Data on the asymptomatic burden of malaria in endemic areas is essential for Ghana's malaria elimination efforts. Consequently, the situation of asymptomatic malaria in the Fanteakwa South District (FSD) is determined in this study. The FSD is predominantly forested with more rural than peri-urban communities. Additionally, artisanal mining is prevalent in the district. Despite that the forgoing could promote high incidence of malaria, the burden of asymptomatic malaria and associated factors in the district have never been determined.
This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected communities in the FSD in the Eastern region of Ghana. The participating households were systematically selected, of which one household member was randomly enrolled in the study. With prior consent, 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the participants. Subsequently, the study variables were obtained from the enrolees using a structured questionnaire. The malaria status of the enrolled participants was determined using the CareStart™ malaria rapid diagnostic test kit (mRDT) (USA). The multiple logistic regression model was used to fit the model to predict the groups at risk of P. falciparum infection in the district.
In total, 412 study participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in the district was 43.4 % (179/412). The prevalence rate was 36.9 %, 27.7 %, 50 % and 58.8 % (<0.001) respectively for the Dwenase, Bosusu, Nsutam and Osino communities. Living at Bosusu (p = 0.045, AOR = 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.05–0.96), Dwenase (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.30) and Nsutam (p < 0.001, AOR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.08–0.45) were less likely to contract malaria compared to Osino dwellers. Furthermore, pregnant women (p = 0.024, COR = 0.35, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.9) and individuals who do not share mosquito nets with others (p = 0.017, COR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.25–0.88) were less likely to contract malaria. Moreover, being an adolescent (p = 0.048, COR = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.00–3.73), living in mining communities (p = 0.002, COR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.27–3.05), being nocturnally active (p = 0.001, AOR = 4.64, 95 % CI: 1.97–11.31), living in a medium quality house (p = 0.031, AOR = 2.31, 95 % CI: 1.09–5.00), schooling in the district (p < 0.001) and body temperature above >37.5 °C (<0.001), were predictors of asymptomatic malaria.
The burden of asymptomatic malaria is high in the Fanteakwa South district. In this context, the implementation of the ‘mass strategy’ recommended by the World Health Organization will play a key role in eliminating malaria in the district.
Little attention has been paid to determining the prevalence and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in some developing countries. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the prevalence and associated factors of STH infections among schoolchildren attending three primary schools in Mekane Eyesus town, northwestern Ethiopia.
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 in Mekane Eyesus town. Stool samples were collected from 401 children from three primary schools in the town. Wet-mount and formol ether concentration techniques were used to diagnose stool samples, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors for STH infections.
The overall prevalence of STH infection in this study was 18.2 % (73/401). The most common helminth species detected was Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) (7.5 % (30/401)). Not trimming fingernails regularly (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.75, 95 % CI = 1.87–7.50), having illiterate fathers (AOR = 2.29, 95 % CI = 1.18–4.44), and being aged 15–17 years (AOR = 2.37, 95 % CI = 1.06–5.30) were associated with increased odds of STH infection. Children who wash their hands after defecation (AOR = 0.43, 95 % CI = 0.21–0.88) and those whose mothers were housewives (AOR = 0.22, 95 % CI = 0.08–0.58) had lower odds of STH infection.
This study found a high prevalence of STH infection among schoolchildren in Mekane Eyesus town. Thus, STH infection preventive measures, including deworming of schoolchildren, should be implemented in the study area. Moreover, giving health-related knowledge about STH infection prevention strategies, such as regular fingernail trimming and hand washing after defecating, is vital for reducing the prevalence of STH infections in the study area.
Indoplanorbis exustus and Radix rubiginosa act as intermediate hosts for veterinary and medical trematode parasites. Snail control is a strategy used to decrease the number of snails and interrupt the life cycle of parasites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus extracts against I. exustus and R. rubiginosa in the laboratory. Ethyl acetate extracts of selected symbiotic bacteria were tested for their molluscicidal activities according to World Health Organization guidelines. Additionally, pathological changes in the snails were observed after treatment with the LC50 values under a light microscope. Indoplanorbis exustus and R. rubiginosa were susceptible to all ethyl acetate extracts of symbiotic bacteria. The lowest LC50 and LC90 at 24 h for I. exustus after exposure to Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii (bALN18.2_TH) extracts were 81.66 and 151.02 ppm, respectively. Similarly, the lowest LC50 and LC90 at 24 h for R. rubiginosa after exposure to Photorhabdus luminescence subsp. akhurstii (bAPY3.5_TH) extracts were 49.21 and 147.66 ppm, respectively. Photorhabdus species had more substantial molluscicidal effects than Xenorhabdus on these snails. The ethyl acetate extracts of these bacteria are effective when contacting the epithelial cells and foot muscle of the snails. To our knowledge, this is the first report on using Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus extracts to evaluate molluscicidal activities. These symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, may be useful for controlling snail intermediate hosts.
Bovine trypanosomosis is an incapacitating and lethal ailment brought about by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma. The disease leads to losses in livestock and agricultural productivity, resulting in significant socio-economic repercussions. In East Africa, trypanosomosis has been endemic for an extensive period due to ecological factors and vector biology that facilitate the persistent circulation of trypanosomes. This investigation outlines the occurrence of bovine trypanosomosis in East Africa through a meta-analysis. A thorough search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science and AJOL. Suitable studies were chosen using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prevalence was estimated through a random effect model. Publication bias and the variation in prevalence estimates due to heterogeneity were also evaluated. The analysis was performed on 115 studies that contained relevant prevalence data. The collective estimate of bovine trypanosomosis prevalence across the studies stood at 12% (95% CI: 11, 13), ranging from 1% (95% CI: 0, 2) to 51% (95% CI: 45, 58). The subgroup analysis by country revealed considerable disparities in prevalence. The highest estimated prevalence was 24% (95% CI: 18, 30) in Somalia, whereas the lowest prevalence was observed in Ethiopia at 10% (95% CI: 9, 11). A significant level of heterogeneity was noted in most pooled estimates, even after conducting subgroup analysis. The visual examination of the funnel plot and the Egger's regression asymmetry coefficient (b = −5.13, 95% CI: −7.49, −2.76, p = 0.00) and Begg's plot (p = 0.00) indicate the presence of publication bias. In conclusion, bovine trypanosomosis is a pervasive and noteworthy malady affecting livestock. The findings of this investigation imply a high prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in the majority of the countries under scrutiny. Despite the well-known hindrance that livestock trypanosomosis poses to livestock production in Africa, little attention has been devoted to the trypanosomosis situation, particularly in East African nations.
Human babesiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease; diffused especially in some regions of the United States, it has been less frequently observed in other continents, including Europe. Serological surveys suggest that babesiosis could be more frequent than expected in European countries, representing an emerging health-issue and a possible harm, especially in immunocompromised populations. Only one case of human babesiosis has been reported in Italy and data about the diffusion of the pathogen in this country are scant. We conducted a multicentric serological survey in 5 centers of North-Eastern Italy, aimed to detect the seroprevalence of Babesia spp. antibodies in 3 groups of immunocompromised patients: people living with HIV (PLHIV), rheumatologic patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapies and patients undergoing renal transplant. Among the 433 enrolled patients, 3 (0.7%) tested positive for Babesia spp. serology. All positive patients belonged to the PLHIV group, with a seroprevalence of 1.7% (3/180) in this population; the three serologically positive patients were all asymptomatic. They were all enrolled in the provinces of Bolzano and Trento, where seroprevalences of 3.1% and 3.6% were recorded, respectively. Our results suggest that further research is needed on this field, awareness should be raised toward the human disease in Europe, especially in immunocompromised patients, and this emerging health issue should be analyzed in a One-Health perspective to be fully understood.
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a significant public health problem in impoverished communities of tropical and subtropical areas. Improved diagnostic methods are crucial for Neglected Tropical Diseases programs, particularly for S. stercoralis, as traditional methods are inadequate. Thus, it is important to identify the most accurate and efficient methods for the diagnosis of STH. We performed a retrospective study analyzing laboratory data at the Instituto de Investigaciones de Enfermedades Tropicales from 2010 to 2019. The study included data from outpatients referred for stool analysis and public health interventions from urban and rural communities in northern Salta province, Argentina. Samples were included in this analysis if processed through sedimentation/concentration, Baermann, Harada-Mori and McMaster's, with a subgroup that also included Agar plate culture method (APC). Sensitivity was calculated against a composite reference standard. Of the 5625 samples collected, 944 qualified for this analysis, with a prevalence of 11.14% for A. lumbricoides, 8.16% for hookworm, 1.38% for T. trichiura, and 6.36% for S. stercoralis. The sedimentation/concentration method was the most sensitive for A. lumbricoides (96%), compared to the McMaster method, with a sensitivity of 62%. Similarly, for hookworms, sedimentation/concentration was more sensitive than McMaster's, Harada-Mori, and Baermann with sensitivities of 87%, 70%, 43%, and 13%, respectively. Most of these infections were of light intensity. For S. stercoralis, Baermann and sedimentation/concentration methods were the most sensitive, with 70% and 62% respectively, while Harada-Mori was the least sensitive. In a subset of 389 samples also analyzed by the APC, Baermann was more sensitive than APC for detecting S. stercoralis, and both methods were superior to Harada-Mori. Parasitological methods, mostly when used combined, offer adequate opportunities for the diagnosis of STH in clinical and public health laboratories. The incorporation of S. stercoralis into the control strategies of the World Health Organization requires rethinking the current diagnostic approach used for surveys. With sedimentation/concentration and Baermann appearing as the most sensitive methods for this species. Further studies, including implementation assessments, should help in identifying the most adequate and feasible all-STH diagnostic approach.
Malaria is a Zoonotic disease, worldwide in distribution and caused by different species of plasmodium. It is a major cause of sickness and mortality in developing countries including Pakistan. This study was carried with the aim to find out the prevalence of malaria and to aware the people about this disease.
The study was carried out in district charsadda. 120 blood samples were collected from suspects both male and female, during the period of March 2022 to September 2022 and were analyzed for CBC and for Microscopic examination.
Out of these 120 samples 12(10%) were found positive and 108(90%) were negative. The prevalence of malaria was more in the month of June and July. The infection was high in male (13.3%) as compared to female (6.6%). The prevalence was more in rural areas 8(13.3%) than in urban areas 4(6.6%).
The Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Platelets and Red Blood Cells were found more affected in positive samples as compared to other parameters. The present study will help the malarial control programs to focus on rural areas. The Plasmodium vivax is more common in the study area.
African animal trypanosomosis is one of the main obstacles to the development of livestock and agricultural output in Ethiopia. It usually results in a severe, frequently fatal sickness, and the infected animals were more weakened as the disease progress and become unfit for work. A cross sectional study design was conducted from December 2021 to April 2022 with the aim of estimating the prevalence of trypanosome infection both in Glossina spp. and cattle, and to assess apparent density of Glossina spp. A total of 298 cattle were selected and examined for trypanosome by using buffy coat technique. The overall prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis was 19.1%; and two species of trypanosomes, T. congolense and T. vivax, were identified in the study area. The prevalence of T. congolense and T. vivax were 15.8% and 2.3%, respectively. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher in adult animals (OR = 2.7; p < 0.05) than in younger cattle and poor body condition (OR = 3.18; p 0.05) than medium body condition animals. The mean PCV value of infected animals was 14.3% (13.3–15.4) significantly lower than the non-infected animals 18.5% (17.8–19.2). Glossina pallidipes is the only tsetse species encountered in all the study areas. In total, 2992 flies were caught of which 90.8% belong to G. pallidipes and 9.2% were other biting flies. The overall apparent density of G. pallidipes was 20.1 F/T/D and other biting flies were 2.0 F/T/D. A total of 307 live Glossina pallidipes were dissected. The overall prevalence of Glossina pallidipes infection rate was 9.1% (95% CI = 5.9–12.4). The prevalence of G. pallidipes infection was significantly higher in Kucha district (OR = 3.2, χ2 = 2.6, p 0.05) than the other two districts, Daramalo and Arba Minch Zuria. Also it was significantly higher in flies trapped from riverine forest areas (OR = 5.5, χ2 = 2.86, p 0.05). Therefore, to reduce the impact of trypanosomosis and Glossina, vector control and treating infected cattle with prophylactic or chemotherapeutic drugs and active community participation can play a key role.
The rapid spread of pyrethroid resistance has led to a change in strategy, going from pyrethroid-based nets to PBO + pyrethroid-treated nets. Although these new nets may significantly improve the control of pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes, their durability in the field remain not yet well documented. This study investigates the durability and washing resistance of Olyset-Plus nets in the city centre and rural areas of Bertoua, Cameroon. In each site, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to at least 190 households with an Olyset-Plus net. Factors such as net use, physical integrity and bioefficacy were recorded. Bioassays were conducted on the collected nets to assess their bioefficacy and resistance to washing. They were tested against wild Anopheles gambiae sensus lato (s.l.). Unused nets and the Kisumu strain were used as controls. Washing and cone testing of the nets was carried out according to standard WHO protocols.
A high rate of net use by children was recorded in the urban area (89.1% (106/119)) compared to the rural area (39.7% (118/297)). The majority of Olyset-Plus nets inspected 82.2% (162/197) in the rural area and 88% (206/234) in the urban centre were in good condition (Hole Index<64). Only 5.6% and 6.8% of nets were badly torn in rural and urban sites respectively. Nets were washed more regularly in the urban centre. 88.1% of urban dwellers reported having washed their nets at least once compared to only 62% of rural dwellers. Bioefficacy tests with nets indicated a mortality rate ranging from 66% for unwashed nets to 86.7% for nets washed at least once. Bioefficacy varied significantly in the city of Bertoua according to net washing frequency, soaking time, soap type and drying location, whereas in the rural village, only washing(washed or unwashed) and soaking status (soaked or unsoaked) significantly influenced the bioefficacy of Olyset-Plus nets.
This study revealed different handling practices of bed nets in rural and urban settings which could significantly affect Olyset-Plus nets bio-efficacy and durability. Routine monitoring and sensitization of communities to best practices concerning bed nets usage and handling during mass distribution might enhance the net durability in the community.
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