W Main Street, 22908-1379, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Munisi DZ, Buza J, Mpolya EA, Kinung’hi SM. Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167122. [PMID: 27936031 PMCID: PMC5147845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Undernutrition and anaemia remains to be a major public health problem in many developing countries, where they mostly affect children. Intestinal parasitic infections are known to affect both growth and haemoglobin levels. Much has been reported on the impact of geohelminths on anaemia and undernutrition, leaving that of Schistosoma mansoni not well studied. Therefore this study intended to determine the association between S.mansoni infections, anaemia and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Rorya district, Northwestern Tanzania. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was carried among schoolchildren in two onshore villages namely Busanga and Kibuyi in Rorya district. Single stool specimens were collected from 513 randomly selected schoolchildren and processed for microscopic examination using the Kato-Katz method. Nutritional status was determined by anthropometry. Blood samples were also collected and examined for malaria parasites and haemoglobin levels using the Giemsa stain and HaemoCue methods, respectively. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and associated factors. RESULTS The prevalence of S. mansoni infection and malaria was 84.02% and 9.16%, respectively. Other parasites found were Ascaris lumbricoides (1.36%) and Hookworm (1.36%). The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 38.21% and 14.42%, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was 29.43%, whereby 0.58% had severe anaemia. S. mansoni infection was not found to be associated with undernutrition or anaemia (p>0.05). The risk of stunting and wasting increased with increasing age (p<0.001). Anaemia was associated with age, sex and village of residence (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS S.mansoni, undernutrition and anaemia are highly prevalent in the study area. The observed rates of undernutrition and anaemia were seen not to be associated with S.mansoni infection suggesting possibly being a result of poor dietary nutrients. This study suggests that policy makers should consider Rorya district for inclusion into national schistosomiasis control and school feeding programmes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Zadock Munisi
- Department of Global Health and Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Joram Buza
- Department of Global Health and Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel A. Mpolya
- Department of Global Health and Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Safari M. Kinung’hi
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza Research Centre, Isamilo Road, Mwanza, Tanzania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sandoval NR, Ríos N, Mena A, Fernández R, Perea M, Manzano-Román R, Santa-Quiteria JAR, Hernández-Gonzalez A, Siles-Lucas M. A survey of intestinal parasites including associated risk factors in humans in Panama. Acta Trop 2015; 147:54-63. [PMID: 25823566 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections worldwide, leading to illness with serious and long lasting implications in children and immunocompromised people. Transmission of intestinal parasites is more frequent in tropical and sub-tropical areas where sanitation is poor and socioeconomic conditions are deficient. Panama is a country where climate and social conditions could be reflected in a high number of people infected with intestinal parasites. The presence, prevalence, and distribution of intestinal parasites in this country have been approached to date only in very restricted areas and population groups, but the impact of intestinal parasite infections at the national level is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted a cross-sectional survey between 2008 and 2010 to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites across Panama. Overall, 14 municipalities in seven provinces of Panama were surveyed. The presence of eggs, cysts, and larvae was assessed by microscopy in 1123 human fecal samples using a concentration technique. A questionnaire to identify risk factors associated with the frequency of intestinal parasites in the study population was also prepared and performed. Overall, 47.4% of human samples presented parasites. Variables including community type, age group, occupation, co-presence of commensals and socioeconomic factors (use of shoes and type of sanitation) were significantly associated with intestinal parasites (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The preliminary data obtained in the current study, showing a high prevalence of fecal-oral transmitted parasites in Panama, place intestinal parasitism as a major health problem in this country. Specific interventions should be planned for the indigenous population, the group most afflicted by intestinal parasites.
Collapse
|