Abstract

BackgroundBurkina Faso is endemic with soil-transmitted helminth infections. Over a decade of preventive chemotherapy has been implemented through annual lymphatic filariasis (LF) mass drug administration (MDA) for population aged five years and over, biennial treatment of school age children with albendazole together with schistosomiasis MDA and biannual treatment of pre-school age children through Child Health Days. Assessments were conducted to evaluate the current situation and to determine the treatment strategy for the future.Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional assessment was conducted in 22 sentinel sites across the country in 2013. In total, 3,514 school age children (1,748 boys and 1,766 girls) were examined by the Kato-Katz method. Overall, soil-transmitted helminth prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 1.0–1.8%) in children examined. Hookworm was the main species detected, with prevalence of 1.2% (95% CI: 0.9–1.6%) and mean egg counts of 2.1 epg (95% CI: 0–4.2 epg). Among regions, the Centre Ouest region had the highest hookworm prevalence of 3.4% (95% CI: 1.9–6.1%) and mean egg counts of 14.9 epg (95% CI: 3.3–26.6 epg). A separate assessment was conducted in the Centre Nord region in 2014 using community-based cluster survey design during an LF transmission assessment survey (TAS). In this assessment, 351 children aged 6–7 years and 345 children aged 10–14 years were examined, with two cases (0.6% (95% CI: 0.2–2.1%)) and seven cases (2.0% (95% CI: 1.0–4.1%)) of hookworm infection was identified respectively. The results using both age groups categorized the region to be 2% to <10% in STH prevalence according to the pre-defined cut-off values.Conclusions/SignificanceThrough large-scale preventive chemotherapy, Burkina Faso has effectively controlled STH in school age children in the country. Research should be conducted on future strategies to consolidate the gain and to interrupt STH transmission in Burkina Faso. It is also demonstrated that LF TAS provides one feasible and efficient platform to assess the STH situation for post LF MDA decision making.

Highlights

  • Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), one of the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), is caused by a group of nematodes, namely hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trchiura

  • A sentinel site survey in 2013 showed that STH infection in Burkina Faso was very low at 1.3%

  • The current paper presents a full picture of current STH prevalence and distribution in the country, discusses the current STH situation and the future need for STH control in Burkina Faso, and demonstrates the feasibility of STH assessment during lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission assessment survey (TAS) at community level

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Summary

Introduction

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), one of the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), is caused by a group of nematodes, namely hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trchiura. Chronic infection with these parasites can cause malnutrition, iron deficiency, anemia and impairment of physical and intellectual development in school age children [1,2,3]. Over a decade of preventive chemotherapy has been implemented through annual lymphatic filariasis (LF) mass drug administration (MDA) for population aged five years and over, biennial treatment of school age children with albendazole together with schistosomiasis MDA and biannual treatment of pre-school age children through Child Health Days. Assessments were conducted to evaluate the current situation and to determine the treatment strategy for the future

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