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One Health 2021 Dec 27;13:100271. Epub 2021 May 27.

Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma Sapienza, Roma, Italy.

We performed a cross-sectional parasitological survey to assess the prevalence of protozoa and helminth infection among 275 school-age children (SAC) living in rural and peri-urban areas located in different ecological zones of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia. Public health activities for the control of STH, based on the biannual administration of mebendazole to preschool and school children are implemented at national level since 1986. We found an overall prevalence of 82. Read More

Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 2020 Jul-Sept.;18(71):324-326

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kathmandu Model Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Ascariasis lumbricoides infections are common in tropical and sub-tropical countries. As it is one of the common causes for common bile duct obstruction. But in pregnancy is a rare entity. Read More

Parasite 2021 18;28:53. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa 078-8510, Hokkaido, Japan.

Taeniasis remains a prevalent public health problem in Thailand. National helminthiasis surveys report only the incidence of Taenia spp. eggs. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 Jun 17;15(6):e0009506. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still prevalent in Indonesia, with roughly one-third of infected population being preschool-age children (PSC), which are generally at higher risk of morbidity such as malnutrition and anemia. This study aimed to investigate the association of STH infections with nutritional status and anemia among PSC in Nangapanda subdistrict, Ende, East Nusa Tenggara.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving PSC ranging from 12 to 59 months old from Nangapanda subdistrict, Ende district, East Nusa Tenggara was performed. Read More

F1000Res 2021 17;10:122. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Medical Laboratory, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama National Regional State, 1015, Ethiopia.

 Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are common problems during pregnancy, with adverse outcomes including low birth weight and prenatal mortality. The burden of parasitic infections and its impacts are high among pregnant women in developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden and associated factors of parasitic infections. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2021 Jun 14. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Virology Department, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Purpose: Intestinal helminthiasis among pupils is a major impediment to their well-being and development. This 2-year study determined how home-grown school feeding programme (HGSFP) impacted on pupils' school attendance and created opportunity for more children to assess interventions geared towards the prevention and possible elimination of intestinal helminthiasis.

Methods: Faecal samples were collected from 1677 consented pupils and examined for helminths using Kato-Katz technique. Read More

Infection 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Background: Comprehensive nationwide data on prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites (IPIs) among pregnant women are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide pooled prevalence estimate, prevalence in different regions and species-specific IPIs among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Methods: The search was carried out in Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar on published and unpublished data between 2008 and Sep 2020 for studies describing rate of IPIs among pregnant women in Ethiopian. Read More

Trop Med Int Health 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Setor de Imunologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil.

Objectives: We measured the production of cytokines, chemokines, and antibodies involved in allergic responses and sCD23 levels during Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Methods: Individuals (n = 164) were selected using the ISAAC questionnaire and parasitological exams. The subjects were divided as follows: those infected individuals with allergy-related symptoms (A-I), those with allergy-related symptoms only (A-NI); those only infected (NA-I); and those non-infected individuals without allergy-related symptoms (NA-NI). Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2021 Jun 9:9564624211020984. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Department of Global Health and Development, 4906London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

This study was sought to determine the impact of CD4 T-cell count and associated risk factors with intestinal parasitosis in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Central Hospital, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy (170) HIV-seropositive subjects were enrolled in the study from 24 August 2015 to 22 January 2016. Sociodemographic data were assessed using structured questionnaires. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2021 Jun 8;14(1):310. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

TransVIHMI, Université Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), INSERM, Montpellier, France.

Background: The impact of semiannual mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole (ALB; 400 mg) alone on lymphatic filariasis (LF) and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections was assessed during two trials conducted from 2012 to 2018 in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The collected data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of compliance with ALB treatment on STH infections.

Methods: STH infections were diagnosed with duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears and the results are reported as eggs per gram of stool. Read More

J Health Popul Nutr 2021 Jun 7;40(1):26. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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. Read More

Parasite 2021 27;28:47. Epub 2021 May 27.

Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMI 233-INSERM U1175-University of Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

The standard techniques for diagnosis of human filariasis are the microscopic examination of blood smears or skin biopsies, which are relatively invasive and poorly sensitive at low levels of infection. Recently, filarial DNA has been detected in fecal samples from non-human primates in Central Africa. The aim of this study was to demonstrate proof-of-concept of a non-invasive molecular diagnosis technique for human filariasis by targeting fragments of 12S rDNA, Cox1, ITS1 and LL20-15kDa ladder antigen-gene by conventional PCR in DNA extracted from stool samples of 52 people infected with Mansonella perstans and/or Loa loa. Read More

Braz J Biol 2021 21;82:e238891. Epub 2021 May 21.

King Saud University, College of Science, Department Zoology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Food handlers plays a primary role in the transmission of pathogenically important protozoans and helminth parasites. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal pathogenic protozoans and helminth parasites among food handlers in and around University of Malakand, Lower Dir, Pakistan. Stool samples were collected from 642 food handlers (all of male) in a cross-sectional study from January to November, 2017. Read More

Braz J Biol 2021 21;82:e238769. Epub 2021 May 21.

Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan.

Illnesses caused by human pinworm remains a pediatric health problem in developing nations including Pakistan. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in school children of four districts in Malakand region, Pakistan. Four hundred faecal specimens were screened from May 2014 to July 2017 using normal saline and Lugol Iodine solution. Read More

Microbes Infect 2021 May 18:104836. Epub 2021 May 18.

Parasitology Department, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are two closely related parasites that infect humans and pigs. The zoonotic potential of A. Read More

BMC Med 2021 May 21;19(1):125. Epub 2021 May 21.

Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU), Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are highly prevalent in resource-limited countries. We assessed the effect of a combination intervention aiming to enhance handwashing with soap on STH reinfection following mass drug administration among primary school children in Kagera region, Northwestern Tanzania.

Methods: We conducted a cluster randomised trial in sixteen primary schools with known high STH prevalence. Read More

Arch Public Health 2021 May 19;79(1):83. Epub 2021 May 19.

René Rachou Institute, The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in the State of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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. Read More

J Parasitol Res 2021 26;2021:6648038. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Dept. of Parasitology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

infection affects up to 1/3 of the world population (approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide). It has been estimated that 1. Read More

Res Rep Trop Med 2021 4;12:51-61. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are among the major public health problems in resource-poor countries such as Ethiopia. Certain segments of the population such as psychiatric patients are believed to be at higher risk of infection because of their poor hygiene practices. However, information on the prevalence and contributing factors among psychiatric patients is limited in Ethiopia. Read More

PLoS One 2021 10;16(5):e0250990. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.

Background: Intestinal parasitosis is a common disease that causes misery and disability in poor populations. The number of individuals affected is staggering. From two billion peoples who harbor parasites worldwide, 300 million suffer severe morbidity and more than 25% of pregnant women are infected with hookworm, which causes intestinal bleeding and blood loss, and has been most commonly associated with anemia. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2021 Apr 22;59(2):149-152. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31116, Korea.

Our previous research on coprolite specimens from the mummies of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 CE) has revealed various species of parasite eggs. Herein, we added 2 new helminthic cases of human remains from Joseon-period graves in the Republic of Korea (Korea). The organic materials precipitated on the hip bones of 2 half-mummied cases (Goryeong and Gwangmyeong cases) were collected, rehydrated, and examined by a microscope. Read More

Korean J Parasitol 2021 Apr 22;59(2):131-138. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 03080, Korea.

Helminth infections are prevalent in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal helminthiasis in remote mountainous villages of northern Lao PDR. During the dry season in January 2017, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3 remote mountainous villages in Oudomxay province, Lao PDR. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 Apr 30;15(4):e0009338. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

The DeWorm3 Project, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

Since 2015, India has coordinated the largest school-based deworming program globally, targeting soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in ~250 million children aged 1 to 19 years twice yearly. Despite substantial progress in reduction of morbidity associated with STH, reinfection rates in endemic communities remain high. We conducted a community based parasitological survey in Tamil Nadu as part of the DeWorm3 Project-a cluster-randomised trial evaluating the feasibility of interrupting STH transmission at three geographically distinct sites in Africa and Asia-allowing the estimation of STH prevalence and analysis of associated factors. Read More

Drugs 2021 Jun 30;81(8):907-921. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.

Soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura) infect about one-fifth of the world's population. The currently available drugs are all highly efficacious against A. lumbricoides. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2021 Apr 15;6(2). Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, P.O. Box 46, 68/30 Bann Thung Road, Mae Sot 63100, Thailand.

Intestinal helminth infections are the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases, predominantly affecting rural and marginalised populations. The mainstay of diagnosis is the microscopic examination of faecal samples to detect parasites in the form of eggs, larvae and cysts. In an effort to improve the standard of care, the comparative accuracy in detecting helminth infections of the hitherto used formalin-based concentration method (FC) was compared to a previously developed formalin ethyl-acetate-based concentration technique (FECT), prior to the systematic deployment of the latter at a research and humanitarian unit operating on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 Apr 28;15(4):e0009369. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium.

The scientific community identified non stool-based biomarkers as the way forward to support soil-transmitted helminth (STH; Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and the hookworms Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) and schistosome (S. mansoni and S. haematobium) deworming programs. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 Apr 27;15(4):e0009379. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infection are a major public health concern affecting both children and adolescents in Ethiopia. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine pooled prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infection in this target group.

Method: We systematically retrieved available articles on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection following database searches using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct between March 1 and May 27, 2020. Read More

Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2021 Apr 23;17(1):43. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Department of Biology, Colgate University, 214 Olin Hall, 13 Oak Dr, Hamilton, NY, USA.

Background: Intestinal helminths have been proposed to have a protective role against allergic sensitization and atopic diseases. However, consistent data demonstrating this are lacking in Sub-Saharan countries. We aimed to assess the association between intestinal helminths and allergic disorders among school children enrolled in mass deworming program in Sululta, Ethiopia. Read More

Ethiop J Health Sci 2020 Nov;30(6):867-874

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.

Background: The study investigated intestinal parasitic infestations (IPIs) and possible risk factors associated with asymptomatic children under five (5) years in five (5) selected communities in the Ho Municipality.

Methods: The study design was cross- sectional, with a simple random sampling technique involving 150 asymptomatic children under 5 years from 5 selected communities (Klave, Hoe, Freetown, Dave and Godokpe) in the Ho Municipality. A questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographics and other relevant parameters. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 Apr 20;15(4):e0009333. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Unité de Bactériologie Expérimentale, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Background: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of intestinal parasite infestations (IPIs) in stunted children, compared to control children, in Ankasina and Andranomanalina Isotry (two disadvantaged neighborhoods of Antananarivo, Madagascar), to characterize associated risk factors and to compare IPI detection by real-time PCR and standard microscopy techniques.

Methodology/principal Findings: Fecal samples were collected from a total of 410 children (171 stunted and 239 control) aged 2-5 years. A single stool sample per subject was examined by simple merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde (MIF), Kato-Katz smear and real-time PCR techniques. Read More