Parasite Epidemiology and Control最新文献

{"title":"Extrinsic and intrinsic drivers of prevalence and abundance of hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)","authors":"Rachid Chaibi ,&nbsp;Nora Mimoune ,&nbsp;Farouk Benaceur ,&nbsp;Latifa Stambouli ,&nbsp;Lamine Hamida ,&nbsp;Rabah Khedim ,&nbsp;Radhwane Saidi ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hocine Benaissa ,&nbsp;Hicham Gouzi ,&nbsp;Souad Neffar ,&nbsp;Haroun Chenchouni","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Ticks are ectoparasites and can be vectors of a wide range of pathogens, posing significant health risks to livestock. In the Sahara Desert of Algeria, particularly among one-humped camels (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em>), there is a need to better understand the factors influencing tick infestation patterns to improve livestock management and health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity, and abundance of hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) among dromedaries, examining both intrinsic factors (sex, age, coat color) and extrinsic variables (farming systems, vegetation types, climate zones, and elevation) that might influence tick infestation in this region.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ticks were collected from 286 dromedaries across nine sites in the pre-Saharan regions of Algeria, with elevations ranging from 736 m to 980 m. The sampled camels, which ranged in age from 6 days to 21 years, were examined for tick infestations. The ticks were identified through macroscopic and microscopic methods, and their abundance was analyzed in relation to the camels' characteristics and environmental factors. Three breeding systems were recognized: extensive, intensive, and mixed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 980 ticks were collected, with <em>Hyalomma dromedarii</em> Koch, 1844 being the most abundant species (553 specimens), followed by <em>Hyalomma impeltatum</em> Schulze &amp; Schlottke, 1930 (393 specimens), and <em>Hyalomma excavatum</em> Koch, 1844 (34 specimens). <em>H. dromedarii</em> showed a preference for parasitizing brown-coated dromedaries and exhibited significantly higher infestation levels during spring (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). No significant association was observed between tick infestation and the camels' age or sex (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). However, the farming system had a significant impact on tick abundance, with extensive and mixed systems showing higher tick burdens compared to intensive systems (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Additionally, the vegetation type, climate zone, and foraging habitat elevation were found to significantly influence tick densities and prevalence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides essential insights into the tick infestation dynamics in dromedaries in drylands of Algeria. It highlights the influence of coat color, seasonality, and farming practices on tick burden, with brown-coated camels being more susceptible during the spring. The findings underline the importance of considering both intrinsic and extrinsic factors when developing effective tick control strategies, especially for camels raised in extensive or mixed farming systems in diverse arid rangelands. Future research should expand the scope to cover other arid regions in North Africa for a comprehensive understanding of tick-host dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An update on Leishmania martiniquensis infections: Transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment","authors":"Somayyeh Ahmadi ,&nbsp;Maryam Hataminejad ,&nbsp;Bahman Rahimi Esboei ,&nbsp;Seyed Abdollah Hosseini ,&nbsp;Mahdi Fakhar","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis, caused by intracellular protozoa of the <em>Leishmania</em> genus, continues to be a global health issue, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually worldwide. The disease is transmitted via the bite of infected female sand flies of the genus <em>Phlebotomus</em>, resulting in a range of symptoms known as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. The species <em>Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis</em>, discovered in 1995, has been linked to cases in individuals with HIV, presenting with diverse clinical pictures. Interestingly, biting midges, not sandflies, has proved to serve as its potentially biological vector. This study focuses on understanding the transmission, clinical aspects, and effective treatment of L. <em>martiniquensis</em> infections.</div><div>A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant published papers on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment of L. <em>martiniquensis</em> up to August 2024. The clinical manifestations encompass localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is associated with comorbidities such as inadequate nutrition, population displacement, and reduced immunity. Risk factors for <em>Leishmania</em> infection include the presence of domestic animals, age, gender, and environmental factors. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB) is the main treatment. Combination therapy with allicin and andrographolide may reduce AmB side effects. Recent research investigates other treatments including 8-hydroxyquinoline, which works synergistically with AmB against L. <em>martiniquensis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A randomized controlled trial of Tickoff® (Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 7) for control of tick infestations and transmission of tick-borne infections in extensively grazed zebu cattle in coastal Kenya","authors":"Joseph Wang’ang’a Oundo ,&nbsp;Shewit Kalayou ,&nbsp;Gerrit Gort ,&nbsp;Gebbiena M. Bron ,&nbsp;Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt ,&nbsp;Quirine ten Bosch ,&nbsp;Daniel Masiga","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The entomopathogenic fungus <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> isolate ICIPE 7 is being developed as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical acaricides in managing natural tick infestation on livestock. Its impact on tick infestation and tick-borne infections in cattle under natural conditions are yet unclear. We conducted a randomized controlled field trial to assess the safety and effects of Tickoff® (a formulation of <em>M. anisopliae</em> isolate ICIPE 7) and the chemical acaricide Triatix® on tick infestation and incidence of <em>Anaplasma marginale</em> and <em>Theileria parva</em> in extensively grazed zebu cattle in coastal Kenya. A total of 217 eligible herds comprising 1459 intent-to-treat zebu cattle were enrolled from 12 villages. The herds were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to Tickoff®, Triatix®, or Tickoff® excipients. Tick counts, treatment administrations, and adverse events were registered every two weeks for seven months. The mortality of ticks collected from treated cattle was monitored in vitro. Infections with <em>A. marginale</em> and <em>T. parva</em> were monitored every two months. No adverse events were reported in either treatment group. Tickoff® did not significantly affect tick infestation (<em>p</em> = 0.869) or infection incidence (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05) compared to excipients. Triatix® significantly reduced tick infestation (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and incidence of <em>T. parva</em> (<em>p</em> = 0.042), but not <em>A. marginale</em> (<em>p</em> = 0.509) compared to the reference Tickoff®. In ticks that were removed from cattle, Tickoff® demonstrated significant pathogenicity in vitro relative to excipients (hazard ratio: 8.50, 95 % CI: 4.67–15.47). Fungus growth and sporulation were also observed on tick cadavers from Tickoff®, but not from excipients. While Tickoff® did not impact tick counts, its delayed, but significant effect on tick mortality may hinder onward pathogen transmission and give rise to indirect (i.e., to untreated animals) epidemiological effects, that were not picked up with this study design. Additionally, adverse environmental conditions resulted in low tick abundance and pathogen circulation towards the end of the study period, reducing the power of the study. This work re-emphasizes the challenges of randomized controlled field trials and the complexity of assessing the impact of vector control products on both direct and indirect impacts on pathogen transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cutaneous leishmaniasis in British troops following jungle training in Belize: Cumulative incidence and potential risk practices","authors":"Ngwa Niba Rawlings ,&nbsp;Mark Bailey ,&nbsp;Peter Craig ,&nbsp;Orin Courtenay","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>British soldiers undergoing jungle training in Belize typically experience a relatively low risk of developing cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, an uncharacteristically large outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred in 2022. This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence of the disease and highlight potential shortcomings in personal protective measures to mitigate exposure to sand fly vector bites.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases between 2005 and 2022, as well as on questionnaire responses regarding personal protective measures administered to cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in 2022. Data were sourced from Defence Public Health Unit, Military Environmental Health Department and British Army Training Support Unit Belize.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eighty-one confirmed clinical cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were recorded between 2005 and 2022, with a substantial peak (38 cases) in 2022. Most cases occurred during the wet season. Pre-2022, the median cumulative incidence per 8-week deployment was 0.90 % (Q1–Q3: 0.34 %–1.34 %), with an annual variation of 0.2 % to 2.0 %. In 2022, the cumulative incidence spiked to 4.22 %, associated with a risk ratio of 5.3 (95 % C.I.s, 3.41, 8.16), and rising to a cumulative incidence of 7.3 % in a single unit of 450 men (33 cases) in late 2022. These values are significantly higher than the median cumulative incidence of all previous years, and to published reports for other cutaneous leishmaniasis -endemic regions. Troop responses identified limitations in the supply of optimal equipment, and in sand fly bite and leishmaniasis risk avoidance information provided by the pre-deployment health education programme. Compliance with health education advise was also suboptimal, with irregular use of insect repellents, protective clothing / head netting, and insecticide-treated hammocks.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The reasons behind the unusually high numbers of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases and cumulative incidence in 2022 remain unclear, emphasising the need to improve personal protective measures provision and implement a comprehensive health education programme for troops undergoing jungle training in Belize.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00385"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vivo anti-schistosomal activity of the methanol extracts from Searsia longipes and Lannea schimperi","authors":"Nicolaus Omari Mbugi ,&nbsp;Geoffrey Maina ,&nbsp;Musa Chacha ,&nbsp;Ernest Mbega","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by the flat worms under the genus <em>Schistosoma</em>. The disease is prominent in tropical and sub tropical countries and it is manifested in two forms; the acute and the chronic form. Treatment and control of the schistosomiasis is constrained with various factors including immerging worm resistance and selective efficacy of the current recommended drug of choice. This therefore calls for the search of new approaches to offset the problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the methanolic extract from <em>Searsia longipes</em> and <em>Lannea schimperi</em> against <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> by using animal model. Swiss albino mice were used for the efficacy testing, whereby, for each extract, 5 groups of mice were used, and each contained 5 mice. Three different doses were administered to three groups, whereas the remaining two groups were used as negative and positive control arms. Efficacies were assessed based on the reduction of the worm eggs in the faeces and organs, body weight gain, loss of liver weight, as well as reduction of worm burden. Both extracts demonstrated significant egg and worm reduction, which was directly proportional to the dose increment. At the highest dose used, <em>Searsia longipes</em> expressed the higher percentage egg reduction (73.33 %), whereas <em>Lannea schimperi</em> demonstrated the higher worm burden reduction (68.53 %). The present study provides strong evidence of the anti-schistosomal activity of the extracts from both <em>S. longipes</em> and <em>L</em>. <em>schimperi</em>. These findings are a significant step forward, suggesting that these plants could be a promising alternative medicine for the treatment of schistosomiasis. However, further investigations are warranted to isolate the compound responsible for this activity and to assess the sub-acute toxicity of the plant extracts. This next phase of research is crucial for advancing our understanding and potential use of these plant extracts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00383"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Empowering rural communities for effective larval source management: A small-scale field evaluation of a community-led larviciding approach to control malaria in south-eastern Tanzania","authors":"Salum A. Mapua ,&nbsp;Alex J. Limwagu ,&nbsp;Dmitry Kishkinev ,&nbsp;Khamis Kifungo ,&nbsp;Ismail H. Nambunga ,&nbsp;Samuel Mziray ,&nbsp;Gwakisa John ,&nbsp;Wahida Mtiro ,&nbsp;Kusirye Ukio ,&nbsp;Javier Lezaun ,&nbsp;Frederic Tripet ,&nbsp;Fredros O. Okumu","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Larval source management, particularly larviciding, is mainly implemented in urban settings to control malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. In Tanzania, the government has recently expanded larviciding to rural settings across the country, but implementation faces multiple challenges, notably inadequate resources and limited know-how by technical staff. This study evaluated the potential of training community members to identify, characterize and target larval habitats of <em>Anopheles funestus</em> mosquitoes, the dominant vector of malaria transmission in south-eastern Tanzania.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A mixed-methods study was used. First, interviewer-administered questionnaires were employed to assess knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of community members towards larviciding (<em>N</em> = 300). Secondly community-based volunteers were trained to identify and characterize aquatic habitats of dominant malaria vector species, after which they treated the most productive habitats with a locally-manufactured formulation of the biolarvicide, <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> var. <em>israelensis</em>. Longitudinal surveys of mosquito adults and larvae were used to assess impacts of the community-led larviciding programme in two villages in rural south-eastern Tanzania.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At the beginning of the program, the majority of village residents were unaware of larviciding as a potential malaria prevention method, and about 20 % thought that larvicides could be harmful to the environment and other insects. The trained community volunteers identified and characterized 360 aquatic habitats, of which 45.6 % had <em>Anopheles funestus</em>, the dominant malaria vector in the area. The preferred larval habitats for <em>An. funestus</em> were deep and had either slow- or fast-moving waters. Application of biolarvicides reduced the abundance of adult <em>An. funestus</em> and <em>Culex</em> spp. species inside human houses in the same villages, by 46.3 % and 35.4 % respectively. Abundance of late-stage instar larvae of the same taxa was also reduced by 74 % and 42 %, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrates that training community members to identify, characterize, and target larval habitats of the dominant malaria vectors can be effective for larval source management in rural Tanzania. Community-led larviciding reduced the densities of adult and late-stage instar larvae of <em>An. funestus</em> and <em>Culex</em> spp. inside houses, suggesting that this approach may have potential for malaria control in rural settings. However, efforts are still needed to increase awareness of larviciding in the relevant communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological survey of two morphotypes of Demodex folliculorum (Prostigmata: Demodicidade) in young people from southern Spain","authors":"F.J. Márquez ,&nbsp;A.J. López-Montoya ,&nbsp;S. Sánchez-Carrión ,&nbsp;I. Dimov ,&nbsp;M. de Rojas","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Different morphotypes of <em>Demodex</em> from humans have been described. Among them, molecular studies have made it possible to discern between the <em>Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis</em>. Further studies showed two morphotypes of <em>D. folliculorum</em> harboured two different habits (human skin and human eyelashes), both of them with finger-shaped terminal opisthosoma difficult to differentiate and that can be assigned to <em>D. folliculorum,</em></div><div>Thus, a complete morphometric study of the species, which in this study are referred to as <em>Demodex folliculorum</em> species complex, was carried out. From this morphometric and meristic study two distinct morphological forms (short and long) could be identified within the <em>Demodex folliculorum</em> species complex. These forms differ significantly in four out of the six biometric parameters we analysed: gnathosomal length and width, podosomal width, and opisthosomal length. Moreover, a comprehensive survey of the two morphotypes from different habitats (skin and eyelashes), was carried out in young people of Southern Spain. Therefore, an analysis of 104 asymptomatic students, which were contact lens wearers, and the presence of <em>D. folliculorum</em> was carried out. A statistical analysis based on Bayesian zero inflated Poisson GLM has been applied to our sample data. For the age group considered (18–24 years old), the overall <em>D. folliculorum</em> prevalence for skin face or eye infections (at least one of them) was 19.31 % (51 people), with a statistically significant higher prevalence in <del>males</del> men. Furthermore, there is a slight statistical correlation between the presence of <em>Demodex</em> in silicone hydrogel soft contact lens wearers<em>.</em> This study confirms: i) the existence of two morphotypes of <em>D. folliculorum</em> that appear segregated due to the parasitization microhabitats,ii) a higher prevalence of mites in men than in women, iii) the existence of a high number of statistically supported double infections (skin-eyelashes). It also provides epidemiological data on the prevalence of long and short forms of <em>D. folliculorum</em> in a healthy young population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00381"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142425217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urogenital schistosomiasis among school children in northwestern Tanzania: Prevalence, intensity of infection, associated factors, and pattern of urinary tract morbidities","authors":"Nyanda C. Justine ,&nbsp;Titus R. Leeyio ,&nbsp;Antje Fuss ,&nbsp;Klaus Brehm ,&nbsp;Humphrey D. Mazigo ,&nbsp;Andreas Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00380","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The planning and implementation of intervention measures against schistosomiasis, particularly mass administration, require knowledge of the current status of the infection. This is important for monitoring the impact of the intervention on disease indicators such as a decline in infection prevalence, intensity of infection, and urogenital morbidities. Following repeated rounds of mass treatment in northwestern Tanzania, the epidemiology of urogenital schistosomiasis has changed; thus, for the effective planning and allocation of resources, it is important to understand the current status of the disease in the targeted groups. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence, intensity, and associated factors of &lt;em&gt;Schistosoma haematobium&lt;/em&gt; infection and urinary tract morbidities in school-aged children from northwestern Tanzania.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren aged 5–17 years between November and December 2022. A single urine sample was collected from each child and examined for the presence of &lt;em&gt;S. haematobium&lt;/em&gt; eggs and microhaematuria using a urine filtration technique and a urine reagent dipstick. Each child underwent an ultrasonographic examination of the urinary tract according to the World Health Organization standards (Niamey protocol) to detect &lt;em&gt;S. haematobium-related&lt;/em&gt; morbidities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Of the 3225 participants, 54.2 % were female, and the mean age was 10.9 (±1.89) years. The overall prevalence of &lt;em&gt;S. haematobium&lt;/em&gt; was 17.7 % (95 % CI: 16.4–19.1, 572/3225). Of the 572 infected children, 81.8 % (95 % CI: 78.4–84.9, 468/572) had light-intensity infections, and 18.2 % (95 % CI: 14.9–21.4, 104/572) had heavy-intensity infections. The prevalence of macro- and microhaematuria was 2.4 % (95 % CI: 1.9–3) and 18.5 % (95 % CI: 17.2–19.8), respectively. Age (aOR: 1.2, 95 % CI: 1.0–1.5), district of residence (aOR: 2.1, 95 % CI: 1.7–2.7) and history of schistosomiasis (aOR: 2.5, 95 % CI: 1.9–3.2) were significantly associated with urinary schistosomiasis infection. However, swallowing praziquantel during the last mass drug administration was protective (aOR 0.6, 95 % CI: 0.4–0.8). The overall prevalence of ultrasound-detectable urinary tract abnormalities was 9.9 % (95 % CI: 8.9–11.1, 299/2994) and included urinary bladder abnormalities in 9.9 % (95 % CI: 8.8–11, 297/2994), ureter abnormalities in 0.2 % (95 % CI: 0.07–0.4, 6/2994), and kidney abnormalities in 0.2 % (95 % CI: 0.09–0.4, 7/2994). Calcification of the urinary bladder was observed in 0.9 % (95 % CI: 0.6–1.3, 29/2994) of the examined children.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Schistosoma haematobium&lt;/em&gt; infection is still prevalent among schoolchildren in the study setting, and it causes substantial morbidity at an early age. Transmission is driven by the age of the child, district of resi","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00380"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000448/pdfft?md5=aa8527aed4d10ff6c0882edc11242e65&pid=1-s2.0-S2405673124000448-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and likelihood of asymptomatic malaria among community dwellers in the Fanteakwa south district of Ghana","authors":"Enoch Aninagyei ,&nbsp;David Adedia ,&nbsp;Gifty Larbi ,&nbsp;Stella Omane Acheampong ,&nbsp;Margaret Nyarko ,&nbsp;George Abeiku Abbew ,&nbsp;Isaac Tuwarlba ,&nbsp;Desmond Omane Acheampong","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural than peri-urban communities. Additionally, artisanal mining is prevalent in the district. Despite that the forgoing could promote high incidence of malaria, the burden of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors in the district have never been determined.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected communities in the FSD in the Eastern region of Ghana. The participating households were systematically selected, of which one household member was randomly enrolled in the study. With prior consent, 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the participants. Subsequently, the study variables were obtained from the enrolees using a structured questionnaire. The malaria status of the enrolled participants was determined using the CareStart™ malaria rapid diagnostic test kit (mRDT) (USA). The multiple logistic regression model was used to fit the model to predict the groups at risk of <em>P. falciparum</em> infection in the district.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>In total, 412 study participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the district was 43.4 % (179/412). The prevalence rate was 36.9 %, 27.7 %, 50 % and 58.8 % (&lt;0.001) respectively for the Dwenase, Bosusu, Nsutam and Osino communities. Living at Bosusu (<em>p</em> = 0.045, AOR = 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.96), Dwenase (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001, AOR = 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.30) and Nsutam (p &lt; 0.001, AOR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.45) were less likely to contract malaria compared to Osino dwellers. Furthermore, pregnant women (<em>p</em> = 0.024, COR = 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.9) and individuals who do not share mosquito nets with others (<em>p</em> = 0.017, COR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.25–0.88) were less likely to contract malaria. Moreover, being an adolescent (<em>p</em> = 0.048, COR = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.00–3.73), living in mining communities (<em>p</em> = 0.002, COR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.27–3.05), being nocturnally active (<em>p</em> = 0.001, AOR = 4.64, 95 % CI: 1.97–11.31), living in a medium quality house (<em>p</em> = 0.031, AOR = 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.09–5.00), schooling in the district (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and body temperature above &gt;37.5 °C (&lt;0.001), were predictors of asymptomatic malaria.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The burden of asymptomatic malaria is high in the Fanteakwa South district. In this context, the implementation of the ‘mass strategy’ recommended by the World Health Organization will play a key role in eliminating malaria in the district.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00378"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000424/pdfft?md5=e435333c814dbb15d8bf056b357e76b9&pid=1-s2.0-S2405673124000424-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142149323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and associated risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among schoolchildren in Mekan Eyesus town, northwestern Ethiopia","authors":"Yohannes Andargie ,&nbsp;Amir Alelign ,&nbsp;Zinaye Tekeste","doi":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Little attention has been paid to determining the prevalence and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in some developing countries. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the prevalence and associated factors of STH infections among schoolchildren attending three primary schools in Mekane Eyesus town, northwestern Ethiopia.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 in Mekane Eyesus town. Stool samples were collected from 401 children from three primary schools in the town. Wet-mount and formol ether concentration techniques were used to diagnose stool samples, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors for STH infections.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall prevalence of STH infection in this study was 18.2 % (73/401). The most common helminth species detected was <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> (<em>A. lumbricoides</em>) (7.5 % (30/401)). Not trimming fingernails regularly (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.75, 95 % CI = 1.87–7.50), having illiterate fathers (AOR = 2.29, 95 % CI = 1.18–4.44), and being aged 15–17 years (AOR = 2.37, 95 % CI = 1.06–5.30) were associated with increased odds of STH infection. Children who wash their hands after defecation (AOR = 0.43, 95 % CI = 0.21–0.88) and those whose mothers were housewives (AOR = 0.22, 95 % CI = 0.08–0.58) had lower odds of STH infection.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study found a high prevalence of STH infection among schoolchildren in Mekane Eyesus town. Thus, STH infection preventive measures, including deworming of schoolchildren, should be implemented in the study area. Moreover, giving health-related knowledge about STH infection prevention strategies, such as regular fingernail trimming and hand washing after defecating, is vital for reducing the prevalence of STH infections in the study area.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37873,"journal":{"name":"Parasite Epidemiology and Control","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e00379"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405673124000436/pdfft?md5=6c18a21754c349aebc563f654887a041&pid=1-s2.0-S2405673124000436-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142229405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}