Prevalence and Transmission of Soil Transmitted Helminths among Farmers Living Along the Metropolitan Section of River Kaduna, Nigeria

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are one of the world’s most important causes of physical and intellectual growth retardation. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among farmers living along the metropolitan section of river Kaduna, Nigeria. Two billion people are infected globally and four billion at risk of infection to STH. Nigeria ranking first globally, accounts for about 156 million cases of STH. A total of 210 stool samples were randomly collected from farmers of seven (7) different farms located along the riverbank. The stool samples collected were examined for STHs using direct wet mount and formal ether sedimentation techniques. Questionnaires were administered to the farmers to assess their hygiene, sanitation, and health maintenance. The prevalence of STH based on the farmers' age and gender was also determined. Out of the total stool samples collected, 81(38.6%) were infected with at least one out of the four STH eggs. The eggs of hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides were the only helminths eggs detected. Hookworm was found to have a prevalence of 54.3% while A. lumbricoides have a prevalence of 45.7%. Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris tichuira both were found to have 0% prevalence. The risk factors such as personal hygiene, sanitation and health maintenance were found to have a significant influence on the prevalence (38.6%) (P<0.05) of STH among the farmers. The age prevalence shows that group 10 – 25 have the highest prevalence of 81.3% while age 36 – 45 shows the lowest prevalence of 2.4%. The gender prevalence shows that male farmers have the highest prevalence of 41.4% out of the total infected farmers (81). The findings could be as a result of farmers’ hygiene, sanitation and health maintenance on their various farms and their use of contaminated farm tools which acts as a medium for the transmission of the parasite eggs, while the younger age group work more hours than the older age group and the male farmer spends more time in the farm than the female.

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Confirmation of multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCR as the gold standard for detecting soil-transmitted helminths in stool

10.1101/2021.12.09.21267271 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marina Papaiakovou ◽

Nils Pilotte ◽

Julia Dunn ◽

David TJ Littlewood ◽

Rubén O Cimino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Gold Standard ◽

Low Cost ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminths ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Kappa Agreement

AbstractDue to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, microscopy has seen extensive field-use as the diagnostic standard for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in stool samples. However, the sensitivity of microscopy-based detection is inadequate in reduced-transmission settings where worm burden is oftentimes low. Equally problematic, eggs of closely related species oftentimes have indistinguishable morphologies, leading to species misidentification. In light of these shortcomings, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) as the new “gold standard” for STH detection. Accordingly, stool samples from non-endemic participants were spiked with limited numbers of eggs or larvae (1 to 40) of five different species of STH. DNA extracts were tested using two unique multi-parallel real-time PCR-based diagnostic methods. These methods employed different target sequences (ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, or highly repetitive non-coding regions), to evaluate the detection of DNA from as little as one egg per sample. There was a statistically significant kendall correlation between egg/larvae counts and qPCR from both methods for Trichuris trichiura (0.86 and 0.872 for NHM and Baylor assays) and a strong correlation (0.602 and 0.631 for NHM and Baylor assays, respectively) for Ascaris lumbricoides. Less strong but still significant was the Kendall Tau-b value for A. duodenale (0.408 for both) and for S. stercoralis (0.483 and 0.653, respectively). In addition, using field stool samples from rural Argentina both assays had fair to moderate kappa agreement (0.329-0.454), except for Strongyloides stercoralis (0.121) that both assays had slight agreement. In spite of the small cohort of samples, both qPCR assays, targeting of two independent genomic regions, provided reproducible results and we believe that, low cost multi-parallel quantitative real-time PCR-based diagnostics should supplant microscopy as the new gold standard for stool-based detection of soil transmitted helminths in public-health and community settings.

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Prevalence of Ascariasis among Primary School Pupils in Two Communities of Kebbi State, Nigeria

International Journal of Pathogen Research ◽

10.9734/ijpr/2019/v2i430079 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

M. M. Galamaji ◽

D. D. Attah

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Primary School ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Increase With Increase ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Improved Sanitation ◽

Stool Samples ◽

The Government ◽

And Gender ◽

Primary School Pupils

This study was carried out to determine the incidence of Ascariasis among primary school pupils in Jega and Maiyama of Kebbi state, Nigeria. Four hundred (400) stool samples were examined for Ascaris infections using formal-ether concentration techniques. The result of this study revealed 11.75% prevalence of the parasite. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the prevalence of Ascariasis among pupils examined from various schools. Statistical analysis shows that the prevalence of the infection was associated with community (O.R = 1.55) and gender (O.R = 1.72). The result also show that the infection increase with increase in age of the pupils. Improved sanitation, personal hygiene, deliberate policy for regular deworming of school children by the government will decrease the rate of ascariasis.

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DETERMINATION OF PREVALENCE RATE OF ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA AMONG CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE DIARRHEA IN KANO, NIGERIA

Innovare Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.22159/ijms.2021.v9i1.40406 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 16-18

Author(s):

JA’AFAR S ADAM ◽

MUSA G YAHAYA ◽

FAROUK S NAS ◽

LURWAN MU’AZU ◽

MUHAMMAD ALI

Keyword(s):

Entamoeba Histolytica ◽

Acute Diarrhea ◽

Childhood Mortality ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Age Group ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Improved Sanitation ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Age Category

Background: Diarrhea is a major contributor to childhood mortality and morbidity in the developing world. Objective: The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica among children diagnosed with acute diarrhea in Kura General Hospital Kano, from February to August 2017. Methodology: A total of 236 stools samples were collected from children within the age group of 0 – 5 years diagnosed with acute diarrhea attending the Hospital. The stool samples were examined for Entamoeba Histolytica cysts and trophozoites using direct wet preparation and Formol Ether concentration techniques. Results: The result showed that 23 samples which accounted for 9.75% of the samples were found to be positive for the parasite. Highest incidence of the parasite was found among children within the age category of 4 - 5 years. The results also indicated that males (56.5%) were more infected than females (43.5%). However, there is no statistical difference in the rate of infection among the sex and age group of the patients at p< 0.05. Conclusion: In conclusion, maintenance of personal hygiene and improved sanitation of the environment will indeed prevent contamination of food and water sources.

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Comparison of saline, iodine and koh wet mount preparations for occurrence of parasites in stool samples from patients attending ICDDR,B

Bangladesh Journal of Zoology ◽

10.3329/bjz.v45i2.35711 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 159-170

Author(s):

Rimi Farhana Zaman ◽

Hamida Khanum ◽

Shakila Nargis ◽

Ponkoj Kumar Das

Keyword(s):

Clinical Pathology ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Age Group ◽

Intestinal Helminths ◽

Parasitic Infestation ◽

Protozoan Parasites ◽

Pathology Laboratory ◽

Wet Mount ◽

Resource Poor ◽

Stool Samples

The purpose of the present study was to compare results of saline, iodine, and KOH wet mount preparations executed on each of 1116 stool samples from patients attending ICDDR,B clinical pathology laboratory was compared. Ascaris lumbricoides was most prevalent helminth (3.67%) found in KOH wet mount preparation. The protozoan parasites (9.59%) were more prevalent than helmiths (8.24%) and Giardia sp (4.03%) shows the higher infection found by KOH wet mount preparation. Females are more infected by parasites than males found in observations by all the three methods (saline, iodine and KOH wet mount preparation). It was also observed that the young (1- 10 years) were more infected than older age group (above 51). In seasonal variation, parasitic infestation was higher during May (27%) and the prevalence was lower in December (10%). KOH was found to be effective in destroying the faecal debris, faecal mass and other artifacts without affecting many of the parasitic ova, cysts and larvae in the stool smears. KOH for wet mount smear in examining the stool samples for detection of intestinal helminths may be routinely used which is simple, cost-effective and could be afforded in resource poor setting.Bangladesh J. Zool. 45(2): 159-170, 2017

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Incidence of Intestinal Parasites in Government and Private School Going Children

Tribhuvan University Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.3126/tujm.v7i0.33798 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 62-66

Author(s):

Kritika Mishra ◽

Freeda Maharjan ◽

Reshma Chitrakar ◽

Nikita Chhetri ◽

Monica Shrestha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Private School ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Sanitary Condition ◽

Sedimentation Technique ◽

Wet Mount ◽

Positive Stool ◽

Ancylostoma Duodenale ◽

Stool Samples

Objective: Aim to assess the incidence of intestinal parasites in government and private school going children. Methods: The work was conducted from October, 2018 to March, 2019 at Microbiology Laboratory of DAV College, Dhobighat, Lalitpur. A total of 100 stool samples of children aged between 5-12 years were collected from both government and private schools situated in Lalitpur metropolitan city, during school hours. The stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites by Saline wet mount; Iodine wet mount and Formal – ether sedimentation technique. The questionnaires accompanying the queries related to the study were filled. Results: Of the total 100 stool samples examined, intestinal parasites were observed in 7% (7/100) of the total stool samples. Among the positive stool samples, 71% (5/7) of the stool samples were from government school’s children whereas 29% (2/7) were from private school’s children. Fifty seven percentage 57% (4/7) girls and 43% (3/7) boys were found to be infected with intestinal parasite in the tested stool samples. Out of total parasite detected, 57% (4/7) were eggs of Ancylostoma duodenale, 29% (2/7) were eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides and 14% (1/7) were cysts of Giardia lamblia. The study indicates that Ancylostoma is the most commonly infecting parasite followed by Ascaris and Giardia. Conclusion: Personal hygiene and sanitary condition were responsible for the incidence of intestinal parasites in the school going children. Environmental sanitation improvement and health education promotion will be helpful to reduce the parasitic infection rate.

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PARASITIC EGGS, CYSTS AND LARVAE OF SOME FRUITS SOLD AROUND DUTSIN-MA METROPOLIS, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0403-398 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 328-332

Author(s):

J. B. Orpin ◽

I. Mzungu ◽

H. Usman-Sani

Keyword(s):

Ascaris Lumbricoides ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

Oral Route ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Chi Square ◽

Wet Mount ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Water Melon

Several parasitic infections are associated with poor personal hygiene and environmental sanitation resulting in fruits containing eggs, cysts or larva of parasites. A survey of some fruits sold around Dutsin-ma metropolis in Katsina was carried out to identify the eggs, cyst and larva present on them. A total of 180 fruit pieces were examined using standard wet mount procedure and Kinyoun acid fast stain to detect presence of parasites. The percentage of fruits found with eggs, cysts or larvae of six parasites identified were eggs of hookworm (16.42%), Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (24.30%), Trichuris trichuira eggs (8.62%), Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (6.64%), immature cyst of Entamoeba histolytica (31.62%) and eggs of Taenia species (12.4%) respectively. Garden eggs had the highest percentage with parasites’ ova, cysts or larva (60.3%) followed by water melon (21.4%) and cucumber (12.12%), mangoes (10%), carrots (4.8%) and oranges (0%). The chi-square test showed significant (p<0.05) differences in number of fruits with parasitic infection. It is very important to encourage proper washing of fresh and raw fruits before they are sold or eaten which will thereby prevent transmission either at point of sell or consumption of fruits which infect via the oral route

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Occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis in rural areas adjacent to Dhaka city

Bangladesh Journal of Zoology ◽

10.3329/bjz.v48i2.52371 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 313-320

Author(s):

Laila Fahria ◽

Aleya Begum ◽

Mandira Mukutmoni

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Educational Status ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Age Group ◽

Financial Condition ◽

Concentration Technique ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Stool Samples

The present study was designed to investigate Strongyloides stercoralis infection in rural communities of Savar and Gazipur. A total of 160 stool samples were collected from the inhabitants of the study areas during December 2016 to November 2017. The samples were processed by direct smear, formol-ether concentration technique and Harada-Mori culture. The overall prevalence of S. stercoralis was 10.63%; 11% in Savar and 10% in Gazipur. The elderly people were more prone to S. stercoralis infection. No respondent belonging to age group of 11-20 years was found positive for infection. Poor educational status, inferior financial condition and inadequate hygiene practice were found as potential risk factors (P<0.05). Noticeable prevalence was observed among the respondents living in mud floored house (13.46%), irregular nail clippers (22.73%), bare footers (14.89%) and laborers (27.27%) in Savar. Prevalence was high among the respondents deprived of institutional education (17.86%) in Gazipur. Bangladesh J. Zool. 48(2): 313-320, 2020

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Evaluation of the Diagnostic Utility of Geohelminths from Environmental and Stool Samples in Nnewi Metropolis

Microbiology Research Journal International ◽

10.9734/mrji/2021/v31i830339 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 34-41

Author(s):

Chioma Maureen Obi ◽

Anikpe Chinwoke Akunna ◽

Ifeanyi Onyema Oshim ◽

Bright Unaeze ◽

Okeke Monique Ugochukwu

Keyword(s):

Primary Schools ◽

Diagnostic Performance ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Health Concern ◽

Recovery Rates ◽

Concentration Technique ◽

Wet Mount ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Positive Results

Background: Geohelminths are groups of four intestinal soil transmitted parasites.They are of public health concern due to their serious morbidity they cause in children which are the major groups affected. Aim/Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of wet mount and concentration techniques of stool and soil samples for identification of geohelminths. Methodology: Eighty stool samples were collected from four primary schools, while forty soil samples were collected from the important sites (playground, and classroom areas) in each of the school accessed. The stool samples were examined with the wet preparation and formol-ether concentration technique, while the soil samples were examined with the formol-ether concentration technique. Ethical approval was sought from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology. Results: The results of geohelminths showed an overall prevalence of 6.25% (5/80) from the stool samples, and 27.5% (11/40) obtained from the soil. Recovery rates from the stool showed the presence of only two geohelminth;Hookworm (5%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (1.25%). Out of the four schools examined only three showed positive results with geohelminth infections, while the remaining school showed positive results with only Giardia.lamblia. The recovery rates from the soil also showed the same pattern of distribution as with the stool but with a higher prevalence of Hookworm (20.7%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (7.5%) with the toilet areas showing the highest prevalence (50%). The dominant specie of geohelminth observed in both stool and soil was Hookworm. The results also showed that both male (6%) and female (6.7%) are susceptible to the infection with no significant difference between their prevalances (p>0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of Hook worm was poorly reported by wet mount technique.The diagnostic performance of concentration methods for the diagnosis of Hook worms in the samples was notably high as compared to wet mount techniques.

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Intimate hygiene of an adolescent girl: principles, modern opportunities and problem of introduction

Pediatrician (St Petersburg) ◽

10.17816/ped5342-45 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 42-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadezhda Anatolyevna Kokhreidze ◽

Elina Georgiyevna Anufriyenko ◽

Irina Vasilyevna Bobrova ◽

Anna Valeryevna Mironova

Keyword(s):

Clinical Diagnosis ◽

Adolescent Girl ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding ◽

Uterine Bleeding ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Ovarian Cysts ◽

Age Group ◽

Neutral Ph ◽

Younger Age

30 girls aged from 11 to 17 years were surveyed in order to research the use of gels for the intimate hygiene containing xylitol, alginates and allantoin combined with chamomile extract or quince that have a neutral pH and do not contain perfumes. The average age of pa-tients was 15.2 ± 2.8 years (11; 17). Surveyed patients used to have the following clinical diagnosis: ovarian cysts - 8 patients , ovarian apoplexy - 8, acute salpingo-oophoritis - 1, abnormal uterine bleeding - 13. Patients were asked to evaluate the following quality criteria according to the scale from 1 to 5 scores: simplicity of use, comfort after hygienic procedures, the feeling of freshness, the perfume. Mean score for simplicity was 4.5 ± 0.7 (2; 5), comfort after the procedure - 4.5 ± 0.7 (3; 5), feeling of freshness - 4.6 ± 0.5 (3; 5) and perfume - 4.1 ± 0.9 (2; 5). 7 of 30 patients (23.3 %) estimated the perfume as scores 2 and 3. Lowest score 3.7 ± 1.2 was given by youngest girls aged 11-13 years (n = 6). Girls aged 14-15 years (n = 9) gave the higher score that equaled 4.1 ± 0.8 and girls aged 16-17 years (n = 15) gave the highest mean score of 4.3 ± 0,7. 22 (73.3 %) of 30 girls almost over 15 years old said they intend to use this hygienic agent in the future. 8 (26.7 %) younger girls found this difficult to assess. Thus, attractiveness of this agent for personal hygiene was lower in girls from younger age group (11-13 years) due to the absence of perfume and in spite of numerous assets.

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The effect of age and gender on heart rate variability in healthy individuals

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1093/eurjpc/zwab061.255 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A Alyahya ◽

A Fuller ◽

N Okwose ◽

S Charman ◽

G Macgowan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

High Frequency ◽

Peak Oxygen Consumption ◽

Age Group ◽

High Frequency Power ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Younger Age ◽

And Gender ◽

Frequency Power

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Objective Cardiovascular autonomic function, represented by heart rate variability (HRV) is a simple, non-invasive measure used to determine alteration of sympathetic and parasympathetic control. The aim of the present study was firstly to evaluate the effect of age and gender on HRV measures, and secondly to determine the relationship between measures of HRV and functional capacity in healthy individuals Methods This was a retrospective, single centre, cross-sectional, observational study. Data were collected between January 2018 and July 2019. Sixty-eight healthy participants (age range: 19-78 years) were stratified according to age into the younger age group (<40 years of age, N = 43, males, N = 26; females, N = 17) or the older age group (>55 years of age, N = 25, males, N = 14; females, N = 11). Frequency domain HRV measures (i.e. absolute and normalised low frequency power (LF), high frequency power HF and their ration i.e. LF/HF ratio) were derived from RR interval and recorded at rest (supine position) for 30 minutes. Simultaneous non-invasive gas-exchange and central haemodynamic measurements (bioimpedance) were collected at rest and during maximal graded cardiopulmonary exercise stress test using semi-recumbent cycle ergometer. Results The mean age of the younger group was 26 ± 6 years and older 64 ± 6 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e. peak oxygen consumption) was significantly reduced in older compared to younger age group (1.60 ± 0.57 vs. 2.38 ± 0.74 L/min, p < 0.01). The mean absolute values of HF power declined with age in males by 32% (younger, 1156 ± 806 ms2 vs. older, 835 ± 488 ms2, p = 0.18), but not in females 3% difference (younger, 1182 ± 958 ms2 vs older, 1150 ± 843 ms2, p= 0.92). There was no significant difference in HF power between males and females in the younger age group (young male, 1156 ± 806 ms2 vs. young female, 1182 ± 958ms2, p = 0.92), but older males demonstrated 32% lower HF power than older females (835 ± 488 ms2 vs. 1150 ± 843 ms2, p= 0.25). Further analyses revealed no significant relationship between measures of heart rate variability and functional capacity i.e. the HF power was not significantly related to peak oxygen consumption in males (r= - 0.15, p= 0.36) or females (r= 0.05, p = 0.80). Conclusions High frequency power of the heart rate variability declines with age more in men but not women. Gender difference in high frequency power is apparent in older but not younger age, with older women showing nearly one third higher HF than older men. Measures of heart rate variability do not predict cardiorespiratory fitness

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