Editorial: Soil-transmitted helminth infections from a One Health perspective

Abstract

One Health is a multidisciplinary approach aimed at protecting and promoting the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems (1). In a public health context, One Health is particularly applied to investigate, understand, control, and prevent infectious and parasitic diseases, with particular attention to zoonoses. One Health highlights that the health of (I) human societies, (II) domestic and wild animals, and (III) the environment is strongly connected and, therefore, public health issues must be addressed by considering such connections (1). Several examples highlight these aspects in the context of infectious and parasitic diseases. Anthropogenic activities that are detrimental to the environment and animals facilitate the transmission of several zoonotic parasites (2). Pervasive human interaction with wild species (e.g., in wet markets) contributed to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population and the COVID-19 pandemic (3). Deforestation of tropical forests and habitat fragmentation facilitate the dissemination of several viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. By contrast, the preservation of biodiversity and the environment is a protective factor against emerging infectious diseases (4). Currently, there is a growing acceptance of the One Health need to address parasitic diseases in the next decades in a changing, conflicted, and resource-limited world (5, 6).. Soil-transmitted helminths from a One Health perspective Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are a group of parasites that mainly affect populations in places with sanitation problems as STH transmission particularly occurs through contact with soil contaminated with parasitic eggs or larvae (7,8). It is estimated that 1.5 billion individuals are infected with STHs worldwide and they are included in the list of neglected tropical diseases by the WHO (8). STH infections cause several health problems, such as malnutrition, iron deficiency, and child developmental deficits (7, 8). Among STHs,