Mass Deworming Research Articles

Gut-microbiome profiles among Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infected Ethiopian children enrolled in the school-based mass deworming program.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and mutualistic gut microbes coexist in the gastrointestinal tract. However, limited data exist regarding how STH infections are associated with gut microbiome profiles. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected in a longitudinal study to identify and explain differences in microbial communities between STH-infected and non-infected Ethiopian school children. We collected 138 stool samples and analyzed them for STH infection using standard direct wet mount and Kato Katz methods. The gut microbiome profiles were characterized using targeted amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from the total DNA extracted from the stools. Children infected with Trichuris trichiura showed significantly lower microbial diversity than those who were non-infected (p<0.05). We also observed significant difference in microbiome composition based on Trichuris trichiura infection status (PERMANOVA p< 0.01). A comparison of microbial taxa at the genus level among participants infected with different helminth species showed a significant increase in Agathobacter relative abundance among children infected with Trichuris trichiura compared to non-infected subjects (adjusted p = 0.001). Our results indicate that changes in the gut microbiome composition may vary depending on the species of helminth present. Further studies should investigate how Trichuris trichiura selectively alters microbiome composition compared to other STH species.

Prevalence of Paramphistomum and Its Associated Factors in Cattle Slaughtered at Boko Slaughterhouse, Fedis District, Eastern Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Bovine paramphistomosis is one of cattle’s most important parasitic diseases, causing mortality and economic losses in various parts of Ethiopia. Objectives: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Fedis District from April 2019 to October 2020 to determine the prevalence of Paramphistomum and its associated factors in cattle killed at Boko slaughterhouse. Methods: A total of 384 slaughtered cattle were selected by systematic random sampling. Then, a post-mortem examination of the rumen and reticulum was conducted to check the presence or absence of adult Paramphistomum. The parasite was examined macroscopically and microscopically to study the morphology of adult flukes. Results: Of 384 examined cattle, Paramphistomum was found in 156(40.6%). Of the 156 positive samples, 52.34%, 33.06%, and 14.6% were infected with Paramphistomum clavula, Paramphistomum cervi, and mixed infection, respectively. In this study, the highest infection rate was recorded in the wet season. Among assessed factors, body condition and origin of animals had significant correlations (P&lt;0.05) with infection. Conclusion: This finding indicated the highest infection of Paramphistomum was recorded in cattle. Therefore, the farmers should practice mass deworming of animals using selected anthelmintic therapy for flukes.

Intestinal Helminth Infections among Primary School Aged Pupils in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of helminthiasis in primary school children in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 172 faecal samples were collected and analyzed using Kato-Katz technique. Other pieces of information concerning demography were obtained through structured questionnaires. Data was analyzed using chi-square test and P˂0.05 were considered significant. Overall, 45 (26.16 %) of the samples were infected while 127 (73.84 %) were negative. Among the schools sampled, Community Primary School, Amowere recorded the highest infection prevalence of 58.18% while no infection was recorded in Umuoji Primary School, Ebenebe (0.00 %). In relation to class, pupils in class four were the most infected 12 (31.58 %) while class one children had the least prevalence 5 (12.19 %). Gender-wise, males recorded the highest prevalence of 28.43 % with female children having a lower prevalence of 22.86 %. In terms of age, children between the age bracket of 7–9 years were most infected 31 (30.09 %) with the least prevalence occurring in the 4–6 years age group. In total, four helminth parasites were found in the stool samples of the children, A. lumbricoides 35 (20.59 %), Hookworm 7 (4.16 %), and T. trichiura 5 (2.19 %). Among the predisposing factors studied, school and type of parasite were found to be statistically significant (P˂0.05). Mass deworming of primary school children should be undertaken regularly by health officers as well as enlightenment programs of pupils on proper hygiene practices and sanitation.

Prevalence of human intestinal helminths in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

study on human intestinal helminths was conducted across eight primary schools in Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State. Stool samples were collected from 495 randomly selected pupils and examined using the direct smear technique to determine the prevalence of helminthic infections with predictor variables being regressed against outcome variables. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain biodata from the pupils to assess the association of intestinal helminths with socio-economic variables. The overall percentage of intestinal helminth-infected pupils had no statistical significance (p=0.1294). The probability of the outcome variable occurring rose by approximately 1.18 and 1.15 times for every unit higher in the predictor variable, as indicated by the positive coefficients for S1 and S4 schools (0.164821 and 0.136310). Only Trichuris infection exhibited a negative coefficient (-2.535188) among single infections and was significantly associated (p=0.0249). Ascaris + hookworm and Ascaris + Trichuris infections among the multiple infections revealed negative and positive coefficients (- 9.730077 and 1731.696, respectively), and they were strongly related (p=0.0001 and 0.0000). The number of infected students in (14-18) age range had a positive coefficient (0.020680) and was significantly (p=0.0441) associated with odds ratios of about 1.02, meaning that the odds of the dependent variables increase by about 1.02 times for every unit increase in the independent variable. The proportion of males with the infection displayed positive coefficients (0.980800) and was significantly (p=0.0052) associated with odds ratios of about 2.67, indicating that the likelihood of outcome variables occurring increases by approximately 2.67 times for every unit rise in the predictor variable. Conclusively, the findings observed could be attributed to the poor socio-economic status and poor personal hygiene arising from the lack of basic amenities such as pipe-borne water and other sanitary facilities in the study location. Adequate health education on sanitation, provision of portable drinking water, toilet facilities and mass deworming programmes are highly recommended in the area.

Decreased Weight-for-Age Associated with Mass Deworming among Young Ethiopian Schoolchildren in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

School-based mass deworming programs are implemented to reduce soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection prevalence and intensity among school-aged children. However, previous studies debate the impact of deworming beyond the removal of worms. Hence, this study aimed to examine the effect of mass deworming on nutritional indicators in young Ethiopian schoolchildren. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,036 participants from April to May 2020 in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. An interviewer-based questionnaire was administered to the children to gather data on sociodemographic, lifestyle variables, and deworming status. Anthropometric measurements were taken for the height and weight of the children. Stool samples were collected and analyzed for STH infection using direct wet mount microscopy and the Kato-Katz technique. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, deworming within the past 6 months or 1 year was not significantly associated with underweight, stunting, and thinning. However, deworming within the past year was significantly associated with decreased weight-for-age z-score (adjusted mean difference = -0.245; 95% CI: -0.413 to -0.076; P = 0.004). Deworming in the past 6 months demonstrated a nonsignificant trend toward increased stunting (adjusted odds ratio = 1.258; 95% CI: 0.923-1.714; P = 0.145). This study provides evidence that deworming in the past 6 months or 1 year was not significantly associated with underweight, stunting, and thinning. However, deworming within the past year was associated with a significantly decreased weight-for-age z-score in young Ethiopian schoolchildren of Jimma Town after adjustment for confounding variables.

Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosomiasis in Endemic Parts of Siaya County after Mass Deworming With Praziquantel; Understanding Community Perception on the Associated Factors

Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by schistosomes or blood flukes of the genus schistosoma. According to World Health Organization (WHO). Also known as bilharzia or ‘snail fever’ the disease is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world. The highest intensity of the infection is usually observed in children but chronic consequences of infection may last into adulthood. The study was conducted in hot-spot and non-hot spot areas of Siaya County. A cross sectional study design adopting both quantitative and qualitative techniques was employed. The target population consisted of both Primary School-aged children and adults in ten (10) selected villages from hot spot areas of Bondo, Siaya County. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the ten (10) villages after which 200 participants were randomly selected from the clustered villages. Kato Katz technique was then used to obtain quantitative data microscopically and for further quantitative data, structured self-administered questionnaire was also used. Key Informant Interviews were conducted to obtain qualitative information from the selected parents and teachers as well as community health workers. Statistical tests were performed using R version 4.2.0 setting a 2-tailed α to reject the null hypothesis at 0.05. Data tables presenting categorical data as percentages with observed proportions was analyzed by prop test, while continuous data was presented using model means with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). From the participants that consisted of 100 children aged between 9 to 17 years and 100 adults aged between 18 to 70 years, 81 of them (40.5%) tested positive for Schistosomiasis. Intensity levels were found to be higher in females compared to males 0.95 (95% CI = 0.48, 1.4, P = 0.03) and in adults compared to children 1.1 (95% CI = 0.64, 1.6, P &lt;0.01).

Prevalence of Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites in Meat Goats in Southern Thailand.

Background: Intestinal parasites not only lead to poor goat health and productivity but can also affect human health. We investigated the distribution of zoonotic intestinal parasites among goats in southern Thailand to assess the human health risks. Materials and Methods: Overall, 561 fecal samples were collected randomly from goats in farms (55) in Songkhla, Satun, Pattalung, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces between January 2020 to January 2022. Parasite eggs were detected via the standard protocol formalin ether concentration technique (FECT). Results: Samples containing one or more intestinal parasites accounted for 97.33% (543/561) of the total samples, and the percentage of zoonotic parasite was 80.04% (449/561). Among the positive samples, two types of zoonotic helminths were identified, Strongylid egg type (79.32%) and Fasciola spp. (2.14%). Strongylid egg type was highly abundant in samples from Satun (84.62%), Songkhla (82.74%), Pattalung (79.31%), and Yala (77.27%). Fasciola spp. was mostly found in samples form Pattalung (13.79%) and Songkhla (1.12%). Eimeria spp. was the mostly identified protozoa 25.67%. It was mostly identified in samples from Narathiwat (75%), Pattani (41.9%), and Songkhla (31.41%). Mixed infections accounted for 40.82% of the total with 33 patterns. It was found that Strongylid egg types occurred in 28 patterns (84.85%). Strongylid egg types-Eimeria spp.-pattern was the most commonly found. Conclusion: Based on the results, zoonotic helminth infection was found together with widespread and high diversity of intestinal parasites infection in meat goats, which affect animal health and may pose a risk to human health. Mass deworming programs with a proper anthelmintic drugs and good agricultural practices need to be encouraged by the government so that people who contact with goats should practice good hygiene behavior. Farm management should be applied by intensive goat raising with pasture circulating to reduce parasite egg contamination. Moreover, fresh fertilizers from goat faces should be avoided.

The impact of soil-transmitted helminths infection on growth impairment: systematic review and meta analysis

Human helminthiasis, particularly soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, is a prevalent health concern in Indonesia, especially among children, often resulting in growth disorders, notably stunting. To examine the link between STH infections and childhood stunting, we conducted a comprehensive review of literature spanning 2012-2023, encompassing 40 selected articles from databases like PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Our analysis revealed a substantial association between STH infections and increased stunting risk in children, estimating a 44.407% rise in stunting risk due to STH infection. Stunting, a consequence of chronic malnutrition, profoundly affects a child's physical and cognitive development, with long-lasting repercussions on their future potential and quality of life. This study has significant implications. It underscores the urgent need for robust public health interventions targeting STH infections, especially in high-prevalence areas like Indonesia. Measures such as mass deworming campaigns, improved sanitation and hygiene practices, and health education can significantly alleviate the burden of STH infections and the resulting stunting. Moreover, the research emphasizes the intricate relationship between infectious diseases and malnutrition, highlighting the necessity for a holistic approach to child health. Addressing STH infections necessitates not only medical intervention but also efforts to enhance overall living conditions and nutritional status. Integrating these approaches into a comprehensive public health strategy can yield more effective and sustainable results in the fight against childhood stunting. In conclusion, this study underscores the paramount importance of addressing STH infections in the context of child growth and underscores the urgency of implementing effective public health interventions. This approach can enable children to reach their full physical and cognitive potential, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and development of societies.

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kandahar, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are global health problem, especially in low-income countries. Main objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and intensity of STH and its risk factors among school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. This was a school-based cross-sectional analytical study, with data collected during eight-month-period (May-December, 2022) from 6- and 12-years old school children in Kandahar city, Afghanistan. All the stool samples were examined by saline wet mount method and Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 1275 children from eight schools of Kandahar city were included in this study. Mean age of these children was 8.3 years with 53.3% boys. The overall prevalence of any intestinal parasitic infection was 68.4%. The overall prevalence of STH infection was 39.1%, with Ascaris lumbricoides (29.4%) as the most prevalent STH species. Mean intensity of overall STH infection was 97.8. Multivariate logistic regression revealed playing barefoot (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2), not washing hands after defecating and before eating (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7), having untrimmed nails (AOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8), and belonging to poor families (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) as the risk factors associated with the predisposition of school children for getting STH in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. There is high prevalence of STH among school children of Kandahar city in Afghanistan. Most of the risk factors are related to poverty, decreased sanitation, and improper hygiene. Improvement of socioeconomic status, sanitation, and health education to promote public awareness about health and hygiene together with periodic mass deworming programs are better strategies for the control of STH infections in Afghanistan.

Standard- and large-sized eggs of Trichuris trichiura in the feces of schoolchildren in the Yangon Region, Myanmar: Morphological and molecular analyses.

Standard- and large-sized eggs of Trichuris trichiura were found in the feces of schoolchildren in Yangon, Myanmar during epidemiological surveys and mass deworming with albendazole in 2017-2019. The standard-sized eggs were identified as those of T. trichiura, but it was necessary to exclude the possibility of the large-sized eggs belonging to Trichuris vulpis, a dog whipworm. We conducted morphological and molecular studies to determine the species of the 2 types of Trichuris eggs. Individual eggs of both sizes were isolated from Kato-Katz fecal smears (n=20) and mechanically destroyed using a 23G injection needle. Nuclear DNA was extracted, and the 18S rRNA region was sequenced in 15 standard-sized eggs and 15 large-sized eggs. The average size of standard-sized eggs (T. trichiura) was 55.2×26.1 μm (range: 51.7-57.6×21.3-28.0 μm; n=97), whereas the size of large-sized eggs was 69.3×32.0 μm (range: 65.1-76.4×30.1-34.5 μm; n=20), slightly smaller than the known size of T. vulpis. Regarding standard-sized eggs, the 18S rRNA nucleotide sequences exhibited 100% homology with T. trichiura deposited in GenBank and 88.6-90.5% homology with T. vulpis. Regarding large-sized eggs, the nucleotide sequences showed 99.8-100% homology with T. trichiura in GenBank and 89.6-90.7% homology with T. vulpis. Both standard- and large-sized eggs of Trichuris spp. found in Myanmar schoolchildren during 2017-2019 were morphologically and molecularly confirmed to belong to T. trichiura. The conversion of eggs from smaller to large sizes might be due to anthelmintic treatments with albendazole.

Lymphatic filariases and soil-transmitted helminthiases in Sri Lanka: the challenge of eliminating residual pockets of transmission.

Sri Lanka has successfully met the challenge of controlling both lymphatic filariasis (LF) and soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) as public health problems. The primary public health strategy for combatting both conditions has been preventive chemotherapy. The national programme for the elimination of LF implemented five annual rounds of mass chemotherapy in the endemic districts from 2002 to 2006 using a combination of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole. The overall microfilaria rate declined from 0.21% in 2001 before the mass chemotherapy, to 0.06% in 2016, at declaration of elimination of LF as a public health problem by the World Health Organization. Currently Sri Lanka is in the phase of post-validation surveillance. Achieving control of STH has been more difficult. Mass deworming programmes have been implemented for nearly a century, and national-level surveys reported prevalence rates declining from 6.9% in 2003 to 1% in 2017. However, neither of these infections has been completely eliminated. A situation analysis indicates continued transmission of both among high-risk communities. This paper explores the reasons for persistence of transmission of both LF and STH in residual pockets and the measures that are required to achieve long-term control, or perhaps even interrupt transmission in Sri Lanka. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases: a decade from the London Declaration on NTDs'.

Mass Deworming: Does it Impact Nutritional Outcomes in Children?

Mass Deworming: Does it Impact Nutritional Outcomes in Children?

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Soil Transmitted Helminths (Sths) and Schistosomes Mansoni Among School-Age Children in West Ethiopia

Background: Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) and schistosomes have been major public health problems in tropical and sub-tropical developing countries. School-age and preschool children are predominantly affected by soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomes. Parasite infections may cause micronutrient deficiency that results in anemia, growth retardation, and impaired cognitive development among children. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomes among school-aged children. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 307 school-age children in West Ethiopia. Data regarding associated factors was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The stool specimen was examined for the existence of parasitic agents according to standard operating procedures. The data was entered into Epi-Data version3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were computed. Variables with a p ≤ 0.25 on the bivariate analysis were candidates for the multivariable analysis. The significance of the association was declared by a 95% confidence interval of AOR and a p &lt; 0.05 in the multivariate model. Result: A total of 307 stool samples were collected from school-age children who were included in the study. This study's results showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 40.4%. The most predominant intestinal parasitic infections were Ascaris lumbricoid (38.7%), followed by Hookworm (27.4%), and Trichuris trichiura (26.6%). Not handwashing after toilet (AOR = 2.19,95% (1.27-4.63) p = 0.025), eating unwashed fruits (AOR = 2.28,95% CI(1.209-4.29) p = 0.011), unclean fingernails (AOR = 2.38,95% CI(1.20-4.54), p = 0.013), eating street food (AOR = 2.98,95%CI (1.809-6.37, p = 0.001), unprotected water source (AOR = 2.87,95% CI(1.47) p = 5.56) (p = 0.002) and poor knowledge about the ways of transmission of IPIs (AOR = 2.28, 95% CI(1.01-5.12), p = 0.046) were found to be significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion: This study findings revealed a high prevalence of multiple parasitic infections that need annual mass deworming. This study called for mass drug administration, the provision of clean water supplies, scaling sanitation and hygiene, and health education.

Effect of Deworming on Health Outcomes among Children Aged 12-59 Months in Tanzania: A Multilevel Mixed Effects Analysis.

Mass deworming of preschool children is a strategy suggested to prevent soil-transmitted helminth infections in most developing countries. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of data showing the contribution of mass deworming to a child's nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of deworming on nutritional health outcomes (stunting, underweight, and anemia) in children aged 12 to 59 months. A secondary analysis of data extracted from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) 2015-16 data was carried out. A total of 7,962 children were included in this study. A multilevel logistic regression was used at a 5% level of significance to determine the individual- and community-level determinants of deworming on health outcomes among children. The prevalence of underweight (62.6%), stunting (61.0%), and anemia (61.8%) was higher in children who were not dewormed than those who were dewormed. Female children were more likely to suffer from poor health outcomes (OR = 1.01 and 95% CI = 0.95-1.07) than male children. Children aged 24-35 months and 36-47 months were significantly less likely to suffer from poor health outcomes (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.82-0.97 and OR = 0.88; 96% CI = 0.81-0.96, respectively; p < 0.01). Children from households with unimproved toilets (OR = 1.38 and 95% CI = 1.25-1.52), unimproved water sources (OR = 1.08 and 95% CI = 1.01-1.16), and living in rural areas (OR = 1.02 and 95% CI = 0.91-1.14) had higher odds for poor health outcomes. Deworming may be an effective technique for preventing poor health outcomes in children and the risks associated with them, such as poor growth and development.

Prevalence of Worm Infestation and Associated Risk Factors among Rural and Urban Lower Primary School Going Children in Kasama District, Northern Province, Zambia

Regardless of the many health promotion communications and public health interventions that the Government of the Republic of Zambia continues to provide to its citizens via the Ministry of Health that are directed at the prevention and reduction of worm infestation in Kasama District, Northern Province of Zambia, a lot of lower primary school going children still continue to miss school attendance in order to access health services due to worm infestation cases which have continued to be on the increase in both rural and urban areas. The high levels of poverty and other related risk factors in such resource-limited areas have put many of these children at increased risk of worm infestation. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between those risk factors and the prevalence of worm infestation in both rural and urban areas with respect to area of residency of the children. The study used retrospective quantitative methods in eliciting information from data sources from six health facilities in Northern Province covering a 2year period (2018-2020). Consequently, 120 children were identified and included in the study. Thereafter, data were analyzed using a statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS v19). Findings indicate; low socio-economic status and areas of residency were the main contributing risk factors in rural than urban areas. Therefore, recommendations on the country’s policies towards mass deworming programs and basic hygiene in lower primary school going children were availed to government after completing the study. Keywords: Residency, Primary School Children, Prevalence, Worm Infestations, Zambia.

Epidemiological Profile of Intestinal Protozoan Infection in Dakar, Senegal: Results from Hospital-Based Survey

Background Intestinal parasitic infections, especially intestinal protozoan parasites remain significant public health problem in Senegal. Several studies have demonstrated the endemicity of the diseases. The study was carried out with the objective of assessing the epidemiolocal profile of intestinal protozoan infection diagnosed among patients attending to Fann University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Materials and Method A retrospective study was conducted from 2016 to 2020. Samples were collected from patients attending to the laboratory for parasitological confirmation. Fresh stool samples were observed using direct examination, formal-ether concentration method and modified Zeilh Nielsen staining method. Descriptive analysis was performed using Stata MP 16 software. The significance level was set at 5%. Results Among 3825 patients selected in the study, 1009 were found with at least one intestinal protozoan parasite representing an overall prevalence of 26.4% (CI 95% (24.7– 28)). Mono-parasitic and di-parasitic infection represent 81.6% and 18.2% respectively while polyparasitism was observed in 26 patients representing 2,6%. Among positive samples, 16 (8.7%) were associated with helminths. Blastocystis sp. (40.8%), Entamoeba Coli (38.2%), Endolimax nana (8.2%) and Giardia intestinalis (8.1%) were mainly observed. Trophozoites Entamoeba histolytica was observed with 2.3%. Frequency of intestinal protozoa was higher in the 15 – 30 age group (28.3%) and in male group (26.9%). The parasite carriage was most important during the wet season comparing the dry season (p = 0.65). Asymptomatic patients (29.5%) were more infected than symptomatic patients (23.5%) (p &lt;10-3). The main clinical symptoms were diarrhea, abdominal pain, dysenteric syndrome, fever, dyspeptic disorders, and vomiting. Conclusion These results showed that intestinal protozoan infections remain prevalent in Senegal with a high proportion of asymptomatic who constitute an important reservoir of parasites. Effective control strategies such as water supply, hands washing, and mass deworming campaign could reduce the prevalence of these diseases.

Deworming program for women of reproductive age implemented through national iron folate supplementation program reduces prevalence of anemia: evidence from a community trial in rural Bangladesh

Background: Anemia causes debilitating outcomes for women and children, and can be of multifactorial etiology, soil transmitted helminth (STH) infection being one of them. The Bangladeshi government does not have any regular deworming program for women of reproductive age (WRAs), who constitute an important portion of the population. Hence, we conducted this study to generate evidence on the effect of regular deworming on STH infection status and anemia status of WRAs in rural Bangladesh. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in rural Bangladesh using existing healthcare delivery platform (Community Clinics) for mass deworming of WRAs. Catchment areas of two community clinics constituted the intervention arm, where the WRAs received two cycles of deworming four months apart on top of government recommended iron-folate supplementation (IFA), and catchment areas of two different community clinics were considered as the control arm where the study population received IFA but no deworming medication. Baseline and endline surveys were conducted on randomly selected participants to measure prevalence of anemia and STH infection using HemoCue 201+ and Kato-Katz respectively. Results: The study area contained 4791 women aged 15-49 years. Among them, 2441 lived in the intervention area and 2350 lived in the control area. Compliance to deworming medication and IFA was 82% (2001 out of 2441) and 79% (1938 out of 2441) for the two cycles, respectively. In the baseline survey there was no significant difference in prevalence of anemia between the intervention and control arms (63.7% vs 65.7%; p=0.522). However, the endline survey yielded significant difference in anemia prevalence between the arms (47.5% vs 65.7%, p&lt;0.001) rendering a 14% reduction in anemia due the intervention (p=0.004). Similarly, our intervention was shown to reduce STH infection by 16% (p&lt;0.001) Conclusions: Our study clearly showed that regular deworming of WRA benefits their anemia and STH infection status.

Magnitude of Anemia and Undernutrition Among Primary School Children in a Setting of Mass Deworming in Central Ethiopia.

Undernutrition and anemia in children continue to be a public health problem in developing countries. Besides, intestinal parasitic infection among school children is common in developing countries. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic deworming of children who live in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of anemia and undernutrition among school children in a setting of mass deworming. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 510 school children aged 5-14 years from three randomly selected governmental schools in Sululta town, central Ethiopia. Socio-demographic variables were assessed using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Anthropometric data were obtained and analyzed using WHO Anthroplusv1.0.4. Venous blood samples were collected using EDTA vacutainers. Hemoglobin level was determined by Sysmex KX-21N automated hematology analyzer and stool samples were processed using direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration and Kato-Katz methods. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of anemia and undernutrition with the independent variables. The overall magnitude of anemia was 3.7%. Among anemic individuals, 84.2% and 15.8% of participants had mild and moderate anemia, respectively. The magnitude of stunting and thinness was 16.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Of them, 18.6% of stunting and 14.5% of thinness were severe. Of factors related to undernutrition, children from large families (≥5) were less likely to be stunted (AOR=0.38, 95% CI=0.2-0.7, P=0.002) compared to small families. The magnitude of anemia in the study area was considered as an insignificant public health problem and none of the socio-demographic variables of participants were significantly associated with anemia and likewise with undernutrition except for family size. Further studies are required to clearly understand the impact of mass deworming on the magnitude of anemia and undernutrition.

Seasonal Parasitic Contamination of Vegetables Marketed in Bori Central Market, Khana Local Governemnt Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Seasonal parasitic contamination of vegetables marketed in Bori central market, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria was investigated. A total of 80 vegetable samples, (40 samples each during the rainy and dry season respectively) were purchased from the Bori central market. The vegetable samples were examined in the laboratory for the presence of intestinal parasites using sedimentation techniques and microcopy. The results revealed that out of 80 vegetable samples (20 samples of each vegetable type and 40 samples each for rainy and dry seasons) examined, an overall prevalence of 41(51.3%) was recorded. Out of the 40 samples of vegetable each examined during the rainy and dry seasons, 23(57.5%) and18(45.0%) samples were positive for intestinal parasites during the rainy and dry seasons respectively. Across the two seasons, intestinal parasites belonging to four genera were identified. The genera were Ascaris, Giardia, Ancylostoma and Trichuris. A total of 23 intestinal parasites were identified during the rainy season (Ascaris 13/23(56.3%), Giardia 3/23(13.1%), Ancylostoma 4/23(17.4%) and Trichuris 3/23(13.1%) while a total of 18 parasites were extracted from the vegetables during the dry season (Ascaris 9/18(50%), Giardia 1/18(5.5%), Ancylostoma 3/18(16.7%) and Trichuris 5/18(27.8%). Carrot and tomatoes were the most statistically (P&gt;0.05) contaminated vegetables in the rainy and dry seasons respectively. All species of parasites identified have a high relative abundance in the rainy season than in the dry season. Ascaris sp. (56.5%) was the most abundant species of parasite in the rainy season, followed by Ancylostoma sp. (10.0%), Giardia sp. (7.5%) and Trichuris sp. (7.5%). In the dry season, Ascaris sp. had the most relative abundance (50.0%), followed by Trichuris sp. (27.8%), Ancylostoma sp. (7.5%) and Giardia sp. (2.5%). There was a statistically significance difference (P&lt;0.05) in the relative abundance of parasite species in the rainy and dry seasons. The high level of parasitic contamination of vegetables recorded in the study area is a public health concern and demands serious intervention especially in areas of health education on personal hygiene, sanitation and the danger of consumption of improperly washed vegetables, provision of sanitary facilities, mass deworming, open defecation and use of waste water for fertilizer.

Soil-transmitted helminthes and Schistosoma mansoni infections among primary school children at Ambasame primary school, North-West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSchistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) are the major public health problem in the world especially in school age children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the burden of soil transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among Ambesame primary school children, North-West Ethiopia.MethodA cross sectional study was carried out at Ambasame primary school children from March to May, 2019. Study participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic characteristics and other factors were collected using structured questionnaire. Moreover, stool samples were examined microscopically using wet mount and formol ether concentration techniques. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analysis was done to investigate the association between dependent and independent variables. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultThe overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 117(31.2%). The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthes and S.mansoni was 110 (29.3%) using formol ether concentration technique. The most predominant parasite was S. mansoni (10.7%), followed by hookworm (5.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that, helminthic infection was associated with children less than 7 years of age (P-value = 0.019, AOR = 3.29, 95% CI (1.21–8.91)); fathers who are able to read and write (P-value< 0.001, AOR = 5.4, 95% CI (2.37–12.33)); absence of latrine (P-value = 0.016, AOR = 12.96, 95% CI (1.60–104.87)) and untrimmed nail (P-value = 0.043, AOR = 2.09, 95% CI (1.02–4.27)).ConclusionThis study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal helminthes among Ambasame primary school children was relatively high. The lower educational status of father, absence of latrine and untrimmed finger nail showed statistically significant association with intestinal helminthic infection. This indicates the school community, health offices and other stakeholders should plan a strategy to tackle problems associated with sanitary condition. Furthermore, Health policy makers, healthcare workers and health extension workers should enhance their effort of awareness creation for school children, parents, school community about personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, intestinal parasites transmission, prevention and control. Moreover, mass deworming of school children and periodic screening for parasitic infection should be done.