Intestinal Parasites from past to present: Taxonomy, Paleoparasitology, Geographic Distribution, Prevention and Control Strategies

Abstract

Intestinal parasites are among the oldest human infectious agents. Throughout history, many parasite species have continued to evolve with humans during migrations, hunting, and domestication. Intestinal parasites are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, especially among children in underdeveloped countries. In developing countries, helminth infections such as hookworms, Ascaris, whipworms and amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica are parasitic agents that cause significant mortality and growth retardation. Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal parasites of zoonotic origin cause significant mental and physical developmental disorders in poor people in endemic areas. It is an important public health problem affecting a quarter of the world’s population, increasing the global health burden and impairing quality of life. Intestinal protozoa are among the leading causes of diarrhea in developed and developing countries. In order to achieve success in prevention and control programs, it is necessary to identify people with parasites through community-based epidemiological studies and to carry out treatment and post-treatment controls. Although epidemiologic studies on intestinal parasites are mostly related to children, infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised populations are at significant risk. Today, microscopy is still the gold standard for diagnosis, but serologic and molecular techniques have also been successfully applied.