Ascaris and hookworm transmission in preschool children from rural Panama: role of yard environment, soil eggs/larvae and hygiene and play behaviours

Abstract

This study explored whether the yard environment and child hygiene and play behaviours were associated with presence and intensity of Ascaris and hookworm in preschool children and with eggs and larvae in soil. Data were collected using questionnaires, a visual survey of the yard, soil samples and fecal samples collected at baseline and following re-infection. The presence of eggs/larvae in soil was associated negatively with water storage (eggs) but positively with dogs (eggs) and distance from home to latrine (larvae). Baseline and re-infection prevalences were: hookworm (28.0%, 3.4%); Ascaris (16.9%, 9.5%); Trichuris (0.9%, 0.7%). Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models revealed a higher baseline hookworm infection if yards had eggs or larvae, more vegetation or garbage, and if the child played with soil. Baseline Ascaris was associated with dirt floor, dogs, exposed soil in yard, open defecation and with less time playing outdoors, whereas Ascaris re-infection was associated with water storage, vegetation cover and garbage near the home and not playing with animals. Our results show complex interactions between infection, the yard environment and child behaviours, and indicate that transmission would be reduced if latrines were closer to the home, and if open defecation and water spillage were reduced.

Prevalence of and risk factors for intestinal parasite infections in pediatric patients admitted to public hospitals in Southern Brazil

“…are more susceptible to other infections or to a worsening of parasitosis 6 . The higher frequency of positive cases among those aged 6-11 years reinforces the idea that these children are more at risk of intestinal parasitosis due to the immature immune system; inadequate personal hygiene habits; greater contact with the soil, street, other children, and domestic animals; and are exposed to greater transmission risks, for example, among classmates 1,4 .…”

“…They are particularly susceptible to parasitic infection and reinfection because they are more exposed to pathogens, their immunity is not fully developed, and their personal hygiene efforts may not be satisfactory; they depend on the care of others 1 . Intestinal parasite infection may be asymptomatic or may present with clinical features such as abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, weight loss, and lack of appetite 2 .…”

Rapid Genotyping of β-tubulin Polymorphisms in Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides

“…Ethical approval for samples from Panama was obtained from the McGill University Institutional Review Board approval number A09-M87-11A [34, 35]. A parent or legal guardian gave informed consent for every child providing a stool sample.…”

Досвід Проведення Дегельмінтизації У Дітей

“…R.J. Krause і співавт. (2015) при дослідженні впливу санітарного ста-ну навколишнього середовища на зараженість школярів сільської Панами аскаридами та іншими нематодами встановили взаємозв'язок між вищою зараженістю ас-каридами та брудними підлогами, собаками, оголеною землею на внутрішньому дворі та недостатнім часом, проведеним надворі [8]. Не було встановлено різниці між рівнем зараження школярів і дотриманням прин-ципів WASH у школі або вдома: зараження може відбу-тися як у школі, так і вдома, повідомляє група дослід-ників, що вивчали поширення кишкових паразитарних черв'яків.…”