The Hookworm Blues: We Still Got ‘em

Sanders, John W.; Goraleski, Karen A.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0683

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Compromised sanitation systems as described here have been linked with elevated infection risk for a range of pathogens, including viral diarrheal illness, hepatitis A virus, measles, typhoid, cholera, and various parasites that spread through human waste [ 83 , 84 ]. Furthermore, previous work in other regions of the Southern USA has documented links between infection and sewage backups, including documented cases of parasitic infection in parts of Alabama and Texas where community members are exposed to raw sewage due to failing sanitation systems [ 54 , 56 , 85 , 86 ]. Signs of parasitic infection have also been documented in the REACH sample [ 15 ] likely shaping immune responses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rural Embodiment and Community Health: an Anthropological Case Study on Biocultural Determinants of Tropical Disease Infection and Immune System Development in the USA

Gildner

Cepon-Robins

2023

Curr Trop Med Rep

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Purpose of Review Biocultural methods are critically important for identifying environmental and socioeconomic factors linked with tropical disease risk and outcomes. For example, embodiment theory refers to the process by which lived experiences impact individual biology. Increased exposure to pathogens, chronic psychosocial stress, and unequal resource access are all outcomes linked with discrimination and poverty. Through lived experiences, race and socioeconomic inequality can literally become embodied—get under the skin and affect physiology—impacting immune responses and contributing to lifelong health disparities. Yet, few studies have investigated tropical disease patterns and associated immune function using embodiment theory to understand lasting physiological impacts associated with living in a high-pathogen environment. Recent Findings Here, we use preliminary data drawn from the Rural Embodiment and Community Health (REACH) study to assess whether pathogen exposure and immune stimulation within a sample of children from the Mississippi Delta are associated with household income. We also test whether immune marker levels—assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using dried blood spot samples—vary between the REACH sample and a similarly aged nationally representative NHANES sample. Immune marker levels did not differ significantly between REACH participants living below vs. above the federal poverty line, yet immunoglobulin E levels—a marker of macroparasite infection—were higher among REACH study participants compared to the NHANES sample. Summary These results may suggest community-level pathogenic exposures (i.e., parasitic infections) are embodied by REACH participants with implications for long-term immune function, potentially resulting in immune aspects that differ from nationally representative samples. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40475-023-00282-z.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rural Embodiment and Community Health: an Anthropological Case Study on Biocultural Determinants of Tropical Disease Infection and Immune System Development in the USA

Gildner

Cepon-Robins

2023

Curr Trop Med Rep

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“…For example, most NTDs occur in the middle-income countries of Brazil, China, and India [23], and a recent surveillance study in rural Alabama found that more than a third of stool samples tested positive for hookworm [28]. Local transmission of dengue and Zika virus in Texas and Florida provided further evidence of the global threat of NTDs [29]. Localized pockets of poverty, immigration, international travel, and climate change present additional challenges to global control of NTDs and underscore the need for additional funding from the wealthiest countries and foundations.…”

Section: Ntds As Worldwide Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Funding for Neglected Tropical Diseases Should Be a Global Priority

Reed

McKerrow

2018

Clinical Infectious Diseases

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“…[3] These infections represent an important health disparity in the US as higher infection rates for some parasites are believed to occur among those living in poverty in underserved rural and inner-city areas. [2, 3, 20–23]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of parasitic infections among recent immigrants to Chicago

Herrick

Nordstrom

Maloney

et al. 2019

Preprint

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23 24 Author contributions: Jesica A. Herrick was responsible for the funding acquisition, 25 conceptualization of the study, study design and methodology, oversight of subject 26 enrollment and regulatory aspects of the study, data curation and formal analysis, and 27 writing of the manuscript. Monica Nordstrom, Patrick Maloney, and Miguel Rodriguez 28 were involved in the investigation and recruited and enrolled subjects in the study and 29 provided a critical review of the manuscript. Patrick Maloney was also responsible for 30 the formal statistical analyses. Kevin Naceanceno and Gloria Gallo Enamorado 31 performed the Multi-parallel real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) conducted on patient 32 stool samples as part of the investigation. Rojelio Mejia oversaw the qPCR conducted 33 on patient stool samples (supervisory role) and provided a critical review of the 34 manuscript. Ron Hershow was involved in a supervisory capacity in the study concept 35 and design, analysis and interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript.36 37 Related manuscripts: All authors certify that there is no related or duplicate manuscript 38 under consideration for this work. 39 40 Attachments: STROBE statement 3 41 ABSTRACT 42 Background. Parasitic infections are likely under-recognized among immigrant 43 populations in the United States (US). We conducted a cross-sectional study to 44 evaluate the frequency of such infections among recent immigrants in Chicago and to 45 identify predictive factors for parasitic infections. 46 Methodology and principal findings. 133 recent immigrants were enrolled, filling out a 47 standardized questionnaire regarding medical history and exposures and providing 48 blood and stool samples for evaluation. Fifteen of 125 subjects (12%) who provided a 49 blood or stool sample for testing were found to have evidence of current or prior 50 infection with a pathogenic parasite, of which Toxocara spp. (8 subjects, 6.4%) and 51 Strongyloides stercoralis (5 subjects, 4%) were most commonly identified. Parasitic 52 infection was more likely among subjects who had immigrated within the previous 2 53 years and those with a self-reported history of ever having seen worms in the stool. 54 Infected individuals were likely to have multiple nonspecific physical complaints; 55 however, classic symptoms of parasitic infections (skin rashes, diarrhea, etc.) were not 56 increased among infected individuals. The most useful surrogate markers identified for 57 parasitic infections were an elevated Immunoglobulin E level (seen in 7/15 subjects with 58 parasitic infections, 46.7% and 22/110 uninfected individuals, 20%, p=0.04) and the 59 presence of Blastocystis hominis cysts on Ova & Parasite exam (detected in 5/13 60 subjects with parasitic infections who provided a stool sample, 38.5% and 5/98 61 uninfected subjects, 5.1%, p=0.002). In contrast, the Absolute Eosinophil Count 62 (typically thought of as an indicator of parasites) was not found to be a good screening 63 test for parasitic infections in this study. 4 64 C...

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The Hookworm Blues: We Still Got ‘em

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Rural Embodiment and Community Health: an Anthropological Case Study on Biocultural Determinants of Tropical Disease Infection and Immune System Development in the USA

Rural Embodiment and Community Health: an Anthropological Case Study on Biocultural Determinants of Tropical Disease Infection and Immune System Development in the USA

Why Funding for Neglected Tropical Diseases Should Be a Global Priority

Prevalence of parasitic infections among recent immigrants to Chicago

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