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Lancet (London, England) Jan 2018More than a quarter of the world's population is at risk of infection with the soil-transmitted helminths Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and... (Review)
Review
More than a quarter of the world's population is at risk of infection with the soil-transmitted helminths Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Infected children and adults present with a range of medical and surgical conditions, and clinicians should consider the possibility of infection in individuals living in, or returning from, endemic regions. Although safe and effective drugs are donated free to endemic countries, only half of at-risk children received treatment in 2016. This Seminar describes the epidemiology, lifecycles, pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis, management, and public health control of soil-transmitted helminths. Previous work has questioned the effect of population-level deworming; however, it remains beyond doubt that treatment reduces the severe consequences of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. We highlight the need for refined diagnostic tools and effective control options to scale up public health interventions and improve clinical detection and management of these infections.
Topics: Anthelmintics; Helminthiasis; Humans; Public Health; Soil
PubMed: 28882382
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31930-X -
American Family Physician Mar 2004Intestinal parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases caused by Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus,... (Review)
Review
Intestinal parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases caused by Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, and Entamoeba histolytica occur in the United States. E. vermicularis, or pinworm, causes irritation and sleep disturbances. Diagnosis can be made using the "cellophane tape test." Treatment includes mebendazole and household sanitation. Giardia causes nausea, vomiting, malabsorption, diarrhea, and weight loss. Stool ova and parasite studies are diagnostic. Treatment includes metronidazole. Sewage treatment, proper handwashing, and consumption of bottled water can be preventive. A. duodenale and N. americanus are hookworms that cause blood loss, anemia, pica, and wasting. Finding eggs in the feces is diagnostic. Treatments include albendazole, mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, iron supplementation, and blood transfusion. Preventive measures include wearing shoes and treating sewage. E. histolytica can cause intestinal ulcerations, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, fever, gastrointestinal obstruction, and peritonitis. Amebas can cause abscesses in the liver that may rupture into the pleural space, peritoneum, or pericardium. Stool and serologic assays, biopsy, barium studies, and liver imaging have diagnostic merit. Therapy includes luminal and tissue amebicides to attack both life-cycle stages. Metronidazole, chloroquine, and aspiration are treatments for liver abscess. Careful sanitation and use of peeled foods and bottled water are preventive.
Topics: Adult; Amebicides; Ancylostoma; Animals; Child; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoebiasis; Enterobiasis; Enterobius; Giardia lamblia; Giardiasis; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Necator americanus
PubMed: 15023017
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Jan 2014The worldwide prevalence of geohelminths and their unique place in evolutionary biology have attracted research focus. These major soil-transmitted intestinal nematodes... (Review)
Review
The worldwide prevalence of geohelminths and their unique place in evolutionary biology have attracted research focus. These major soil-transmitted intestinal nematodes that cause human diseases are the nematode roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the two hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), often collectively referred as geohelminths. Studies of geohelminthiasis in poorly nourished children in developing regions report that geohelminths contribute to stunted growth and cognitive impairment. Insights into immunology have shed light on the modulatory role of the parasite on the host immune system and have defined the role of T cells in controlling geohelminthic infection. Recent molecular biological techniques have created an opportunity to analyse the interaction between parasites and their hosts at the molecular level. This paper is a review of the recent literature that examined the prevalence of geohelminthiasis in developing countries, the association between geohelminths in relation to public health, parasitological/diagnostic features, and therapeutic and preventive aspects of these major soil-transmitted helminth (STH) pathogens in humans.
Topics: Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Ascaris lumbricoides; Developing Countries; Developmental Disabilities; Helminthiasis; Humans; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Prevalence; Trichuris
PubMed: 24423707
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.3183 -
Parasites & Vectors Apr 2022Little is known about the prevalence of Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean. In view of the number of owned free-roaming and feral dogs within the islands and the ideal... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the prevalence of Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean. In view of the number of owned free-roaming and feral dogs within the islands and the ideal subtropical climate for parasite development and environmental survival, Ancylostoma could pose a threat to the health of the dogs as well as a zoonotic risk to people.
METHODS
To determine whether generalities about Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean could be made and to obtain a better understanding of the prevalence, published (Scielo, Scopus, and PubMed databases) and gray (e.g., student theses, conference presentations) literature was reviewed. Retrieved manuscripts were screened, and relevant data (year, location, dog population, method of diagnosis, positivity rate) were extracted. Data from two dog populations on St. Kitts also were included: a 2014 field study involving dogs with limited veterinary care and data from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Clinic records for 2018-2019.
RESULTS
Fourteen manuscripts from the 1950s to 2019, representing ten of the Caribbean islands/countries and the Bahamas, were identified. Methods of diagnosing infection status ranged from simple qualitative or quantitative flotation methods to centrifugation with Sheather's sugar flotation solution or necropsy. Dog populations sampled included stray, owned free-roaming, and owned confined. Reported rates of Ancylostoma infection ranged from 10 to 91%. Studies from the last 10 years indicate positivity rates of 21 to 73%. Ancylostoma positivity rates in the St. Kitts' populations were 61% and 10% for the 2014 and 2018-2019 populations, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no indication that hookworm prevalence has changed over time in the Caribbean, and there were no obvious differences between owned and unowned dogs or free-roaming and confined dogs. The data from St. Kitts were on par with positivity rates from the other islands within the last 10 years and reflective of the impact that veterinary care, including anthelmintic treatment, is expected to have on parasites in pets. There is a clear need to expand the available data for the region and improve control programs for Ancylostoma infections to protect both canine and human health.
Topics: Ancylostoma; Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Caribbean Region; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Feces; Humans; Parasites; West Indies
PubMed: 35449121
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05254-2 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Aug 2019For a long time, wildlife carnivores have been disregarded for their potential in transmitting zoonotic nematodes. However, human activities and politics (e.g.,... (Review)
Review
For a long time, wildlife carnivores have been disregarded for their potential in transmitting zoonotic nematodes. However, human activities and politics (e.g., fragmentation of the environment, land use, recycling in urban settings) have consistently favoured the encroachment of urban areas upon wild environments, ultimately causing alteration of many ecosystems with changes in the composition of the wild fauna and destruction of boundaries between domestic and wild environments. Therefore, the exchange of parasites from wild to domestic carnivores and vice versa have enhanced the public health relevance of wild carnivores and their potential impact in the epidemiology of many zoonotic parasitic diseases. The risk of transmission of zoonotic nematodes from wild carnivores to humans via food, water and soil (e.g., genera , , , , , , ) or arthropod vectors (e.g., genera spp., spp., spp.) and the emergence, re-emergence or the decreasing trend of selected infections is herein discussed. In addition, the reasons for limited scientific information about some parasites of zoonotic concern have been examined. A correct compromise between conservation of wild carnivores and risk of introduction and spreading of parasites of public health concern is discussed in order to adequately manage the risk of zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores in line with the 'One Health' approach.
PubMed: 31338295
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.12.011 -
Journal of Acute Medicine Dec 2018Hookworms infection is a soil-transmitted helminthic disease particularly endemic in developing counties of tropical regions. It is attributed mainly to two human... (Review)
Review
Hookworms infection is a soil-transmitted helminthic disease particularly endemic in developing counties of tropical regions. It is attributed mainly to two human pathogens nematodes namely Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Although the disease has been characterized as "neglected" is very diffi cult to be eliminated and the economic consequences are great. Worms are fed with blood of hosts in small intestine and cause typically iron deficiency anemia with relevant symptoms as well as eosinophilia. Patients admitted in emergency department claim often diffuse general symptoms, whereas cases with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding can be seen. Within this brief review, after introducing some basic elements of hookworms' epidemiology, taxonomy and socioeconomic problem is emphasized, pathogenesis, and life cycle of parasite are concisely explained. Furthermore, clinical manifestations often or rarely seen in emergency department are described. Therapeutic options are also enclosed. Awareness of the problem and critical thinking of patients coming from endemic regions could result to identifying more hookworm cases and their therapy will efficiently alleviate not only the patients per se but health system and societies as well.
PubMed: 32995216
DOI: 10.6705/j.jacme.201812_8(4).0001 -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2014Intestinal nematodes affecting dogs, i.e. roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, have a relevant health-risk impact for animals and, for most of them, for human beings.... (Review)
Review
Intestinal nematodes affecting dogs, i.e. roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, have a relevant health-risk impact for animals and, for most of them, for human beings. Both dogs and humans are typically infected by ingesting infective stages, (i.e. larvated eggs or larvae) present in the environment. The existence of a high rate of soil and grass contamination with infective parasitic elements has been demonstrated worldwide in leisure, recreational, public and urban areas, i.e. parks, green areas, bicycle paths, city squares, playgrounds, sandpits, beaches. This review discusses the epidemiological and sanitary importance of faecal pollution with canine intestinal parasites in urban environments and the integrated approaches useful to minimize the risk of infection in different settings.
Topics: Ancylostoma; Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Environmental Monitoring; Feces; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Parasite Egg Count; Risk; Soil; Toxocara; Trichuris; Urban Health
PubMed: 24524656
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-67