Abstract
Intestinal parasites have an insidious impact on human health. In response to high parasite frequencies in Northwest Ethiopia, mass drug administration (MDA) is provided for school children using albendazole/mebendazole (since 2007) and praziquantel (since 2015). The study objective was to assess trends and seasonal patterns of intestinal parasite infections in a context of MDA. This was a descriptive study collecting routine data from laboratory registers in two health centres in Denbia district, Amhara region. Stool test results (wet-mount direct microscopy) from patients attending these centres between 2013 and 2018 were included. Frequencies of different parasite species were evaluated within and across the years and stratified by age and gender. From a total of 8002 stool test results, the overall parasite frequency was 53.3%; this proportion remained constant. The most frequently diagnosed soil-transmitted helminths (STH) were Ascaris lumbricoides (16.9%) and hookworm (3.9%). STH frequency varied over the years, but was similar at the beginning (20.0%) and the end (22.0%) of the six-year period. STH infections were more frequent in winter (December-February; 20.4%) than in other seasons (16.0%). The most frequently diagnosed protozoa were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (18.5%) and Giardia lamblia (12.2%). The frequency of Giardia steadily increased from 9.6% in 2013 to 15.3% in 2018. E. histolytica/dispar peaked in summer and G. lamblia in autumn. Trends in routine laboratories may be a proxy for a status quo in the community. These findings suggest that higher MDA coverages and/or interventions beyond MDA are needed to reduce intestinal parasite-related morbidity.
Highlights
Intestinal parasites have an insidious impact on human health because they cause nutrient deficiencies, anaemia, and impaired growth and cognitive development [1]
A total of 8002 stool test results were registered during the six-year study period: 5959 in Chuahit (74.5%) and 2043 in Gorgora (25.5%)
From 2013-2016, two laboratory technicians were working in this health centre, and in 2016, two additional technicians were hired
Summary
Intestinal parasites have an insidious impact on human health. In response to high parasite frequencies in Northwest Ethiopia, mass drug administration (MDA) is provided for school children using albendazole/mebendazole (since 2007) and praziquantel (since 2015). Conclusions: Trends in routine laboratories may be a proxy for a status quo in the community These findings suggest that higher MDA coverages and/or interventions beyond MDA are needed to reduce intestinal parasite-related morbidity. The global target is to eliminate STH as a public health problem in childhood by 2020, which is defined as a prevalence of STH infection of moderate and high intensity among school-age children of 1% or less. To achieve this target, it is required that 75% of preschoolage and school-age children in risk areas take preventive chemotherapy once or twice per year [2,5]
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