Tuesday, May 24, 2022
News on Pathogens and Preparedness
Global Biodefense
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Global Biodefense
No Result
View All Result
Home Infectious Diseases

Study Finds One Third of Cambodians Infected with Threadworm

by Global Biodefense Staff
June 20, 2019
Strongyloides stercoralis

Larva of nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis cause of strongyloidiasis. Credit: CDC

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted threadworm that is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have conducted a nation-wide parasitology survey of the Cambodian population and concluded that nearly a third of the studied population is infected with S. stercoralis.

The threadworm is transmitted through infected larvae in the soil and, like hookworms, infect humans through the skin. The worm can cause long-lasting and potentially fatal infections in people. Larvae are not detected by standard coprological diagnostics, so S. stercoralis has been under-detected and overlooked for decades.

In the new work, Peter Odermatt, of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, and colleagues used a diagnostic test that detects S. stercoralis IgG antibodies in the urine. 7,246 enrolled study participants took the test and provided data on demography, hygiene, and knowledge about helminth infection.

Overall, 30.5% of participants were infected with threadworms. The rate in individual provinces ranged from 10.9% to 48.2%, with prevalence rates below 20% in only five south-eastern provinces. The risk of infection increased with age, and open defecation was associated with a higher risk while knowledge about helminth infections lowered a person’s risk. In addition, S. stercoralis infection was positively associated with night temperatures, rainfall and distance to water, and negatively associated with land occupied by rice fields. Advanced spatial statistical modeling allowed predicting S. stercoralis in unsurveyed locations, which lead to a unique result, namely a country-wide risk profile for S. stercoralis infection in Cambodia.

“Our study represents a clear risk map of S. stercoralis of a highly endemic setting,” the researchers say. “Based on these data the population at risk can be quantified and planning of concrete control approach become realistic.” Subsidies to support the high cost of drugs, or affordable generics, are needed to start tackling the worm, they add.

Forrer A, Khieu V, Vounatsou P, Sithithaworn P, Ruantip S, et al. (2019) Strongyloides stercoralis: Spatial distribution of a highly prevalent and ubiquitous soil-transmitted helminth in Cambodia. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 13(6): e0006943. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006943

Tags: Editor PickNeglected Tropical Diseases

Related Posts

Congenital Syphilis Continues a Decade-Long Surge Across the US
Infectious Diseases

Congenital Syphilis Continues a Decade-Long Surge Across the US

April 12, 2022
Some PASC Patients May Experience Long-Lasting Airway Disease — Even if They Only Had Mild COVID-19
Infectious Diseases

Some PASC Patients May Experience Long-Lasting Airway Disease — Even if They Only Had Mild COVID-19

March 22, 2022
Neurological Symptoms are Present in Roughly Two-Thirds of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Infectious Diseases

Neurological Symptoms are Present in Roughly Two-Thirds of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

March 21, 2022
Even Mild or Moderate COVID-19 Illness Affects Cardiovascular System in Young Adults
Infectious Diseases

Even Mild or Moderate COVID-19 Illness Affects Cardiovascular System in Young Adults

March 19, 2022
Load More

Latest News

NIH to Further Invest in Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network

NIH to Further Invest in Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network

May 10, 2022

How a COVID-19 Infection Spurs Antibodies Against Common Colds

May 8, 2022
Hospitals Resilience to Extreme Events: One-Third of Staff May Be Lost During a Disaster

Hospitals Resilience to Extreme Events: One-Third of Staff May Be Lost During a Disaster

May 6, 2022
Where is Testing Needed Most During Pandemic Surges? WVU Researchers Develop Machine Learning Prediction Tools

Where is Testing Needed Most During Pandemic Surges? WVU Researchers Develop Machine Learning Prediction Tools

May 6, 2022

Subscribe

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Stemar Media Group LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Stemar Media Group LLC