Human Intestinal Parasite Burden and Poor Sanitation in Rural Alabama
| Autor: | Patricia E. Bryan, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Catherine C. Flowers, Jacob Kraus, Shannon McAtee, Rojelio Mejia, Rebecca Jeun, Megan McKenna, Tabitha Ward, Peter J. Hotez |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
education.field_of_study
biology 030231 tropical medicine Population Intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium Articles biology.organism_classification medicine.disease_cause Parasite load Necator americanus Strongyloides stercoralis 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Infectious Diseases Virology Environmental health Hookworm Infections Immunology parasitic diseases medicine Parasitology 030212 general & internal medicine education Hookworm infection |
| Zdroj: | The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |
| ISSN: | 1476-1645 0002-9637 |
| Popis: | Hookworm infection affects 430 million people worldwide, causing iron deficiency, impaired cognitive development, and stunting in children. Because of the environmental conditions needed for the hookworm life-cycle, this parasite is endemic to resource-limited countries. Necator americanus was endemic in the southern United States before improvement of sewage disposal systems and eradication programs. With continued poverty, poor sanitation, and an environment suitable for the hookworm life-cycle in some regions of the southern United States, a current prevalence study using modern molecular diagnostics is warranted. Lowndes County, Alabama, was chosen as the study site given previous high hookworm burdens, degree of poverty, and use of open-sewage systems. Participants were interviewed, and stool, serum, and soil samples were tested for nine intestinal parasites using a multiparallel quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found that, among 24 households, 42.4% reported exposure to raw sewage within their home, and from 55 stool samples, 19 (34.5%) tested positive for N. americanus, four (7.3%) for Strongyloides stercoralis, and one (1.8%) for Entamoeba histolytica. Stool tested positive for N. americanus contained low levels of parasite DNA (geometric mean 0.0302 fg/μL). Soil studies detected one (2.9%) Cryptosporidium species, and Toxocara serology assay detected one (5.2%) positive in this population. Individuals living in this high-risk environment within the United States continue to have stool samples positive for N. americanus. Gastrointestinal parasites known to be endemic to developing countries are identifiable in American poverty regions, and areas with lower disease burden are more likely to be identified by using qPCR. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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