Helminth Infections Research Articles

Immune response, oxidative stress, and histological changes of Wistar rats after being administered with Parascaris equorum antigen

Worldwide, particularly in developing nations, helminth infections are the leading causes of livestock illness and mortality. Parascaris (P.) equorum, a parasitic worm from the Ascarididae family, significantly impacts the production, health, and working performance of equines. This study aimed to investigate the impact of intraperitoneal sensitization of P. equorum on the immune system, oxidative stress, and histology in Wistar rats. After acclimatization for 7 days, we divided the rats into five groups, each consisting of six rats. Group I, serving as the control, was administered distilled water, followed by groups II (day 7), III (day 14), IV (day 21), and V (day 33). The rats were euthanized every day mentioned (Days 7–33). On day 0, a dosage of 1ml/100 gm rat (containing 500 μg/ml protein content) emulsified crude antigen extract with an incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (1:1 volume), followed by a second dose of the same antigen concentration on day 7. To assess the allergenicity of this nematode, we measured a whole blood profile, serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-33, total immunoglobulins IgE and IgG, and oxidative stress markers. Also, we examined histological changes in the liver, kidney, and spleen. The results showed that values of total leukocyte count, granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes were significantly (P < 0.05) increased on day 14 post-infection relative to other days of investigation. It was found that the levels of total immunoglobulins (IgE and IgG) and cytokines (INF-γ, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33) on days 14 and 21 were significantly higher than in the control group. At all periods of the experiment, the injected group exhibited significantly higher concentrations of MDA and NO compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, GSH and CAT levels (P < 0.05) dropped significantly on days 7, 14, and 21. Different rat tissues showed alterations. Ultimately, this study described the detrimental effects of P. equorum crude antigen administration on the immune system, oxidative states, and histological changes of Wistar rats at various intervals.

Temporal dynamics in gastrointestinal helminth infections of sympatric mouse lemur species (Microcebus murinus and Microcebus ravelobensis) in Northwestern Madagascar

Madagascar's lemur populations are declining in dwindling habitats due to anthropogenic expansion and changing climatic conditions. Gastrointestinal parasites can be important indicators to assess the health status of threatened species. However, parasites, hosts and the environment are connected in complex interactions. The present study aimed to disentangle the impact of seasonal and several host-specific factors (sex, species, age, reproductive status, and body mass) on endoparasitism in two small-bodied, co-occurring lemur species (Microcebus murinus and Microcebus ravelobensis) in the Ankarafantsika National Park. Helminth prevalence and egg shedding intensity was investigated via copromicroscopic examination of 810 fecal samples that were obtained from 178 individuals across an 11-month period with a longitudinal approach via repeated captures in a 30.6 ha forest area. Both mouse lemur hosts shed seven morphologically distinct egg types (assigned to Subulura baeri, unidentified Enterobiinae, Spirura sp., Lemuricola sp., two Hymenolepididae spp., one unidentified ascarid). Postmortem examination of two deceased individuals enabled assignment of adult worms to egg morphotypes of S. baeri, Spirura sp. and one Hymenolepididae sp., supported by molecular analysis. A significant seasonal variation was observed in the occurrence of the three most common helminth species S. baeri (total prevalence 71%), unidentified Enterobiinae (46%) and Spirura sp. (38%), with a higher likelihood of infection with advancing dry season. Neither host species, sex nor reproductive status had a significant effect on gastrointestinal helminth infections. Host body mass showed pronounced seasonal changes but did not differ significantly between infected and non-infected individuals. The pathogenic effects of gastrointestinal helminths therefore likely remained within compensable limits in the studied mouse lemur populations. Our findings highlight the prominent influence of seasonal changes on helminth communities. The results of combined morphologic and genetic approaches can furthermore help to overcome limitations of parasite identification via copromicroscopy by linking egg morphology to DNA sequences.

Integrated Eco-Health approach significantly reduces helminth infections in endemic Khong islands with emphasis on Schistosoma mekongi

BackgroundHelminth infections, including Opisthorchis viverrini, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura, are prevalent in Khong district, Champasack province, southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mekongi is of public health concern on the islands of the Khong district. This study aimed to assess the impact of an Eco-Health/One-Health approach in combination with mass drug administration (MDA) to reduce these helminth infections.MethodsWe conducted a community intervention using a stepped-wedge trial approach on two endemic islands (Donsom and Donkhone) of the Khong district, Champasack province, Lao PDR, between April 2012 and March 2013. In each study village, 30–40 households were randomly selected. All members of selected households, who were at home during the study period were invited to participate in the study. A baseline study was conducted to assess helminth infections, knowledge attitudes and practices toward Schistosoma mekongi infection, behavior of open defecation and availability of latrine at home. After the baseline (T0), the Eco-Health/One-Health approach was implemented on Donsom (intervention) and Donkhone island (control). An assessment was conducted in 2014 (T1), one year after the completion of intervention implementation, to assess the short-term impact of the Eco-Health/One-Health approach on helminth infections and compare intervention and control islands. Later in 2015, the Eco-Health/One-Health approach was implemented on control island (Donkhone). After the implementation of intervention, the parasitological assessments were conducted annually in humans in 2015 (T2), in 2016 (T3) and in 2017 (T4), and in dogs in 2017 (T4) to evaluate the long-term impact of the intervention on helminth infections. Frequency was used to describe the prevalence of helminth infections. Logistic regression was applied to associate the KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices and open defecation behavior) and the reduction of helminth infections between intervention and control islands. The reduction in prevalence pre- and post-intervention was associated using a McNemar test. A two-independent sample t-test was applied to compare the mean eggs per gram (EPG) of helminth infections between control and intervention islands. A paired t-test test was used to compare the mean EPG of stool samples before (baseline) and after (follow-up) interventions for the two islands separately. A P-value lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsEco-Health/One-Health approach appears to be associated with reduction in prevalence of S. mekongi by 9.0% [odds ratio (OR) = 0.49, P = 0.003] compared to the use of mass drug administration alone (control island). Additionally, this intervention package significantly reduced O. viverrini infection by 20.3% (OR = 1.92, P < 0.001) and hookworm by 17.9% (OR = 0.71, P = 0.045), respectively. Annual parasitological assessments between 2012 and 2017 showed that the Eco-Health/One-Health approach, coupled with MDA, steadily reduced the prevalence of S. mekongi on the intervention island from 29.1% to 1.8% and on the control island from 28.4% to 3.1%, respectively.ConclusionsThe study findings suggest that the Eco-Health/One-Health approach appears to be associated with a significant reduction in prevalence of S. mekongi and helminth co-infections, particularly hookworm and T. trichiura. Therefore, implementing the Eco-Health/One-Health approach in schistosomiasis-endemic areas could accelerate the achievement of national goals for transmission interruption by 2025 and elimination by 2030.

The amalgam of naive CD4+ T cell transcriptional states is reconfigured by helminth infection to dampen the amplitude of the immune response

Naive CD4+ Tcells in specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice are characterized by transcriptional heterogeneity and subpopulations distinguished by the expression of quiescence, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cytoskeleton, type I interferon (IFN-I) response, memory-like, and Tcell receptor (TCR) activation genes. We demonstrate that this constitutive heterogeneity, including the presence of the IFN-I response cluster, is commensal independent insofar as being identical in germ-free and SPF mice. By contrast, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection altered this constitutive heterogeneity. Naive Tcell-intrinsic transcriptional changes acquired during helminth infection correlated with and accounted for decreased immunization response to an unrelated antigen. These compositional and functional changes were dependent variables of helminth infection, as they disappeared at the established time point of its clearance in mice. Collectively, our results indicate that the naive Tcell pool is subject to dynamic transcriptional changes in response to certain environmental cues, which in turn permutes the magnitude of the immune response.

Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-aged children in five districts in Uganda.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, commonly caused by roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale), were widespread among Ugandan schoolchildren in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since 2003, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has administered biannual preventive chemotherapy to children aged 1-14 years to control these infections. Twenty years after the program's inception, there is scant data to show the long-term impact of these national deworming efforts. To estimate the prevalence and intensity of STH infections among 10-14-year-old primary school children, school-based, cross-sectional surveys were conducted in November 2023 across five districts (Kamwenge, Sheema, Adjumani, Lamwo, and Zombo). Sixty-five children from five schools per district were selected for inclusion. Fecal egg counts were determined using the Kato-Katz microscopy technique, performed in duplicate by trained laboratory technicians. The survey findings revealed a high prevalence of any STH infection in Kamwenge District (21.2%, 95% confidence limits (CL): 5.7%, 36.6%), while the remaining four districts exhibited lower prevalences, ranging from 0.4% (95% CL: 0.0%, 1.2%) in Adjumani District to 5.6% (95% CL: 0.0%, 11.4%) in Sheema District. The prevalence of moderate-to-heavy-intensity infections was below 1% across all districts. A. lumbricoides was identified infrequently. Hookworm infections were primarily identified in the western districts of Kamwenge and Sheema, while T. trichiura infections were common only in Kamwenge District. Hookworm and T. trichiura infections were uncommon in the northern districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, and Zombo. These surveys suggest that morbidity due to STH infections among schoolchildren may be well controlled in these five districts, as evidenced by low moderate-to-heavy-intensity infection prevalence. However, the prevalence of any intensity infection remains elevated in some districts, indicating the need for continued preventive chemotherapy distribution. A reduction from biannual treatment may be warranted in four districts, per World Health Organization recommendations.

Enhancing the therapeutic potential of P29 protein-targeted monoclonal antibodies in the management of alveolar echinococcosis through CDC-mediated mechanisms.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a highly lethal helminth infection. Current chemotherapeutic strategies for AE primarily involve the use of benzimidazoles (BZs) such as mebendazole (MDZ) and albendazole (ABZ), which exhibit limited efficacy. In a previous study, the vaccine of recombinant Echinococcus granulosus P29 (rEgP29) showed significant immunoprotection against E. granulosus in both mice and sheep. In the current study, we utilized hybridoma technology to generate five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against P29, among which 4G10F4 mAb exhibited the highest antigen-specific binding capacity. This mAb was selected for further investigation of anti-AE therapy, both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, 4G10F4 inhibited a noteworthy inhibition of E. multilocularis protoscoleces and primary cells viability through complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) mechanism. In vivo, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Em protoscoleces, and subsequently treated with 4G10F4 mAb (2.5/5/10 mg/kg) at 12 weeks postinfection once per week for 8 times via tail vein injection. Mice that were treated with 4G10F4 mAb only in dosage of 5mg/kg exhibited a significant lower mean parasite burden (0.89±0.97 g) compared to isotype mAb treated control mice (2.21±1.30 g). In the second experiment, mice were infected through hepatic portal vein and treated with 4G10F4 mAb (5mg/kg) at one week after surgery once per week for 8 times. The numbers of hepatic metacestode lesions of the 4G10F4 treatment group were significantly lower in comparison to the isotype control group. Pathological analysis revealed severe disruption of the inner structure of the metacestode in both experiments, particularly affecting the germinal and laminated layers, resulting in the transformation into infertile vesicles after treatment with 4G10F4. In addition, the safety of 4G10F4 for AE treatment was confirmed through assessment of mouse weight and evaluation of liver and kidney function. This study presents antigen-specific monoclonal antibody immunotherapy as a promising therapeutic approach against E. multilocularis induced AE.

Efficacy and safety of emodepside compared with albendazole in adolescents and adults with hookworm infection in Pemba Island, Tanzania: a double-blind, superiority, phase 2b, randomised controlled trial

Human hookworm is a cause of enormous global morbidity. Current treatments have insufficient efficacy and their extensive and indiscriminate distribution could also result in drug resistance. Therefore, we tested the efficacy and safety of emodepside, a strong anthelmintic candidate that is currently undergoing clinical development for onchocerciasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections. We conducted a double-blind, superiority, phase 2b, randomised controlled clinical trial comparing emodepside and albendazole. Participants in the emodepside group received six 5 mg tablets of emodepside (totalling 30 mg) and one placebo; participants in the albendazole group received one 400 mg tablet of albendazole and six placebos. Participants were recruited from four endemic villages and three secondary schools in Pemba Island, Tanzania. Participants aged 12-60 years were eligible for treatment if they were positive for hookworm infection, and they had 48 or more eggs per gram from four Kato-Katz thick smears and at least two slides had more than one hookworm egg present. Participants' treatment allocation was stratified by infection intensity and efficacy was measured by cure rate: participants who were hookworm positive and became hookworm negative after treatment. Adverse events were reported at 3 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 14-21 days post-treatment. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05538767. From Sept 15 to Nov 8, 2022, and from Feb 15 to March 15, 2023, 1609 individuals were screened for hookworm. Of these, 293 individuals were treated: 147 with albendazole and 146 with emodepside. Emodepside demonstrated superiority, with an observed cure rate against hookworm of 96·6%, which was significantly higher compared with albendazole (cure rate 81·2%, odds ratio 0·14, 95% CI 0·04-0·35; p=0·0001). The most common adverse event in the emodepside treatment group was vision blur at 3 h after treatment (57 [39%] of 146). Other common adverse events were vision blur at 24 h after treatment (55 [38%]), and headache and dizziness at 3 h after treatment (55 [38%] for headache and 43 [30%] for dizziness). In the emodepside treatment group, 298 (93%) of the 319 adverse events were mild. The most commonly reported adverse events in the albendazole treatment group were headache and dizziness at 3 h after treatment (27 [18%] of 147 for headache and 14 [10%] for dizziness). No serious adverse events were reported. This phase 2b clinical trial confirms the high efficacy of emodepside against hookworm infections, solidifying emodepside as a promising anthelmintic candidate. However, although the observed safety events were generally mild in severity, considerations must be made to balance the strong efficacy outcomes with the increased frequency of adverse events compared with albendazole. European Research Council.

Crotonoids A-H, Labdane-Type Diterpenoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Croton Sublyratus.

Croton sublyratus (Euphorbiaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant used by the Thai populace to treat helminthic infections and dermatologic conditions. In present study, eight new labdane-type diterpenoids, crotonoids A-H (1-8) and one known analogue (9) were isolated from the aerial parts of C. sublyratus. Compounds 6 and 7 belong to the rare class of 14,15-dinor-labdane diterpenoids. Compound 8 exhibited a rare 14,15,17-trinor-labdane skeleton. The structures of all these diterpenoids were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 9 exhibited moderate anti-inflammatory activity via the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Scaffolds imparting anthelmintic activity: recent advancements and SAR studies.

Helminthiasis, affecting billions globally, poses a significant health concern, especially in impoverished regions with inadequate sanitation. The intricate anatomical complexity of helminths requires specialized treatment approaches. There is currently no effective vaccine against helminth infections. Anthelmintics, crucial for combating these infections, target neuromuscular functions in parasites without harming the host. However, the emergence of resistance to existing anthelmintics, notably benzimidazoles, presents a growing global challenge. This review delves into the structure-activity relationship of previously synthesized core anthelmintic scaffolds-Benzimidazole, coumarin, pyrazoline, triazole, and others-to elucidate their promising anthelmintic activities. Understanding the structure-activity relationship of these novel benzimidazole derivatives, Coumarin derivatives, and others is crucial in designing potent anthelmintics, overcoming resistance, and optimizing efficacy to combat the escalating global burden of helminth infections. In the present review, we cover recently studied compounds (from the year 2019 to till date) which have promising anthelmintic activity. This review will be useful for the pharmacology and medicinal chemistry researchers working in the area anthelmintics with various scaffolds like aminobenzothiazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, coumarin, chromene, spiroketal, pyrazoline, triazole, etc. to design novel potent anthelmintic compound.

Loss of Elp3 blocks intestinal tuft cell differentiation via an mTORC1-Atf4 axis

Intestinal tuft cells are critical for anti-helminth parasite immunity because they produce IL-25, which triggers IL-13 secretion by activated group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) to expand both goblet and tuft cells. We show that epithelial Elp3, a tRNA-modifying enzyme, promotes tuft cell differentiation and is consequently critical for IL-25 production, ILC2 activation, goblet cell expansion and control of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis helminth infection in mice. Elp3 is essential for the generation of intestinal immature tuft cells and for the IL-13-dependent induction of glycolytic enzymes such as Hexokinase 1 and Aldolase A. Importantly, loss of epithelial Elp3 in the intestine blocks the codon-dependent translation of the Gator1 subunit Nprl2, an mTORC1 inhibitor, which consequently enhances mTORC1 activation and stabilizes Atf4 in progenitor cells. Likewise, Atf4 overexpression in mouse intestinal epithelium blocks tuft cell differentiation in response to intestinal helminth infection. Collectively, our data define Atf4 as a negative regulator of tuft cells and provide insights into promotion of intestinal type 2 immune response to parasites through tRNA modifications.

Personal Hygiene Practices To Reduce The Risk Of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection In Farmers

Backgrounds: Soil-transmitted Helminths infections have become a frequent phenomenon among farmers due to their lack of hygiene, making it easy for nematode worms to enter the body. Soil-transmitted helminths can affect nutritional status, resulting in anemia, loss of appetite, and damage to the intestines. To overcome this phenomenon, adequate personal hygiene in farmers is needed. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze how personal hygiene can affect the incidence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths infection. Methods: The method used is a literature review using 10 kinds of literature from 3 sources, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct with a publication range from 2020-2024. Result: The results showed that some articles showed an association between personal hygiene and the incidence of soil-transmitted helminths. Good personal hygiene can prevent the entry of nematode worms into the digestive tract of the body. Besides that, some articles also showed no association between personal hygiene and soil-transmitted helminth infection. Conclusion: Adequate personal hygiene such as always using gloves and complete personal protective equipment while working, always washing hands before eating, and maintaining environmental hygiene is needed by farmers to avoid the incidence of soil-transmitted helminth infection.

Risk Factors Association of Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections Among Primary School Children in Kano, northern Nigeria

Risk Factors Association of Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections Among Primary School Children in Kano, northern Nigeria

Prevalence, Infection Intensity, and Risk Factors for Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections among School Children in Northwestern Tanzania.

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are among the neglected tropical diseases and infect more than 24% of the world population. The World Health Organization recommends regular monitoring of STH's prevalence and intensity following mass drug administrations to evaluate their effectiveness and inform future control strategies. This study evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of STH infections among school children aged 6 to 14 years old in northwestern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 728 school children in the Kagera region in 2021. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the risk factors. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique. The data were analysed using STATA. The overall prevalence of STH was 56.2% (95% CI: 52.5-59.8, 409/728). About 5.7% and 1.1% of the infected children had moderate-intensity infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, respectively. Risk factors included the mother's occupation as a farmer (aOR: 1.2, p = 0.002) and not washing hands with water and soap (aOR: 1.4, p = 0.035). Washing one's hands after using the toilet (aOR: 0.6; p = 0.024) is a preventive measure against STH infections. STH was prevalent in the study area. The mother's occupation (farmer) and the lack of handwashing with water and soap influenced STH transmission. Conversely, washing hands after visiting the toilet and after playing with soil reduced the risk of STH infection.

Modulation of the intestinal mucosal and cell-mediated response against natural helminth infection in the African catfish Clarias gariepinus

Fish gut is a versatile organ serving as the primary pathway for invasion by pathogens, particularly parasites, playing a crucial role in modulating the intestinal adaptive immune response. This study aimed to investigate the cellular-mediated reaction, mucosal acidity, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD68 in the intestines of catfish, Clarias gariepinus, naturally infected with helminths. Forty catfish were collected from the Nile River and examined for intestinal parasites. The intestinal tissues of the control and infected fish were fixed for histochemical and immunohistochemical studies. Two groups of helminths were found: cestodes Tetracampos ciliotheca and Polyonchobothrium clarias, and nematodes Paracamallanus cyathopharynx, with a prevalence rate of 63.63%, 18.0%, and 18.0%, respectively. Our results showed that the infected fish had a statistically significant rise in the activity of immune cells, including mast cells, eosinophil granular cells, and dendritic cells. This correlated with upregulation in the expressions of PCNA, VEGF, and CD68. Histochemical analyses demonstrated a marked increase in acidic mucus production, Sudan black B, and bromophenol mercury blue. This study enriches our understanding of the evolution of vertebrate immunity in combating intestinal parasitic infections and the host’s adaptive responses.

Effects of household concrete floors on maternal and child health - the CRADLE trial: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

Early life soil-transmitted helminth infection and diarrhea are associated with growth faltering, anemia, impaired child development, and mortality. Exposure to fecally contaminated soil inside the home may be a key contributor to enteric infections, and a large fraction of rural homes in low-income countries have soil floors. The objective of this study is to measure the effect of installing concrete floors in homes with soil floors on child soil-transmitted helminth infection and other maternal and child health outcomes in rural Bangladesh. The Cement-based flooRs AnD chiLd hEalth (CRADLE) trial is an individually randomised trial in Sirajganj and Tangail districts, Bangladesh. Households with a pregnant woman, a soil floor, walls that are not made of mud will be eligible, and no plan to relocate for 3 years. We will randomise 800 households to intervention or control (1:1) within geographic blocks of 10 households to account for strong geographic clustering of enteric infection. Laboratory staff and data analysts will be blinded; participants will be unblinded. We will install concrete floors when the birth cohort is in utero and measure outcomes at child ages 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The primary outcome is prevalence of any soil-transmitted helminth infection (Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, or Trichuris trichiura) detected by qPCR at 6, 12, 18, or 24 months follow-up in the birth cohort. Secondary outcomes include household floor and child hand contamination with E. coli, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli, and soil-transmitted helminth DNA; child diarrhea, growth, and cognitive development; and maternal stress and depression. Study protocols have been approved by institutional review boards at Stanford University and the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). We will report findings on ClinicalTrials.gov, in peer-reviewed publications, and in stakeholder workshops in Bangladesh. NCT05372068, pre-results.

Gut microbiota metabolically mediate intestinal helminth infection in Zebrafish.

Intestinal helminth parasite (IHP) infection induces alterations in the composition of microbial communities across vertebrates, although how gut microbiota may facilitate or hinder parasite infection remains poorly defined. In this work we utilized a zebrafish model to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota, gut metabolites, and IHP infection. We found that extreme disparity in zebrafish parasite infection burden is linked to the composition of the gut microbiome, and that changes in the gut microbiome are associated with variation in a class of endogenously-produced signaling compounds, N-acylethanolamines, that are known to be involved in parasite infection. Using a statistical mediation analysis, we uncovered a set of gut microbes whose relative abundance explains the association between gut metabolites and infection outcomes. Experimental investigation of one of the compounds in this analysis reveals salicylaldehyde, which is putatively produced by the gut microbe Pelomonas, as a potent anthelmintic with activity against Pseudocapillaria tomentosa egg hatching, both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of the gut microbiome as a mediating agent in parasitic infection and highlights specific gut metabolites as tools for the advancement of novel therapeutic interventions against IHP infection.

Rapid qualitative and quantitative vital nutrient contents in high-altitude cultivated folklore herbal medicinal Costus roots using calibration-free LIBS

Costus Roots (CRs) (Saussurea lappa C.B. Clark- Asteraceae family) is a medicinal herb, very frequently utilized in developing countries for treating worm (nematode) infections, asthma, cholera, digestive problems and in cosmetics products. Due to its widespread consumption in developing countries to determine the health-related essential nutrients and toxic elements is of great significance. This study is highly noteworthy for prominence of therapeutic benefits of the CR roots and public awareness about their harmful effects even for producing herbal drugs derived from its roots. In this study, a very efficient, precise and rapid laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) method was developed to measure the content of the dried and pelletized CRs powder samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is first time that Costus roots have been studied using calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS) technique. Initially, the LIBS spectrometer parameters were optimized at 608.3 nm gated-time delay, 35 mJ incident laser pulse energy, and 29 mm laser-to-sample distance (LTSD)) for precise element detection before its application to the CRs analysis. The primary focus of this study is the identification and quantification of various nutrients, such as Ca, K, Mg, Si, S, P, Fe, and Na, as well as relatively toxic elements, such as Al, Ba, Mn, Zn, Sr, B, Cu, Rb, Cr, Ni, Pb, V, and Mo, in addition to Li, Ti in this native CRs herbal medicine. The concentrations of these detected elements (Ca, K, Mg, Si, S, P, Al, Fe, Na, Ti, Ba, Mn, Zn, Sr, B, Cu, Rb, Cr, Ni, Pb, V, Mo, and Li) were successfully determined as 14424, 9511, 2031, 1559, 1450, 1465, 678, 458, 59, 48, 47, 37, 37, 27, 19, 19.6, 15, 2.6, 1.5, 1.5, 1.2, 1.0 and 0.9 mg.kg−1 respectively which was in a excellent agreement with the concentrations measured using the standard ICP-OES technique.

Effectiveness of behaviour change interventions to reduce the risk of faecal contamination in urban irrigated vegetable value chains – applying the COM-B behavioural framework

ABSTRACT In low- and middle-income countries, inadequate sanitation results in faecal contamination of the water used by urban farmers for irrigation. Consumers of raw contaminated vegetables run the risk of developing diarrhoeal diseases and helminth infections, which are a leading cause of under-five mortality and impact the well-being and productivity of millions of adults. This review identifies the evidence base for assessing which factors determine the success and/or failure of interventions that aim to manage the risk of faecal contamination in the urban irrigated vegetable value chain. We carried out a systematic search of the literature from the perspective of the COM-B behaviour framework (Capability + Opportunity + Motivation = Behaviour). Our results reveal that most interventions address stakeholders’ opportunity or capability to adopt safe practices without adequately considering their motivation. Interventions often focus on one sector rather than on the whole value chain (sanitation, agriculture, trade, consumption). To effectively change hygiene and food safety practices in the urban irrigated vegetable value chain, stakeholders’ intrinsic motivations need to be identified. Where WHO's multi-barrier approach is the best option, we recommend building on local multistakeholder platforms and adopting a behaviour change framework to support the largely technical change from farm to fork.

Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthes among School-Aged Children in Ife Central Local Government, Nigeria: Implications for Targeted Interventions

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are a major health concern for children in developing countries. This study assesses the prevalence and intensity of STHs among pupils in private nursery and primary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted in Ife Central LGA, Osun State, Nigeria, involving preschool and school-aged children from two private schools. A total of 55 samples, from 22 male and 33 female pupils, were analyzed for intestinal parasite ova to determine the prevalence of helminth infections among the children. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Consent was secured from parents or guardians. Samples were processed using the modified Kato-Katz technique and examined microscopically for soil-transmitted helminth (STH) eggs. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with significance set at p &lt; 0.05. Results: Among the 55 fecal samples collected, the overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections was 78.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides were the most prevalent helminth (76.4%), followed by Trichuris trichiuria (14.5%) and hookworms (5.5%). Females had a higher infection rate (81.8%) than males (68.2%). The prevalence of STH infections was highest among pupils aged ≥10 years (81.8%) and lowest among those aged 2-3 years (66.7%). Conclusion: This study highlights a significant burden of STH infections, particularly A. lumbricoides, among schoolchildren in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The high prevalence necessitates targeted deworming and improved sanitation interventions to reduce the burden of these infections among children in this region.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to soil-transmitted helminth infections among residents of Bata district, Equatorial Guinea; a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection control remains a priority in endemic regions where local epidemiological data are needed for sustainable control strategies, particularly regarding population knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Our work assessed KAP toward STH infection and associated factors among residents of Bata district, Equatorial Guinea.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 14 randomly selected communities in the Bata district. Eligible participants were interviewed face-to-face using a standardized questionnaire. Participants aged under 18 years were interviewed in the presence of their parents or legal guardians. For participants aged less than ten, a simplified version of the main questionnaire was developed focusing on children’s practices toward STH and was administered to their parents or legal guardians.ResultsA total of 399 participants were included in the present analysis. Among them, 58% responded to the main questionnaire. The mean (± SD) age of participants aged 10 and over was 37.5 (± 22.2) years, and 60% of them were females, while the mean (± SD) age of those aged less than ten was 5.0 (± 2.5) years. The respondents’ overall knowledge, attitudes, and practices to STH were rated as bad (33%), very good (77%), and good (55%), respectively. Knowledge was significantly associated with education level (p = 0.04) with the knowledge level lower for participants with no formal education than for those with secondary/university education (β = -0.56, 95% CI: -1.00 – -0.12, p = 0.01); Appropriate attitudes level was significantly associated with occupation (p = 0.02) and education levels (p = 0.049) with the appropriate attitude level lower for students than for farmers/fishers (β = -1.24, 95% CI: -2.17—-0.32, p = 0.01) and for primary-level participants than for those with secondary/university education (β = -0.68, 95% CI: -1.23—-0.13, p = 0.02); while appropriate practice level were significantly associated with age (p = 0.01), occupation (p = 0.01), and education (p = 0.02), with the appropriate practices level increasing with age (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.005 – 0.05, p = 0.01) and lower in participants with no formal education than in those with secondary/university education (β = -1.19, -2.05 – -0.32, p = 0.007).ConclusionThe present study revealed a lack of knowledge about STH in the study population, particularly regarding disease causes and transmission ways, highlighting the need for the implementation of integrated health education strategies, both at the community and school levels.