Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and Other Intestinal Parasite Infections in School Children in a Rural Area of Angola: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

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.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Blastocystis spp. isolates in school children in Cubal, Western Angola

“…showed a significant association with the presence of the parasite, although the infection was more prevalent in people walking barefoot, reporting contact with domestic animals, or being part of households with six or more individuals. Similar results have been previously described in this very same population in a previous parasitological survey based on conventional techniques for the detection of the parasite [ 26 ]. Clearly, more rigorous epidemiological studies are needed to improve our understanding of the actual risk factors involved in the transmission of human strongyloidiasis.…”

“…The overall prevalence of human strongyloidiasis obtained in our study (21.4%) was comparable to that (20.7%) previously documented in Ethiopia using a very similar diagnostic approach [ 54 ], but almost doubled the infection rate (12.8%) recently identified in the same Angolan children population by conventional and Baermann methods [ 26 ]. Of note, Strongyloides spp.…”

“…However, significantly different PCR-based prevalence rates of Strongyloides spp. were found between children in the communes of Cubal and Capupa, a finding not previously observed when the detection of the parasite was performed by conventional parasitological techniques [ 26 ]. These discrepancies may be attributed to differences in population densities leading to poorer hygienic habits (e.g.…”

“…The current epidemiological situation of GHPI in Angola (southern Africa) remains largely unknown. Only a limited number of mainly microscopy-based studies targeting paediatric [ 8 , 24 – 26 ] and women [ 24 ] populations have been conducted to date in the country. Obtained data revealed the presence of A. lumbricoides (4–17%), hookworms (0.6–14.0%), T. trichiura (0.3–14.0%) and S. stercoralis (0.3–3.5%) in the surveyed populations.…”

Ultrasound Evolution of Pediatric Urinary Schistosomiasis after Treatment with Praziquantel in a Highly Endemic Area

“…13,19 One explanation may be that the older children were more receptive to health education advice, and therefore became reinfected less frequently; another reason may be that younger children in this area, compared with older ones, are usually more affected by other comorbidities such as malnutrition and anemia. 20 As praziquantel requires a competent immune system to take effect, 21 it may be less effective in these children. In addition, as each praziquantel tablet provides 600 mg, it can be difficult to adjust the dose for children weighing less than 15 kg.…”