Effect of Multiple Rounds of Mass Drug Administration under Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program on Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in One of the Co-endemic Districts of India

Abstract

Both soil-transmitted helminthiasis and lymphatic filariasis are co-endemic in some districts of India. The study was aimed at comparing the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) infection before and after mass drug administration (MDA) given for lymphatic filariasis at Alappuzha. We examined stool samples of 219 children aged between 9 and 10 years from nine schools at Alappuzha, Kerala, in June 2015. The current STH situation was compared with that in the year 1999 (before the institution of MDA) in the same age group in the same district. WHO-recommended Kato-Katz technique was used for STH prevalence estimation. Information regarding socio-demographic variables, sanitation, personal hygiene practices was also recorded. Chi-square test was used to study association of risk factors with STH infection. A total of 79 (36.07%) children were found to be positive for STH infection. Out of all samples positive for Ascaris lumbricoides, 4 (5%) were found co-infected with Trichuris trichiura and none with hookworm. Factors like absence of household latrine, lack of hand washing before meals and practice of consuming unwashed fruits were found to be significantly associated with occurrence of STH infection. Over the years, consecutive rounds of MDA for LF have led to a decline in intestinal worm burden but with little effect on the overall prevalence of STH. Thus, STH control activities working synergistically with the Filarial Elimination Strategy can yield better results in the co-endemic areas with optimum resource utilization.