BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminthiases (hookworms, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura) are extremely prevalent in school-aged children living in poor sanitary conditions. Recent epidemiological data suggest that Strongyloides stercoralis is highly unreported. However, accurate data are essential for conducting interventions aimed at introducing control and elimination programmes.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 396 randomly selected school-aged children in Amhara region in rural area in north-western Ethiopia, to assess the prevalence of S. stercoralis and other intestinal helminths. We examined stools using three techniques: conventional stool concentration; and two S. stercoralis-specific methods, i.e. the Baermann technique and polymerase chain reaction. The diagnostic accuracy of these three methods was then compared.ResultsThere was an overall prevalence of helminths of 77.5%, with distribution differing according to school setting. Soil-transmitted helminths were recorded in 69.2%. Prevalence of S. stercoralis and hookworm infection was 20.7 and 54.5%, respectively, and co-infection was detected in 16.3% of cases. Schistosoma mansoni had a prevalence of 15.7%. Prevalence of S. stercoralis was shown 3.5% by the conventional method, 12.1% by the Baermann method, and 13.4% by PCR, which thus proved to be the most sensitive.ConclusionsOur results suggest that S. stercoralis could be overlooked and neglected in Ethiopia, if studies of soil-transmitted helminths rely on conventional diagnostic techniques alone. A combination of molecular and stool microscopy techniques yields a significantly higher prevalence. In view of the fact that current control policies for triggering drug administration are based on parasite prevalence levels, a comprehensive diagnostic approach should instead be applied to ensure comprehensive control of helminth infections.

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The prevalence of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis was high in the study area. Ser531Leu and Ser315Thr1 substitutions were the highest gene mutations for rifampicin and isoniazid, respectively.

Background Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5 billion people are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura or hookworm. Endemic countries carry out periodic mass treatment of at-risk populations with albendazole or mebendazole as a control measure. Most prevalence studies have focused on school aged children and therefore control programs are implemented at school level, not at community level. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal helminths, including Strongyloides stercoralis, was examined using a comprehensive laboratory approach in a community in northwestern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 792 individuals �5 years old in randomly selected houses in a rural district. Stools were examined using three techniques: a formolether concentration, the Baermann technique and a real time polymerase chain reaction test (these last two specific for S. stercoralis). Statistical analyses were performed between two large age groups, children (�14 years old) and adults (�15 years old). Results The prevalence of helminths was 91.3%; (95% CI: 89.3-93.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent, 78.7% (95% CI 75.6-81.4%), followed by S. stercoralis 55.7% (95% CI 52.2-59.1%). Co-infection with both was detected in 45.4% (95% CI 42.0-49.0%

Background. Intestinal parasitic infections are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan countries. The disease burden of these parasites is significantly high among pregnant women in developing countries like Ethiopia. Poor living conditions, sanitation, and hygiene are believed to be the contributing factors. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of intestinal parasitic infection and factors associated with pregnant women. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2017 to June 2017. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the sociodemographic and other explanatory variables via face-to-face interviews. Stool samples were collected and examined using formol ether concentration technique. The magnitude of parasitic infection was calculated using descriptive statistics. The association between intestinal parasitic infection and determinant factors was assessed by logistic regression. The differences were considered to be statistically significant if the p value was less than 0.05. Results. From a total of 743 pregnant women, the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 277 (37.3%). The prevalence of hookworm 138 (18.6%) was the leading cause of intestinal parasitosis followed by E. histolytica/dispar 113 (15.2%). Dwelling in rural area (AOR: 2.9 (95% CI: 1.85-4.85)), being a farmer (AOR: 1.91 (95% CI: 1.20-3.03)), eating raw vegetables (AOR: 1.45, 95% CI:0.09-0.24), lack of proper use of latrine (AOR: 2.89 (95%1.18-7.08)), poor environmental sanitation (AOR: 0.19 (95%: CI:0.08-0.47)), habit of soil eating (AOR: 0.42 (95% CI: 0.25-0.72)), having irrigation practice (AOR: 0.47 (95% CI: 0.29-0.77)), and lack of health education (AOR: 0.32 (95% CI: 0.13-0.77)) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusions. Intestinal parasitic infection is a major problem among pregnant women in the study area. High parasitic infection is associated with poor hygienic and sanitation practices. Therefore, awareness creation through health education should be given to pregnancy on intestinal parasitic infection and associated factors.

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Dermatophilus congolensis, which affects animal species, is an uncommon human infection. Few cases, mainly in tropical areas, have been reported. We describe the first human infection in Spain in a traveler returning from Central America. Diagnosis of human infection may be underestimated in people in contact with animals. CASE REPORTIn September 2009, a 26-year-old woman came to the Tropical Diseases Service, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, with skin lesions on her right wrist and no other symptoms. Two months prior to her presentation, the patient spent 15 days in Costa Rica working as a volunteer on a dairy farm. She reported close contact with animals, including feeding and milking cows, as well as drinking raw milk. She did not report any other contact with livestock in Spain, either professionally or in leisure activities. The patient had been vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus in 2003. In addition, she was vaccinated against hepatitis B (third dose), hepatitis A (first dose), typhoid fever, and rabies 2 weeks before her trip. She followed a correct malaria prophylaxis with chloroquine. No other previous medical history was of interest. Five days after her arrival in Costa Rica, she noticed a vesicular eruption over a scratched area on her right wrist that evolved to pustules and crust 4 days later. The eruption relapsed on several occasions and was painful and itchy. Neither fever nor lymph node swelling was present. She had begun self-treatment with topical gentamicin and corticosteroid ointment 1 month before medical consultation, with a mild improvement. The patient's physical examination revealed five erythematous, desquamative lesions of less than 0.5 cm in diameter and with elevated edges. Topical treatment was discontinued, and a sample for microbiological analysis was taken. One month later, the lesions had disappeared.Swab samples were taken from the lesions and sent to our laboratory for bacterial and fungal culture analyses. They were directly inoculated in blood and chocolate agar, thioglycolate broth, Sabouraud chloramphenicol, and Sabouraud cycloheximide (Actidione)-chloramphenicol agar. Blood and chocolate agar and thioglycolate broth were incubated at 35°C in an aerobic atmosphere, the chocolate agar was incubated in air supplemented with 5% CO 2 , and the blood agar was also incubated in an anaerobic atmosphere. Sabouraud chloramphenicol and Sabouraud cycloheximide-chloramphenicol agar plates were incubated at 32°C. After 24 h, a pure culture of tiny, point-like, smooth, creamy white-colored, beta-hemolytic colonies adherent to the media grew in aerobic blood agar and chocolate agar. Gram staining showed hypha-like, branching filaments with "train track" form and clusters of sporangia as well as coccoid Gram-positive forms, mostly in chains (Fig. 1). After 48 h, crowded colonies became yellowish and mucoid, with a great variation in colonial morphology, e.g., pulvinate, umbonate, or cake crumb-like (Fig. 2). At that time, released sporangia were the main finding in the Gram sta...

is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and other intestinal parasites and identify the risk factors for infection with in a rural area of Angola. A cross-sectional study was conducted in school-age children (SAC) in Cubal, Angola. A questionnaire collecting clinical and epidemiological variables was used, and two stool samples were collected. A concentration technique (Ritchie) and a technique for detection of larvae migration (Baermann) were performed. Of 230 SAC, 56.1% were female and the mean age was 9.3 years (SD 2.45). Severe malnutrition, according to body mass index (BMI)-for-age, was observed in 20.4% of the SAC, and anemia was found in 59.6%. was observed in 28 of the 230 (12.8%) SAC. Eggs of other helminths were observed in 51 (22.2%) students: spp. in 27 students (11.7%), hookworm in 14 (6.1%), four (1.7%), in four (1.7%), in three (1.3%), spp. in two (0.9%), and one (0.4%). Protozoa were observed in 17 (7.4%) students. Detection of was higher using the Baermann technique versus using formol-ether (11.3 vs. 3%). Overall prevalence of in the school population of 16 studied schools in the municipal area of Cubal was greater than 10%. This fact must be considered when designing deworming mass campaigns. The use of specific tests in larvae detection is needed to avoid overlooking this parasite.