Abstract
BackgroundThe intestinal nematode Trichuris trichiura is among the most common causes of human infectious disease worldwide. As for other soil-transmitted nematodes, its reproductive success and thus prevalence and intensity of infection in a given area strongly depend on environmental conditions. Characterization of the influence of environmental factors can therefore aid to identify infection hot spots for targeted mass treatment.MethodologyWe analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey including 6234 participants from nine distinct study sites in Mbeya region, Tanzania. A geographic information system was used to combine remotely sensed and individual data, which were analyzed using uni- and multivariable Poisson regression. Household clustering was accounted for and when necessary, fractional polynomials were used to capture non-linear relationships between T. trichiura infection prevalence and environmental variables.Principal findingsT. trichiura infection was restricted to the Kyela site, close to Lake Nyasa with only very few cases in the other eight sites. The prevalence of T. trichiura infection in Kyela was 26.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 23.9 to 29.6%). Multivariable models revealed a positive association of infection with denser vegetation (prevalence ratio (PR) per 0.1 EVI units = 2.12, CI 1.28 to 3.50) and inverse associations with rainfall (PR per 100 mm = 0.54, CI 0.44 to 0.67) and elevation (PR per meter = 0.89, CI 0.86 to 0.93) while adjusting for age and previous worm treatment. Slope of the terrain was modelled non-linearly and also showed a positive association with T. trichiura infection (p-value p<0.001).Conclusion/SignificanceHigher prevalences of T. trichiura infection were only found in Kyela, a study site characterized by denser vegetation, high rainfall, low elevation and flat terrain. But even within this site, we found significant influences of vegetation density, rainfall, elevation and slope on T. trichiura infection. The inverse association of rainfall with infection in Kyela is likely due to the fact, that rainfall in this site is beyond the optimum conditions for egg development. Our findings demonstrate that use of remotely sensed environmental data can aid to predict high-risk areas for targeted helminth control.
Highlights
Infections with soil-transmitted helminths, a group of nematodes affecting humans, are among the most common infections worldwide
This study provides new information on the prevalence and the spatial distribution of T. trichiura infection from an epidemiological survey conducted in Mbeya region in southwestern Tanzania
The maximum prevalence of T. trichiura infection occurred before the age of 15 years (Fig 3) and decreased after that
Summary
Infections with soil-transmitted helminths, a group of nematodes affecting humans, are among the most common infections worldwide. The most common helminth species are the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the hookworms (the two species Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions still heavily affected by soil-transmitted helminth infections, since their transmission is enhanced by poor hygienic conditions and poverty. Despite the efforts of preventive mass chemotherapy conducted in many sub-Saharan African countries [3], the T. trichiura prevalence there has not recently declined [2, 4]. The intestinal nematode Trichuris trichiura is among the most common causes of human infectious disease worldwide. As for other soil-transmitted nematodes, its reproductive success and prevalence and intensity of infection in a given area strongly depend on environmental conditions. Characterization of the influence of environmental factors can aid to identify infection hot spots for targeted mass treatment
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