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Background: Despite the existence of a population-based control program using single dose albendazole or mebendazole as a preventive chemotherapy, hookworm transmission remains high. It causes a negative impact on the growth and school performance of children. In connection to this preventive chemotherapy, different studies produced conflicting results. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of single (500 mg) versus multiple doses (100 mg twice a day during three consecutive days) of mebendazole against hookworm infections among school-aged children., Methods: This randomized open-label clinical trial took place among school-aged children (6-14 years old) in Burie and Debre Elias towns, Northwest Ethiopia. Using simple randomization, eligible hookworm-positive children were allocated (1:1) to either a single or multiple dose treatment arms. Stool samples were collected and processed using McMaster method at baseline and follow-up period (14-21 days after treatment). Only laboratory technicians were blinded. The cure and egg reduction rates were the primary and secondary therapeutic outcome measures against hookworm infections, respectively. An independent t-test was used to compare group means, and logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR). P-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant., Result: One hundred eight children, 54 in each treatment arm had completed baseline data and received allocated treatment. One hundred three children had completed follow-up data records and included for the final efficacy analysis. Cure rate against hookworm was significantly higher in the multiple dose (96.1%) than in the single dose (30.8%) with OR = 55.125; 95% CI: 11.92-254.9; P < 0.001. The egg reduction rate in the multiple dose treatment arm (99.5%) was also significantly higher than in the single dose arm (68.9%) with difference t (101) =5.38; 95% CI 230.95-505.36; P < 0.001., Conclusion: The single dose regimen of mebendazole for the treatment of hookworm infections showed poor cure and egg reduction rates, while the multiple doses revealed satisfactory. Although multiple dose regimen administration is a bit more complex than the single dose, we strongly encourage replacing it with multiple dose regimen during deworming programs in hookworm endemic areas., Trial Registration: This trial is retrospectively registered in www.pactr.org, number PACTR201911466695052 on November 26, 2019.

Background: Malaria is a life threating vector borne disease caused by different Plasmodium parasites. Metema and Armachiho are two of the top five malaria endemic areas among the districts of Amhara region in Ethiopia. Transmission pattern is seasonal and migrant laborers who visit these areas for employment in mechanized agriculture are highly affected. The aim of this study was to investigate seasonal abundance, abdominal status and parity rate of An.gambiae s.l in Metema-Armachiho lowlands, Northwest Ethiopia., Method: A 1 year longitudinal entomological study was conducted in Metema-Armachiho lowlands from June 2016-May 2017. Mosquitoes were collected using CDC-light traps in indoor and outdoor sites for four consecutive days in each month. A total of eight standard battery operated CDC-light traps were used to collect mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes were classed as unfed, fed or gravid under a dissecting microscope. The ovaries of all unfed An.gambiae s.l mosquitoes were examined for evidence of parity. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS-20 software. Chi-square test was applied to show significant difference between variables. P-value< 0.05 was taken as statistically significant., Results: Of the total 1253 mosquitoes collected, 713 (552 female, 161 male) were culex and 540 (501 female, 39 male) were An.gambiae s.l. About 50.9% were collected in June-August 2016, 21.7% in September-November 2016, 12.0% in December 2016-February 2017 and 15.4% in March to May 2017. Of the total, 57.2 and 42.8% of the An.gambiae s.l were collected from indoor and outdoor sites respectively. Of the total females collected, 76.8% were unfed; of which 69.4% were parous. Significantly higher number of female An.gambiae s.l were collected in indoor and there was significant difference in abdominal status of An.gambiae s.l mosquitoes collected in different season (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Highest number of An.gambiae s.l was observed from June-August followed by September-November. The parity rate of An.gambiae s.l was high and there was significant difference in abdominal status of An.gambiae s.l collected in different season.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligatory intracellular coccidian protozoan organism, Toxoplasma gondii. It has a worldwide distribution, affecting one-third of the world population. Psychiatric patients have a higher risk of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection due to lack of good personal hygiene. The burden of toxoplasmosis among psychiatric patients in Ethiopia has not been studied extensively. Thus, the study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among psychiatric outpatients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital Psychiatric clinic., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital from February to May 2018. Venous blood was collected from 304 study participants (152 psychiatric outpatients and 152 control groups). Anti-toxoplasma antibodies were determined using Onsite Toxo immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) Rapid Test. A Chi-square test was carried out to compare the two groups and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to check the association between variables. P-value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant., Results: The seroprevalence rate of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies was 33.6, and 16.4% in the psychiatric outpatients and the control samples, respectively. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM sero-prevalence was 1.3% in the former patients and 3.9% in the latter group. Owing cat (AOR = 2.862 95% CI = 1.445-5.666 P = 0.003), cleaning cat excreta (AOR = 2.966 95% CI = 1.317-2.652 P = 0.007), and farming (AOR = 2.058 95% CI = 1.018-4.163 P = 0.045) were found to be significantly associated with the sero-prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody., Conclusions: This study highlighted that, the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies was significantly higher in psychiatric outpatients than the control group (p = 0.001). Cat ownership, cleaning of cat excreta, and farming were found to be statistically significantly associated with the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody.