Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tolulope Alade, Thuy-Huong Ta-Tang, Sulaiman Adebayo Nassar, Akeem Abiodun Akindele, Raquel Capote-Morales, Tosin Blessing Omobami, Pedro Berzosa
Summary: This study found that schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases are still endemic in Osun State, Nigeria, with a low prevalence and light infection intensity. Urinary infection was the most common, with higher prevalence in children over 10 years old. There were no significant associations between gender and age and urogenital or intestinal parasites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alemayehu Assefa, Berhanu Erko, Svein Gunnar Gundersen, Girmay Medhin, Nega Berhe
Summary: Despite ongoing mass drug administration campaigns, Schistosoma mansoni infection remains prevalent in the study areas, with a significant proportion of heavy infections. The study suggests conducting mass treatment campaigns early after the rainy season, alongside provisions of clean water and sanitation facilities, to prevent reinfection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yonas Alemu, Teshome Degefa, Mitiku Bajiro, Getachew Teshome
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infection among individuals in model and non-model households in Jimma zone. The study found that the prevalence and intensity of STH infection were higher in non-model households than in model households. Factors such as household training status, age of participants, and latrine use pattern were found to be significant predictors of STH infection prevalence.
Article
Parasitology
Javier Gandasegui, Berta Grau-Pujol, Maria Cambra-Pelleja, Valdemiro Escola, Maria Antonietta Demontis, Anelsio Cossa, Jose Carlos Jamine, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Lisette van Lieshout, Jose Munoz, Maria Martinez-Valladares
Summary: This study optimized the sample processing methodology and standardized pyrosequencing in soil-transmitted helminth (STH) pooled eggs. The protocols developed in this study can be used for large-scale screenings or anthelmintic efficacy trials in STH populations. The results suggest that the new pyrosequencing assays designed in this study provided accurate SNP frequencies in simulated resistance levels.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Keerati Ponpetch, Berhanu Erko, Teshome Bekana, Tadesse Kebede, Di Tian, Yang Yang, Song Liang
Summary: This study identified soil property, elevation, and climatic factors (e.g., precipitation and temperature) as key factors associated with the distribution of S. mansoni endemic areas in Ethiopia. The model predicted that suitable areas for schistosomiasis transmission are largely distributed in northern, central, and western parts of the country, indicating a potentially wide distribution of S. mansoni endemic areas. The findings of this study could provide valuable information for public health surveillance, intervention, and future research on schistosomiasis in Ethiopia.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Keerati Ponpetch, Berhanu Erko, Teshome Bekana, Lindsay Richards, Song Liang
Summary: The study reviewed the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infections in Ethiopia, revealing significant environmental and ecological heterogeneities in endemic areas, primarily distributed in six regional states with Amhara and Oromia being the main focus of surveys. Future research is needed to understand the impact of these heterogeneities on parasite distribution and transmission in the region.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Daniel Getacher Feleke, Abdurahaman Ali, Habtye Bisetegn, Habtu Debash, Workineh Birara, Alehegn Andualem
Summary: This study aimed to determine the burden of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among primary school children in Ambesame, North-West Ethiopia. The results showed a relatively high prevalence of intestinal helminths among the school children, with significant associations found with the father's educational status, absence of latrine, and untrimmed fingernails.
Article
Parasitology
James E. Truscott, Robert J. Hardwick, Marleen Werkman, Puthupalayam Kaliappan Saravanakumar, Malathi Manuel, Sitara S. R. Ajjampur, Kristjana H. Asbjornsdottir, Kalua Khumbo, Stefan Witek-McManus, James Simwanza, Gilles Cottrell, Parfait Houngbegnon, Moudachirou Ibikounle, Judd L. Walson, Roy M. Anderson
Summary: The DeWorm3 project utilizes statistical and mathematical methods to forecast the outcome of mass drug administration in reducing soil-transmitted helminth infections below 2%, highlighting the importance of assessing geographical and cluster-level heterogeneities in transmission and aggregation for effective control of neglected tropical diseases.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Anna E. Phillips, Alison K. Ower, Kalkidan Mekete, Ewnetu Firdawek Liyew, Rosie Maddren, Habtamu Belay, Melkie Chernet, Ufaysa Anjulo, Birhan Mengistu, Mihretab Salasibew, Geremew Tasew, Roy Anderson
Summary: The lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) facilities is associated with an increased risk of parasitic infections. Maintaining and improving WaSH facilities at the community level is crucial in influencing the community-wide prevalence of infection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Nadine Rujeni, Jean Bosco Bayingana, Elias Nyandwi, Amans Ntakarutimana, Joseph Kagabo, Reverien Rutayisire, Eliah Shema, Philbert Kanimba, Jean Bosco Mbonigaba, Eugene Ruberanziza
Summary: This study investigated the distribution and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni among pre-school age children in Rwanda. The findings showed that infection was significantly associated with bathing in open water bodies and being looked after by siblings. Control interventions and adapted chemotherapy are needed to limit the exposure of pre-school age children to the infection.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tsheten Tsheten, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Angela Cadavid Restrepo, Matthew Kelly, Colleen Lau, Archie C. A. Clements, Darren J. Gray, Chona Daga, Vanessa Joy Mapalo, Fe Esperanza Espino, Kinley Wangdi
Summary: The study in the Philippines identified sociodemographic and environmental factors driving soil-transmitted helminth (STH) transmission, predicting high-risk areas in the country. Higher prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura was found in Visayas Island, while hookworm prevalence was highest in Mindanao Island. Male gender, temperature, and rainfall were associated with increased STH risk, while normalized difference vegetation index and soil pH were negatively correlated with transmission. The identified high-risk areas can be targeted for deworming and health education activities to reduce the burden of STH infections.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2024)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bayeh Abera
Summary: This review analyzed 43 research articles published between 1957 and 2022 to identify the hot spots of Schistosoma mansoni infection in the Lake Tana Basin in Ethiopia. Nineteen districts were identified as hotspots, and the prevalence of S. mansoni showed spatial and seasonal variations. Risk factors for this infection included swimming habits, irrigation practice, fishing, and being male.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cara Tupps, Ibrahim Kargbo-Labour, Jusufu Paye, Sanjaya Dhakal, Mary H. Hodges, Alexander H. Jones, Stacy Davlin, Mustapha Sonnie, Sallay Manah, Rubina Imtiaz, Yaobi Zhang
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence of parasitic infections in different age groups in Sierra Leone. The results showed that treatment for STH infection is needed annually in children and should also be considered for women of reproductive age. The study also found that having access to toilet facilities significantly reduced the infection rates of various parasites. Therefore, improving sanitation at the community and household levels is crucial for controlling these diseases.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
G. Akosah-Brempong, S. K. Attah, I. A. Hinne, A. Abdulai, K. Addo-Osafo, E. L. Appiah, M-M Osei, Y. A. Afrane
Summary: The study found a relatively low burden of parasites co-infection among children only in the Southern communities, but a high prevalence of single infections of P. falciparum and S. mansoni in those communities. Control measures for the helminths need to be restarted in the island communities with a high burden of S. mansoni infections, and efforts to control Plasmodium need to be scaled up in Ada Foah where P. falciparum infections are high.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Humphrey D. Mazigo, Maria M. Zinga, Stella Kepha, Elodie Yard, Kevin McRee-Mckee, George Kabona, Deogratias D. Ngoma, Andreas Nshala
Summary: The study conducted a survey on soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in 29 districts of north-western Tanzania, with overall low prevalences observed. Males had a higher prevalence rate, and most children infected with soil-transmitted helminths had light to moderate intensity of infection. The overall prevalence of co-infection with soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis was 19.1%.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Severine Thys, Darryn L. Knobel, Gregory Simpson, Jacques Van Rooyen, Tanguy Marcotty, Sarah Gabriel, Pierre Dorny, Marleen Boelaert
Summary: Mass vaccination of dogs is an effective way to control rabies, but reaching the required vaccination coverage can be challenging. A study in a rural rabies-endemic area in South Africa assessed community knowledge and perceptions of dogs, rabies, and control behaviors, finding that lack of awareness and specific beliefs among adults may hinder participation in rabies vaccination campaigns. Involving and educating clinic and wildlife reserve staff during vaccination campaigns could help improve relationships among stakeholders and clarify misconceptions.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Laura A. Skrip, Veronique Dermauw, Pierre Dorny, Rasmane Ganaba, Athanase Millogo, Zekiba Tarnagda, Helene Carabin
Summary: This study investigated the potential of behavioral interventions to eliminate human cysticercosis in three provinces of Burkina Faso. By combining cooking interventions and sanitation programs, tailored to local transmission dynamics and behaviors, the study shows how the elimination of cysticercosis as a public health problem can vary across different interventions. Further data-driven analyses on intervention strategies against human and pig cysticercosis may be needed to account for local variation in transmission behaviors.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ryan E. Wiegand, W. Evan Secor, Fiona M. Fleming, Michael D. French, Charles H. King, Susan P. Montgomery, Darin Evans, Jurg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou, Sake J. de Vlas
Summary: The current classification of heavy-intensity infections does not effectively differentiate the prevalence of morbidity markers for schistosomiasis, suggesting a reevaluation of control criteria is necessary.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Trang Huyen Nguyen, Pierre Dorny, Thanh Thi Giang Nguyen, Veronique Dermauw
Summary: In Vietnam, fisheries are crucial for the national economy, but helminth infections in fish have significant impacts on public health and sustainable fish production. A systematic review of recent knowledge on fish helminths revealed that the current studies only cover about 9% of the more than 2400 fish species in Vietnam's waters. Further research is needed to assess the potential zoonotic and fish health impacts of helminths on all fish species as part of the expansion of the aquaculture sector in the country.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ryan E. Wiegand, W. Evan Secor, Fiona M. Fleming, Michael D. French, Charles H. King, Arminder K. Deol, Susan P. Montgomery, Darin Evans, Juerg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou, Sake J. de Vlas
Summary: The study found a consistent association between schistosomiasis infection intensity categories and morbidity prevalence in school-age children, with individuals with light infections showing higher morbidity levels. In contrast, there was a lack of association between S. mansoni infection intensity categories and morbidity measures assessed.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Christos Kokaliaris, Amadou Garba, Martin Matuska, Rachel N. Bronzan, Daniel G. Colley, Ameyo M. Dorkenoo, Uwem F. Ekpo, Fiona M. Fleming, Michael D. French, Achille Kabore, Jean B. Mbonigaba, Nicholas Midzi, Pauline N. M. Mwinzi, Eliezer K. N'Goran, Maria Rebollo Polo, Moussa Sacko, Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente, Edridah M. Tukahebwa, Pitchouna A. Uvon, Guojing Yang, Lisa Wiesner, Yaobi Zhang, Juerg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou
Summary: In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school-aged children decreased from 23.0% in 2000-10 to 9.6% in 2015-19, representing an overall reduction of 58.3%. The substantial decrease in prevalence is likely attributed to the scale-up of preventive chemotherapy interventions. It is necessary to maintain the progress in schistosomiasis control through various interventions, including preventive chemotherapy.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chishimba Mubanga, Chiara Trevisan, Inge Van Damme, Veronika Schmidt, Isaac K. Phiri, Gideon Zulu, John Noh, Sukwan Handali, Richard Mambo, Mwelwa Chembensofu, Maxwell Masuku, Dries Reynders, Famke Jansen, Emmanuel Bottieau, Pascal Magnussen, Andrea S. Winkler, Pierre Dorny, Kabemba E. Mwape, Sarah Gabriel
Summary: Diagnosing Taenia solium taeniosis is challenging due to sub-optimal and expensive tests that require sophisticated equipment and trained manpower. A newly developed TS POC test was evaluated for diagnostic accuracy, showing varying performance and recommending improvements in sensitivity or test redesign.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nur Alia Johari, Dhekra Amin Annuzaili, Hani Farouk El-Talabawy, Maryam Ba-Break, Abdulsalam M. Al-Mekhlafi, Samira Al-Eryani, Abdulhakim Ali Alkohlani, Albis Francesco Gabrielli, Riadh Ben-Ismail, Sami Alhaidari, Adel Muaydh, Rasheed Alshami, Magid AL Gunaid, Alaa Hamed, Nehad Kamel, Karen Palacio, Fiona Fleming, Michael Duncan French
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive mapping of schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and anemia in Yemen, revealing the significant public health burden caused by these diseases. The findings and recommendations of this study will inform national control and elimination programs for these neglected tropical diseases in Yemen.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Refilwe Philadelphia Bokaba, Veronique Dermauw, Darshana Morar-Leather, Pierre Dorny, Luis Neves
Summary: This study systematically explores the presence and distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in African wildlife species. The results show a lack of knowledge and understanding of the parasite in Africa, especially in wildlife.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Sarah Gabriel, Pierre Dorny, Ganna Saelens, Veronique Dermauw
Summary: This manuscript provides an overview of important zoonotic foodborne parasites and their presence in different food chains. It discusses examples of meat-borne parasites in livestock and wildlife, as well as fish-borne parasites, highlighting the risk posed by the consumption of raw and ready-to-eat meat, fish, and vegetables. The manuscript also emphasizes the impact of increased contact between wildlife, livestock, and humans on food safety, and the need for integrated, multipathogen, and multidisciplinary approaches in diagnostics and control/prevention.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luc Coffeng, Johnny Vlaminck, Piet Cools, Matthew J. Denwood, Marco Albonico, Shaali Ame, Mio Ayana, Daniel Dana, Giuseppe Cringoli, Sake de Vlas, Alan F. Fenwick, Michael P. French, Adama Kazienga, Jennifer Keiser, Stefanie Knopp, Gemechu Leta, Leonardo A. Matoso, Maria Maurelli, Antonio Montresor, Greg Mirams, Zeleke Mekonnen, Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira, Simone Pinto, Laura Rinaldi, Somphou Sayasone, Peter Steinmann, Eurion Thomas, Jozef Vercruysse, Bruno Levecke
Summary: This study presents a cost-efficient survey design for monitoring the therapeutic drug efficacy of soil-transmitted helminth control programs, using fecal egg counting methods. The Kato-Katz method is the most cost-effective and has the highest sample throughput. The combination of no selection survey design (NS) and Kato-Katz method is the most cost-efficient for assessing therapeutic drug efficacy in different scenarios.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yesenia Castillo, Luz M. M. Toribio, Carolina Guzman, Gianfranco Arroyo, Cindy Espinoza, Herbert Saavedra, Javier A. A. Bustos, Pierre Dorny, Seth E. E. O'Neal, Hector H. H. Garcia
Summary: This study compared the performance of two antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques for the detection of neurocysticercosis (NCC). The results showed that both ELISA techniques were able to detect antigen levels across different types of NCC and demonstrated high concordance. The B158/B60 antigen ELISA performed better in parenchymal and calcified NCC, while the TsW8/TsW5 antigen ELISA showed better detection in subarachnoid NCC.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ryan E. Wiegand, Fiona M. Fleming, Sake J. de Vlas, Maurice R. Odiere, Safari Kinung'hi, Charles H. King, Darin Evans, Michael D. French, Susan P. Montgomery, Anne Straily, Juerg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou, W. Evan Secor
Summary: The article highlights the inadequacy of the current criteria for eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem and the need for a more accurate monitoring and evaluation framework. The authors propose using overall prevalence of infection, species-dependent and age-dependent morbidity markers, and a standardized protocol for monitoring and evaluation.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Huong Nguyen Thu, Veronique Dermauw, Tho Tran Huy, Clementine Roucher, Pierre Dorny, Hoai Nguyen Thi, Kien Hoang Trung, Thang Dao Van, Binh Do Nhu, Thu Nguyen Kim
Summary: This study retrospectively investigated the medical records of 145 patients with fascioliasis in Vietnam to describe their clinical presentation and diagnostic outcomes. The results showed challenges in diagnosing human fascioliasis in Vietnam, with low agreement between different diagnostic tools.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
T. T. M. Nguyen, V. Dermauw, J. Noh, N. H. Chien, T. T. H. Dao, T. G. T. Nguyen, A. Van Hul, P. Dorny
JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY
(2020)