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Infect Dis Poverty 2022 Jun 25;11(1):73. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

The Mentor Initiative, Luanda, Angola.

Background: Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) contribute high disease burdens amongst the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and are public health problems in Angola. This study reports the prevalence, intensity and risk factors for schistosomiasis and STH infection in Huambo, Uige and Zaire provinces, Angola, to inform a school-based preventive chemotherapy program.

Methods: A two-stage cluster design was used to select schools and schoolchildren to participate in parasitological and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) surveys across Huambo, Uige, and Zaire provinces. Read More

Pathogens 2022 Jun 18;11(6). Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

The current treatments for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis do not effectively kill the adult parasitic nematodes, allowing these chronic and debilitating diseases to persist in millions of people. Thus, the discovery of new drugs with macrofilaricidal potential to treat these filarial diseases is critical. To facilitate this need, we first investigated the effects of three aspartyl protease inhibitors (APIs) that are FDA-approved as HIV antiretroviral drugs on the adult filarial nematode, and the endosymbiotic bacteria, . Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 Jun 23;16(6):e0010495. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.

Pit latrines are the most common latrine technology in rural Bangladesh, and untreated effluent from pits can directly contaminate surrounding aquifers. Sand barriers installed around the latrine pit can help reduce contamination but can also alter the decomposition of the fecal sludge and accelerate pit fill-up, which can counteract their benefits. We aimed to evaluate whether there was a difference in decomposition of fecal sludge and survival of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) ova among latrines where a 50-cm sand barrier was installed surrounding and at the bottom of the pit, compared to latrines without a sand barrier, in coastal Bangladesh. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022 06 21;6:CD012199. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Background: It is estimated that 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) worldwide. Re-infection occurs rapidly following deworming, and interruption of transmission is unlikely without complementary control efforts such as improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access and behaviours. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 Jun 17;16(6):e0010500. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

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

Background: With the World Health Organization's (WHO) publication of the 2021-2030 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) roadmap, the current gap in global diagnostics became painfully apparent. Improving existing diagnostic standards with state-of-the-art technology and artificial intelligence has the potential to close this gap.

Methodology/principal Findings: We prototyped an artificial intelligence-based digital pathology (AI-DP) device to explore automated scanning and detection of helminth eggs in stool-based specimens prepared with the Kato-Katz (KK) technique, the current diagnostic standard for diagnosing soil-transmitted helminths (STHs; Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms) and Schistosoma mansoni (SCH) infections. Read More

Vet World 2022 Apr 22;15(4):1006-1014. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.

Background And Aim: spp. are the most common animals capable of adapting to their environment. They can be reservoirs or vectors of diseases that facilitate the transmission of zoonotic-borne parasites to humans. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022 25;12:852900. Epub 2022 May 25.

Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.

Helminth infections remain a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where roundworms from the and genera are most prevalent. These geohelminths not only impact human health but most importantly also affect animal well-being, in particular the swine industry. Host-helminth parasite interactions are complex and at the same time essential to understand the biology, dynamics and pathophysiology of these infections. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2022 23;9:911561. Epub 2022 May 23.

Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA, United States.

Parasite infection is a common problem in organic pig production, which can compromise health and growth of pigs, threaten food safety of pork products, and cause economic losses to organic farmers. To develop management strategies for controlling parasites, we evaluated intestinal parasite infection in pigs at different ages and of different sexes, and investigated whether parasite infection influences growth performance and carcass traits in a cross-sectional study. Fecal samples were collected from pigs ( = 298) raised under near-organic standards during nursery, growing, finishing, and gestating phases for analysis of fecal egg counts (FEC) of , and spp. Read More

Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis 2022 14;2:100091. Epub 2022 May 14.

Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.

Helminths are among the most-commonly encountered disease-causing agents in dogs all over the world, including Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey was carried out between March and December 2019 in four dog slaughter-slabs in Yen Lap District, Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam, aiming to reveal the occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths in dogs. Worms were collected from 350 dog samples and identified by morphological techniques followed by molecular methods for tapeworms and hookworms. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2022 Jun 8;15(1):197. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Instituto de Investigaciones de Enfermedades Tropicales (IIET), Sede Regional Orán Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina.

Background: The WHO has established a control strategy for Strongyloides stercoralis in school-aged children as well as targets and to maintain control programs for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms. For an efficient development of control programs, it is necessary to know the target countries around the world, as well as the areas within each country where efforts should be focused. Therefore, maps that provide information on the areas at risk for soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections on a national and sub-national scale would allow for a better allocation of resources. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 06 8;16(6):e0010491. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand.

Background: Previous reports show altered gut bacterial profiles are associated with helminth infected individuals. Our recently published molecular survey of clinical helminthiases in Thailand border regions demonstrated a more comprehensive picture of infection prevalence when Kato Katz microscopy and copro-qPCR diagnostics were combined. We revealed that Opisthorchis viverrini, hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the most predominant helminth infections in these regions. Read More

Cytokine 2022 Aug 29;156:155919. Epub 2022 May 29.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address:

Regulation of macrophage (Mɸ) function can maintain tissue homeostasis and control inflammation. Parasitic worms (helminths) are potent modulators of host immune and inflammatory responses. They have evolved various strategies to promote immunosuppression, including redirecting phagocytic cells toward a regulatory phenotype. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2022 11;9:867919. Epub 2022 May 11.

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.

Trichuriasis is considered a neglected tropical disease, being the second most common helminthiasis in humans. Detection of in routine diagnosis is usually done by microscopic detection of eggs in fecal samples. Other molecular analyses are more reliable and could be used, but these analyses are not routinely available in clinical microbiology laboratories. Read More

Microorganisms 2022 May 13;10(5). Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy.

Anaemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Among infectious agents responsible for anaemia, helminthic infections are often neglected, particularly in non-endemic countries. However, they should not be neglected in this setting, as international travel and migration are on the rise. Read More

Animals (Basel) 2022 May 17;12(10). Epub 2022 May 17.

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Turin, Italy.

The Convention on Biological Diversity classifies "Invasive Alien Species" as those whose introduction and spread represents a threat for biodiversity. Introduction of alien pathogens, including parasites, is one of the main consequences of the introduction of invasive alien species. The objective of this work was to assess the parasite community composition in native lagomorphs and ) in sympatric and non-sympatric conditions with an alien lagomorph (), and to evaluate the phenotypic traits of exotic parasites in such conditions. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2022 Jul 21;238:108284. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Toxocariasis is caused by infection with the nematode species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Serological methods using eggs, larvae and adult worms of Toxocara spp. as antigen have been used for the diagnosis of human toxocariasis. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 05 23;16(5):e0010350. Epub 2022 May 23.

The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Background: The Kato-Katz microscopy technique is the global standard for assessment of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) burden. However, major limitations include its poor sensitivity, requirement for rapid sample processing, and inability to differentiate hookworm species nor detect Strongyloides spp. infections. Read More

Helminthologia 2022 Mar 4;59(1):55-63. Epub 2022 May 4.

Kulliyyah of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah International Islamic University, Kuala Ketil, Kedah, Malaysia.

is a soil-transmitted helminth prevalent in developing countries with poor, inadequate sanitation and unsafe water sources. In Malaysia, the prevalence of trichuriasis is relatively high among the aboriginal community due to poverty and poor sanitation. However, there are few studies to determine the seasonal variation on the prevalence and risk factors to acquire infection in Malaysia. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2022 Jul 18;238:108281. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address:

Copro-microscopic diagnostic methods are the most common approach for screening patients with parasitic infections. However, expertise is required to identify helminthic eggs from fecal specimens. Consequently, new methods are required to support accurate species identification. Read More

Niger J Clin Pract 2022 May;25(5):718-724

Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital/University of Nigeria, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is one of the most common and neglected diseases affecting all age groups, especially among school children. It is a disease condition of suboptimal environment and poor personal hygiene, and is more prevalent in children in institutionalized centers.

Aims: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and intensity of intestinal helminthiasis among children in motherless babies' homes/orphanages and the relationship between the prevalence and demographic characteristics of the children. Read More

J Parasitol Res 2022 10;2022:9151294. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, PO BOX 188, Dschang, Cameroon.

Helminthes affect satisfactory pig farming by causing poor growth rate and infertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of helminthes in pig production, as well as factors influencing their prevalence in Menoua, Western Highlands of Cameroon. Thus, 597 fecal samples from 100 farms of three production types (farrower, grower, and farrow-to-finish) were collected together with data on farmer and management characteristics. Read More

Parasite Immunol 2022 May 19:e12936. Epub 2022 May 19.

Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

In endemic regions concurrent infection with multiple gastrointestinal (GI) helminth species is more common than single species infection. However, the majority of model helminth infections focus on single species infections leading to a lack of understanding of how co-infection influences anti-parasite immune responses. Here, we use a model co-infection of Trichuris muris (Tm) and Heligmosomoides bakeri (Hb) to investigate the effect of Hb on anti-Tm immune responses. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

Nasarawa and Plateau states of north-central Nigeria have implemented programs to control schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in children since the 1990s. Statewide mapping surveys were conducted in 2013, when 11,332 school-aged children were sampled from 226 schools. The local government areas (LGAs) then received varying combinations of mass drug administration (MDA) for the next 5 years. Read More

Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 27;12(9). Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell' Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.

Nematode infections of mammals can spread in zoos and faunistic parks and lead to disease in humans and animals. Group treatment strategies with anthelminthic drugs are common. Still, their effectiveness should be verified by sensitive and specific copromicroscopic analyses. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 04 29;19(9). Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa 1005, Ethiopia.

Malaria and helminthic co-infection during pregnancy causes fetomaternal haemorrhage and foetal growth retardation. This study determined the pooled burden of pregnancy malaria and helminthic co-infection in sub-Saharan Africa. CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were used to retrieve data from the literature, without restricting language and publication year. Read More

Parasite 2022 13;29:27. Epub 2022 May 13.

Nantes Université, CHU de Nantes, Cibles et Médicaments des Infections et de l'Immunité, IICiMed, UR1155, 44000 Nantes, France.

Objectives: We provide the first evaluation of the CE-IVD marked Novodiag stool parasites assay (NVD), allowing rapid and high-plex detection of 26 distinct targets, encompassing protozoans, helminths and microsporidia in stool samples.

Methods: A total of 254 samples (n = 205 patients) were prospectively processed by the NVD and our routine procedure (RP). Performances of the NVD were compared with RP. Read More

Parasitol Res 2022 Jul 11;121(7):2179-2186. Epub 2022 May 11.

FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, United Nations office in Nairobi, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya.

Understanding the epidemiology of canine parasitic infections, gastrointestinal helminthic infections in particular, is crucial for designing an efficient control programs targeted at minimizing the risks of zoonotic transmission. A total of 470 dogs attending veterinary clinics in Northeastern Nigeria were screened for gastrointestinal helminths using standard parasitological techniques. Epidemiological risk factors associated with the canine parasitic infections were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2022 May 6. Epub 2022 May 6.

Institute of Immunology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address:

Infections with high doses of intestinal nematodes result in protective immunity based on robust type 2 responses in most mouse lines under laboratory conditions. Here, we report on cellular responses of wild house mice from northern Germany. We detected robust Th1 responses in wild house mice naturally infected with the whipworm Trichuris muris. Read More

Trop Biomed 2022 Mar;39(1):135-143

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, mainly caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, are among the most common intestinal parasites that infect humans. The infections are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical countries, including Malaysia, particularly in underprivileged communities. Microscopic and culture techniques have been used as a gold standard for diagnostic techniques. Read More

Rev Chilena Infectol 2021 12;38(6):791-792

Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.