Andrea Servián , Nicolás Garimano , María Soledad Santini
{"title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of soil-transmitted helminth infections in South America (2000–2024)","authors":"Andrea Servián , Nicolás Garimano , María Soledad Santini","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107400","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are parasitic nematodes commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, where poor sanitation makes them a significant public health concern. This study provides a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of human STH infections across 13 South American countries from 2000 to 2023. It covers these infections' prevalence, distribution, and diagnosis, highlighting the environmental factors influencing transmission pathways. The review identified 134 studies on human STH infections, revealing Brazil as the most researched country. The meta-analysis found prevalence rates of <em>Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura</em>, hookworms, and <em>Strongyloides stercoralis</em> below 20 %, with notable heterogeneity across studies. Most studies used conventional microscopy for diagnosis, pointing out the need for implementing advanced diagnostic tools. Environmental and climatic factors, including temperature annual range, vegetation density, soil types, and properties were significant predictors of STH prevalence. The study calls for more research performing advanced diagnostic methods and broader geographical coverage to address existing data gaps. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for holistic public health policies integrating biomedical and environmental approaches to ensure effective disease management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"260 ","pages":"Article 107400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta tropica","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001706X2400281X","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PARASITOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are parasitic nematodes commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, where poor sanitation makes them a significant public health concern. This study provides a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of human STH infections across 13 South American countries from 2000 to 2023. It covers these infections' prevalence, distribution, and diagnosis, highlighting the environmental factors influencing transmission pathways. The review identified 134 studies on human STH infections, revealing Brazil as the most researched country. The meta-analysis found prevalence rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms, and Strongyloides stercoralis below 20 %, with notable heterogeneity across studies. Most studies used conventional microscopy for diagnosis, pointing out the need for implementing advanced diagnostic tools. Environmental and climatic factors, including temperature annual range, vegetation density, soil types, and properties were significant predictors of STH prevalence. The study calls for more research performing advanced diagnostic methods and broader geographical coverage to address existing data gaps. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for holistic public health policies integrating biomedical and environmental approaches to ensure effective disease management.
期刊介绍:
Acta Tropica, is an international journal on infectious diseases that covers public health sciences and biomedical research with particular emphasis on topics relevant to human and animal health in the tropics and the subtropics.