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Helminthiases are highly prevalent but neglected infections that affect more than 1·5 billion people worldwide. Considering the worldwide prevalence of helminthiases, WHO has declared them a public health concern since 2001, necessitating rigorous control and elimination efforts. However, only a few reliable point-of-care diagnostic tests are available for assessing the effectiveness of public health interventions targeting helminthiases, thus increasing the risk of suboptimal outcomes, misallocation of resources, and emergence of drug-resistant helminths. This Review provides an introduction on helminthiases and strategies to achieve control, elimination, interruption in transmission, and eradication of these infections. The Review then comprehensively details the existent biosensors that can be used to detect these infections in human samples, focusing on their target biomarkers, the bioreceptors used, and the sensing readouts. The Review concludes with an in-depth discussion on the persistent challenges related to helminthiases, aiming to encourage the development of much-needed diagnostics specific to these neglected infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests. GraphenicaLab SL is a company that specialises in the development of electrochemical sensors based on graphene., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: One of the tropical illnesses that is often overlooked is soil-transmitted helminths, or STHs. In tropical and subtropical nations, where poor sanitation and contaminated water sources are common, they mostly impact the most vulnerable populations., Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of STHs and related risk factors among the people living in Jigjiga town, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia., Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was revealed from June 1 to July 21, 2023. Study participants were selected through a multistage sampling method, where households were randomly chosen from the kebeles. A semi-structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect some of the data. A stool sample was collected from each participant, and a single Kato-Katz was performed to detect STHs. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, and statistical significance was declared at a level of p-value < 0.05 between the outcome and independent variables., Results: There were 507 participants in this study, and 90.9% of them responded. STH prevalence was 11.4% overall (95% CI =  9.0, 14.0). With a prevalent parasite species, A. lumbricoides was 9.3%, T. trichiura was 2.8%, and hookworms were 0.2%. Of the overall positive cases, 93.1% are due to single parasite infections. Independent predictors of STHs included low wealth status (AOR =  3.10; 95% CI =  1.25, 7.75; p =  0.015), infrequent hand washing before meals (AOR =  3.19; 95% CI =  1.55, 6.57; p =  0.002), earthen floors (AOR =  2.32; 95% CI =  1.12, 4.79; p =  0.023), and no drinking water treatment habit (AOR =  5.07; 95% CI =  1.89, 13.57; p =  0.001)., Conclusion: Jigjiga town had a low prevalence of STHs infections. Infrequent hand washing habits before meals, earthen floors, low wealth status, and no habit of treating drinking water were significant associated factors. Health education on handwashing, regular deworming, improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities to reduce the burden of STH effectively., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Sedo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Over the past decade, Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) has been a key strategy for controlling schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) in Anambra State, Nigeria. This longitudinal study, conducted from 2017 to 2019, evaluated the impact of interventions for controlling schistosomiasis (SCH) and STHs in recipient communities. A total of 1,046 pupils aged 5 to 16 years were enrolled, with Kato-Katz and urine filtration methods used for faecal and urine sample analysis. A structured questionnaire was administered to 243 people to assess the contextual factors. At baseline, prevalence was 8% (82/1046), with A. lumbricoides (7.0%), T. trichiura (1.0%), Hookworm (0.1%), and S. haematobium (0.5%) observed. Co-infection was 1%. At follow-up, prevalence decreased to 6% (65/1046), with A. lumbricoides (2.0%), T. trichiura (2.2%), and S. haematobium (2%) observed, and co-infection was 0.2%. Infection levels varied by location (p > 0.05), with socio-economic status and inadequate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure contributing to transmission risk. Most respondents (87%) earned less than $50 per month, and 39% practiced open defecation. The persistence of open defecation highlights critical gaps in WASH that undermine sustainable Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control. Addressing cultural and economic challenges, alongside improving WASH infrastructure, is essential to sustain MAM's impact., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Ethical clearance and approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee of Anambra State owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, the State Capital with approval letter number COOUTH/AC/Vol. XI/00013. Permission for access to the schools in order to carry out the study was obtained from the Anambra State’s Commissioner of Basic Education with approval letter number MOE/SCHD/1673/Vol.1/17, Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and Educational Secretary in charge of primary schools in the study area. Parents, guardians, teachers and other key stakeholders including traditional ruler and town union leaders were sensitized during advocacy visits to the community selected for the study. Informed consent (written and verbal) was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s). To ensure the willingness of pupils to participate, assent was obtained from them at every step by providing age-appropriate information, and addressing questions and concerns, all while maintaining open communication throughout the study. There was an emphasis that participation was voluntary and participants are free to withdraw from the study at any time without further obligations. Permission to take photographs was sought and obtained from the participants and parents. Written consent was obtained, explicitly acknowledging that the images might be utilized to illustrate risk factors in scientific publications. All infected pupils included in the study underwent treatment with Praziquantel and Albendazole. Consent for publication: All authors of this manuscript have given their approval for its publication., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Helminthiasis is a common infection in both humans and other animal populations and negatively affects the health of the host, causing a range of morbidity and even mortality, especially in young people and those with weakened immune systems. A variety of diagnostic procedures with a number of modifications are available to identify the sources of infection and to assess the epidemiological situation, the effectiveness of parasite control programs, anthelmintic treatment, and the prevention of drug resistance. These can be simple and cheap methods - for example, stool smear examination - or modern highly sensitive methods - for example, PCR analysis. This review attempts to summarize the advantages and limitations of each of these frequently used methods.

Despite improvements in environmental sanitation and healthcare, the infection rate of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) remains high in low socioeconomic regions of developing countries including Vietnam. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of STH infections among primary school children in Meo Vac, Ha Giang: a poor mountainous province in Vietnam. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2023, involving 400 participants. The Kato-Katz method was used to identify and quantify STH infections. Out of the 386 children assessed, 76.1% were infected with at least 1 type of STH. The most common infections were with Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides (47.0%). Mixed infections were identified in 121 children, with 77 cases of co-infection with A lumbricoides and T trichiura, 13 cases of A lumbricoides and hookworms, 8 cases of T trichiura and hookworms, and 23 cases involving all 3 STH types. Most infections were of light intensity, with a few moderate-intensity cases of A lumbricoides. Primary school students in Meo Vac, Ha Giang, Vietnam, continue to experience high infection rates of STHs in 2023. The majority of infections were of light intensity. To address this issue, government efforts should focus on educating the public about STH causes, transmission routes, and negative impacts. Improving personal and environmental hygiene and ensuring access to clean water are essential measures., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) was launched in 2019 by the World Health Organization and African nations to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), which still affect over 1.5 billion people globally. In this study, we present a comprehensive geostatistical analysis of publicly available STH survey data from ESPEN to delineate inter-country disparities in STH prevalence and its environmental drivers while highlighting the strengths and limitations that arise from the use of the ESPEN data. To achieve this, we also propose the use of calibration validation methods to assess the suitability of geostatistical models for disease mapping at the national scale., Methods: We analysed the most recent survey data with at least 50 geo-referenced observations, and modelled each STH species data (hookworm, roundworm, whipworm) separately. Binomial geostatistical models were developed for each country, exploring associations between STH and environmental covariates, and were validated using the non-randomized probability integral transform. We produced pixel-, subnational-, and country-level prevalence maps for successfully calibrated countries. All the results were made publicly available through an R Shiny application., Results: Among 35 countries with STH data that met our inclusion criteria, the reported data years ranged from 2004 to 2018. Models from 25 countries were found to be well-calibrated. Spatial patterns exhibited significant variation in STH species distribution and heterogeneity in spatial correlation scale (1.14 km to 3,027.44 km) and residual spatial variation variance across countries., Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of ESPEN data in assessing spatial variations in STH prevalence across countries using model-based geostatistics. Despite the challenges posed by data sparsity which limit the application of geostatistical models, the insights gained remain crucial for directing focused interventions and shaping future STH assessment strategies within national control programs., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Khaki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Over the past decade, Anambra State, Nigeria, has implemented mass administration of medicines (MAMs) to combat soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a significant public health challenge in low-income regions. Nevertheless, these efforts have predominantly focused on pre-school and school-aged children, leaving a notable gap in understanding STH infection rates and the efficacy of these campaigns among secondary school adolescents, who have been excluded from this initiative. Our study aimed to address this critical knowledge gap by assessing soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) prevalence and contextual factors hindering effective control among adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. We actively engaged 443 adolescents with a mean age of 14 years in a school-based cross-sectional study in selected communities within the Anaocha Local Government Area from 8 February to 7 July 2023 following informed consent and assent procedures. Employing a stratified random sampling technique, we collected demographic data and assessed STH risk factors using a structured questionnaire hosted on the Kobo Toolbox platform. For quantitative analysis of STH infections, the Kato-Katz technique was used. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, incorporating descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Of the 443 (213 males (48.0%) and 230 females (52.0%) adolescents studied, the overall prevalence of STH observed was 35.2% (156/443). Ascaris lumbricoides was the prevalent STH species (16.9%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (1.4%) and hookworm (0.5%). Only light-intensity infection was observed. Mixed infections were observed in 16.5% of adolescents, involving A. lumbricoides and hookworm (10.8%), followed by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura (3.2%) and all three STH (2.5%). The observed overall prevalence was not statistically significant with respect to gender (OR: 0.961; 95% CI: 0.651-1.420; p > 0.05) or age (OR: 0.686; 95% CI: 0.459-1.025; p>0.05). Class (grade level) (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.25-2.45, p = 0.003), knowledge and transmission of STH infection (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.86, p = 0.008), parental occupation (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.35-2.67, p < 0.001), parents' literacy level (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96, p = 0.027), and the type of toilet (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.54-3.00, p < 0.001) were all significantly correlated with STH infection. These findings highlight the role of adolescents in sustaining soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) transmission. Coupled with school-based deworming expansion, innovative improvements in water, sanitation, hygiene, and awareness can provide a cost-effective, sustainable solution for combatting STH infections in Anambra State., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Aribodor et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Routine epidemiological data are essential for monitoring the effectiveness of preventive chemotherapy (PC), optimizing resource allocation, and addressing the evolving needs in the elimination of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH). This study assesses the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of STH following five rounds of albendazole-based PC in three implementation units (IUs) in Ondo State, Nigeria., Methodology: Fresh stool samples were collected from 2,093 children aged 5-14 years across 45 systematically selected schools in three IUs: Ese-Odo, Irele, and Ile-Oluji. The samples were analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique. Additionally, standardized questionnaires were administered to gather data on demographics and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources. Data analysis was conducted using R software version 4.3.2, with a 95% confidence interval., Principal Findings/conclusions: The parasitological data indicated a significant decline in the aggregated prevalence of STH across the three IUs. In Ese-Odo, the prevalence decreased to 25.8% (95% CI: 23.0-29.0) from 39% at baseline (d = -34%, p = 0.00). In Irele, prevalence dropped to 9.7% (95% CI: 7.6-12.0) from 51.3% at baseline (d = -81%, p = 0.00), and in Ile-Oluji, prevalence was reduced to 6.4% (95% CI: 4.6-8.7) from 23% at baseline (d = -72.2%, p = 0.00). The most prevalent STH species was Ascaris lumbricoides, with infection rates of 25.5%, 9.4%, and 6.4% in Ese-Odo, Irele, and Ile-Oluji, respectively, followed by Trichuris trichiura in Ese-Odo (2.7%) and Irele (0.4%), while hookworm infections were detected only in Irele (0.7%). The majority of infections were of low intensity in Ese-Odo (91.0%), Irele (96.8%), and Ile-Oluji (100%). Access to improved sanitation (17.7%, 54.9%, and 58.2%), improved water sources (24.5%, 66.1%, and 69.8%), and handwashing facilities (9.0%, 39.6%, and 25.4%) was suboptimal and significantly varied across Ese-Odo, Irele, and Ile-Oluji, respectively (p < 0.05). Open defecation rates were high in Ese-Odo (54.2%), Irele (36.3%), and Ile-Oluji (34.3%). In Ese-Odo, significant risk factors for STH infection included the use of hand-pump boreholes (AOR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.23-4.88, p = 0.01), unprotected dug wells (AOR: 3.25, 95% CI: 0.96-11.36, p = 0.06), ventilated improved pit latrines (AOR: 3.95, 95% CI: 1.13-16.1, p = 0.04), pit latrines without a slab (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.27-3.8, p = 0.01), and failure to use soap after defecation, both when soap was available (AOR: 12.09, 95% CI: 1.86-112.97, p = 0.01) and when soap was unavailable (AOR: 8.19, 95% CI: 1.73-76.65, p = 0.04). In Irele, access to protected dug wells was marginally significant (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 0.96-3.21, p = 0.06), while in Ile-Oluji, access to river water emerged as a significant risk factor (AOR: 7.97, 95% CI: 1.81-58.58, p = 0.02). The use of rainwater was found to be protective across all three IUs. These findings demonstrate significant progress in reducing STH prevalence across the three IUs following PC interventions. However, the data underscores the need for enhanced efforts to improve access to and use of WASH facilities to achieve STH elimination., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Mogaji et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are a significant public health concern in developing countries, particularly affecting children (5-9 years) and adolescents (10-12 years). This study investigated the prevalence of STH infections, examined associated risk factors, and assessed their impact on the nutritional status of children and adolescents., Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted within schools and took place from April to June 2023 and involved 382 participants in Calabar, Nigeria. All participants in the study completed a questionnaire designed to gather information on their demographics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding STH infections. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Fresh faecal samples were collected from each study participant and examined via the Kato-Katz technique. The data were analysed using STATA software, version 14. A binomial logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of STH infections and to examine the associations between STH infection status and stunting, underweight, and wasting., Results: The overall prevalence of STHs was 28.8%, with Ascaris lumbricoides (19.6%) being the most prevalent. The prevalence of STHs was greater among males (30.2%) than females (27.7%) and was relatively greater among participants aged 10 years and above (34.8%). All study participants recorded light infection intensities. The prevalence rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting were 10.5%, 8.4%, and 6.3%, respectively. Respondents with no history of deworming were significantly less likely to contract an STH infection (Odds Ratio: 0.2; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.1-0.4; P < 0.001). The use of pit latrines was associated with a greater likelihood of STH infection (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.4; P = 0.002). Additionally, respondents with poor attitude scores were significantly less likely to contract an STH infection (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.8; P = 0.003), and those over 10 years old (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.04-0.82; P = 0.027) were significantly less likely to be underweight than those aged 5-7 years. There was no association between stunting, underweight, wasting, and STH infection., Conclusion: These findings highlight the necessity for an integrated approach to STH management and nutrition initiatives in Nigeria., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was carried out following the Helsinki Declaration, and approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee of the Ministry of Health in Calabar, Cross River State, under REC number CRSMOH/HRP/REC/2023/416. School head teachers provided consent, and assent was obtained verbally from older school children before the study began. Additionally, the parents/legal guardians of the participating children granted permission on behalf of their children. Informed consent to participate was obtained from the parents/legal guardians of the study participants. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine predictors for helminthiasis among travellers and migrants with eosinophilia for which a visit to tropical regions or endemic regions for common helminthiasis had been registered., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using electronic health records of 23 905 patients with eosinophilia (January 2011-August 2021) at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, including patients tested for helminthiasis with a registered stay in a helminth endemic region. Outcomes were diagnosis of any helminthiasis and diagnosis of schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between potential predictors and helminthiases with a backwards stepwise elimination approach until a predictive model was reached in which each variable had a p value < 0.15., Results: Of 1112 eligible patients with eosinophilia and documented stay in endemic regions, 219 (19.7%) had been diagnosed with helminthiasis, most frequently schistosomiasis (n = 95, 43.4%) and strongyloidiasis (n = 64, 29.2%). A stay in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (OR, 8.2; 95% CI, 2.44-27.56), malaise and fatigue (OR 2.65; 95% CI, 0.77-9.09), and high-grade eosinophilia >1500 cells/μL (OR 2.26; 95% CI, 1.54-3.32) were the most important predictors for any helminthiasis (area under the curve [AUC], 0.77; 0.74-0.80). An SSA origin (AUC, 2.97; 1.11-7.95), malaise and fatigue (AUC, 5.48; 1.13-26.63), and high-grade eosinophilia (AUC, 1.53; 0.86-2.71) were predictors for schistosomiasis (AUC, 0.74; 0.70-0.77); whereas SSA origin (AUC, 5.68 (3.04-10.59)), itching symptoms (AUC, 5.05; 1.32-19.36), and high-grade eosinophilia (AUC, 2.42; 1.33-4.41) were predictors for strongyloidiasis (AUC, 0.73; 0.69-0.76)., Discussion: A stay in an endemic region, specifically SSA, having high-grade eosinophilia, and malaise and fatigue were the most important predictors for helminthiasis. Itching was an additional predictor for strongyloidiasis., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Despite years of a national deworming campaign, the incidence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remains relatively high among certain ethnic groups, with lifestyle factors distinct from those of the general population. Despite existing studies on the prevalence of IPIs, there is limited research exploring the contextual associated factors within the Badi Indigenous community. Our objective in this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs in the indigenous Badi community of Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal, considering socioeconomic, lifestyle, and behavioral factors. A total of 205 stool samples were obtained from individuals aged 18-70 years through purposive sampling and preserved in a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. A structured questionnaire was administered to the selected participants. Three diagnostic methods were used: direct wet mount, saturated salt flotation, and formal ether sedimentation. The study revealed an overall parasite prevalence of 27% (n = 55) in the indigenous Badi communities. Protozoan infections were found in 19% (n = 39) of the studied community, whereas helminthic infections were present in only 7.8% (n = 16). The highest prevalence was observed for Giardia lamblia at 16.1% (n = 33), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides at 5.9% (n = 12), Entamoeba histolytica at 2.9% (n = 6), and both Enterobius vermicularis and Hymenolepis nana at 1% (n = 2). The female population had a higher exposure to E. histolytica (5.8%, n = 6) than did the male population (0%, n = 0). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed increased odds of IPIs among participants involved in agriculture [aOR: 5.37, 95% CI: (2.31 to 12.47)], those who kept free-ranging pigs and poultry [aOR: 5.22, 95% CI: (1.87 to 14.53)], those who did not use soap before eating [aOR: 9.96, 95% CI: (2.11 to 46.99)], and those who consumed raw or undercooked meat [aOR: 2.76, 95% CI: (1.08 to 7.05)] compared with others. Therefore, health education, particularly regarding hygiene practices and lifestyle changes, is crucial for reducing the burden of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in indigenous Badi communities., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University (approval no. 23–0066). Initially, each eligible participant was approached, and the study's objectives and procedures were explained. If they agreed to participate, they were asked to sign an informed consent form. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. , (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: One of the most important pillars of action to achieve the elimination of trachoma and soil-transmitted helminth infections as a public health problem is the mass administration, at regular intervals, of azithromycin and anthielmintics, respectively, to a high proportion of the eligible population in endemic areas., Objective: The objective of the study was to identify access barriers and facilitators for achieving coverage goals in the mass drugs administration, azithromycin and albendazole, in the department of Amazonas, Colombia., Methodology: Implementation research was used, combining three types of qualitative research methodologies to collect information about access barriers and facilitators already described; These were individual and group interviews, focus group discussions and face-to-face intercultural dialogues. We design, validate and apply different instruments with questions adapted to the context and role of the participants, and recorded and transcribed the sessions and analyzed them in qualitative analysis software. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to complement the above instrument questions, to guide data analysis, and apply the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ)., Results: Records of 159 participants were included; 21 individual and 3 group interviews, 6 focus group discussions and 4 intercultural dialogues were carried out. 21 strong, 30 weak, 6 neutral barriers as well as 5 weak and 11 strong facilitators were identified. 62% of the strong barriers and 40% of the weak ones were concentrated in the "Outer Setting Domain". Only 16 facilitators were identified, 44% in the "Innovation" domain., Conclusions: Multiple political, administrative, geographical, logistical and cultural access barriers, as well as external and internal migration of the population, explain low coverage in mass administration of azithromycin and albendazole. It is necessary to review them individually to implement an improvement plan that also recognizes the identified facilitators., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Trujillo-Trujillo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) include species responsible for hookworm disease, ascariasis, and trichuriasis. In the United States, STH infections have been greatly reduced with anthelmintic medications and improved hygiene and sanitation, however, cases still regularly occur, but limited epidemiological data exist. We investigated the occurrence of STH infections using big-data analytics of inpatient medical discharge records (1998-2020). Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample. We developed an algorithm to extract International Classification of Diseases codes for STH infections from over 805 million records. We report patient characteristics and other epidemiological data. We found a mean of 223 (SD = 70.1) cases annually over the 23 years. Ascariasis (total n = 2599) was the most common, followed by hookworm disease ( n = 1809) and trichuriasis ( n = 716). Mean annual cases were highest ( p < 0.05) in males for hookworm disease ( p = 0.0313), but equitable for ascariasis and trichuriasis. Age distributions were skewed towards older patients, with whites and Hispanics most common among records. Chronic anemia and heart disease were common comorbidities. This analysis serves as a case study for using patient record databases as a means of indirect parasitic disease surveillance for population-based studies.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and helminth infections are among the most widespread infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Helminths are known to modulate host immune responses and consequently impact the severity and outcomes of unrelated diseases, including allergies, autoimmune conditions, and infectious diseases. In this way, helminths may modulate essential immune responses against HSV-2 during co-infection and may alter susceptibility to and pathology of HSV-2. However, the epidemiology of STH/HSV-2 co-infections is understudied, and whether helminths influence the host immune response to HSV-2 is not well understood. In this perspective piece, we briefly examine the current knowledge on helminth immune modulation of important pathogens that are endemic to SSA, arguing that it is important to explore HSV-2 and helminth co-infections to elucidate potential interactions between HSV-2 and helminths. This is particularly relevant in SSA, where both pathogens are highly prevalent., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Pillay, Naidoo and Mkhize-Kwitshana.)

Background: Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are major public health problems in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to water. In Ethiopia, there is limited data available for monitoring the efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing helminth infections. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of S. mansoni and STH infections, as well as factors associated with this prevalence, among schoolchildren and compared the findings with those of earlier studies. We also evaluated the diagnostic agreement between two parasitological methods., Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 363 schoolchildren from three rural primary schools located along the shore of Lake Hawassa, Sidama Regional State, southern Ethiopia, was conducted in October and November 2023. The schoolchildren were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic data were collected using pre-structured questionnaires. A single stool sample was collected from each study participant and processed using direct wet mount (DM) microscopy and the formol-ether concentration technique (FECT) to detect helminth ova., Results: The overall prevalence of helminths was 59.8%, with 36.6% of participating children having a single infection and 23.1% having multiple infections. Schistosoma mansoni and STHs were present in 33.9% and 38.8% of children, respectively. The STHs included Ascaris lumbricoides (28.9% of children), Trichuris trichiura (10.7%), hookworms (5.2%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2.8%). Diagnostic agreement between the DM microscopy method and FECT was substantial [kappa (κ) = 0.710] for the detection of Hymenolepis nana and almost perfect (κ = 0.827) for the dection of A. lumbricoides, but only fair for the detection of other detected helminths. Children at Finchawa primary school had a lower prevalence of S. mansoni infection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.76] than those at St Paul's Tullo Catholic primary school. STH infections were more common among children who sometimes (vs. always) washed their hands before meals (AOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.01-3.54) and those who regularly played with soil (AOR 2.56; 95% CI 1.47-4.46)., Conclusions: This study showed a reduction in STH infections from a high prevalence in 2015 to a moderate prevalence at the present time, despite a similar moderate prevalence of S. mansoni infection. Thus, it is crucial to intensify deworming interventions to reduce the burden of helminths in the study area. Additionally, there is a need to enhance the capacity of clinical laboratories to perform FECT in Ethiopian clinical settings where DM is often employed to diagnose helminths., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences (Ref. No: IRB/205/15). Participation was fully voluntary, with written informed consent obtained from the parents/guardians of the children enrolled. Assent  was obtained from students aged ≥ 12 years, following parent/guardian consent. Schoolchildren found to be positive for any pathogenic intestinal parasite were treated by public health professionals. All information obtained in the process of this study was kept confidential and used solely for research purposes. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Community-wide mass drug administration (cMDA) is known as an effective, albeit costly, control strategy for soil-transmitted helminth (STH) parasites. A better understanding of STH aggregation after many rounds of cMDA could help shape more cost-effective policies., Methods: This analysis uses data from the Geshiyaro project, aiming to break STH transmission by cMDA and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Ascaris lumbricoides infection prevalence is derived from egg count data and parasite aggregation is obtained by fitting a negative binomial distribution to the frequency distribution of faecal egg counts., Results: The relationship between parasite dispersion and infection prevalence is approximately linear. Parasite aggregation increases as infection prevalence decreases., Conclusions: A minority of individuals carry most parasites as prevalence decreases in the community. These individuals could be selectively targeted for repeated treatment., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis, continue to impose a heavy burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, despite being preventable. Integration of NTD management into primary healthcare has been inadequate. While researchers have explored community perspectives, there is a notable gap in understanding the viewpoints of healthcare workers (HCW), which is crucial for effective NTD control strategies. This study explores HCW' perspectives in Eastern Uganda, highlighting challenges in schistosomiasis and STH prevention and management., Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, we conducted semistructured interviews with 10 key informants who were HCW in Eastern Uganda with experience in managing STHs and schistosomiasis. Participants were selected purposively and interviewed through Zoom guided by a comprehensive interview guide. The data were transcribed, coded and analyzed thematically., Results: We identified five key themes regarding the impact and management of NTDs: (i) the burden of NTDs, where schistosomiasis and STHs were notably prevalent among children and communities adjacent to water bodies; (ii) transmission of NTDs, emphasizing water bodies and poor sanitation as primary routes of disease spread; (iii) clinical manifestations of NTDs, detailing the symptomatic presentations that complicate diagnosis and management; (iv) challenges in managing and diagnosing NTDs, highlighting the shortages of essential medications and diagnostic tools, along with the under-prioritization of NTDs within healthcare systems; and (v) fatalities and complications arising from NTDs, reporting on the severe outcomes and under-reporting of deaths associated with NTDs due to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and traditional healing preferences., Conclusion: The interviewed Ugandan HCW demonstrated sufficient knowledge of schistosomiasis and STHs, but faced challenges due to inadequate diagnostic tools and medication shortages. The study underscores the need for NTD prioritization with direct funding and government involvement, alongside strategies that integrate continuous medical training, effective community outreach and an enhanced healthcare system response to reduce the burden of NTDs., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis comprise the most wide-spread NTDs globally. Preventative chemotherapy is a cost-effective approach to controlling morbidity of both diseases, but relies on large scale surveys to determine and revise treatment frequency. Availability of detailed information on survey costs is limited despite recent methodological surveying innovations. We micro-costed a survey of STH and schistosomiasis in Kenya, and linked results to precision estimates of competing survey methods to compare cost-efficiency., Methods: Costs from a 2017 Kenyan parasitological survey were retrospectively analyzed and extrapolated to explore marginal changes when altering survey size, defined by the number of schools sampled and the number of samples taken per school. Subsequent costs were applied to simulated precision estimates of model-based geostatistical (MBG) and traditional survey designs. Cost-precision was calculated for a range of survey sizes per method. Four traditional survey design scenarios, based around WHO guidelines, were selected to act as reference cases for calculating incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for MBG design., Findings: MBG designed surveys showed improved cost-precision, particularly if optimizing number of schools against samples per school. MBG was found to be more cost-effective under 87 of 92 comparisons to reference cases. This comprised 14 situations where MBG was both cheaper and more precise, 42 which had cost saving with precision trade off (ICERs; $8,915-$344,932 per percentage precision lost); and 31 more precise with increased cost (ICERs; $426-$147,748 per percentage precision gained). The remaining 5 comparisons represented extremes of MBG simulated site selection, unlikely to be applied in practice., Interpretation: Efficiency gains are possible for deworming surveys when considering cost alone, such as through minimizing sample or analysis costs. However further efficiency maximization is possible when designing surveys using MBG given its improved precision and ability to optimize the balance between number of schools and sample size per school., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Minnery et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) among children aged 24-59 months is one cause of chronic infection that could lead to stunting. The association of 25(OH)D and immune responses during chronic infection in stunted populations has not yet been well established. An association study of case-control data was conducted in Bandung district from October 2019 to January 2023. Sociodemographic factors, stool samples, and serum levels of 25(OH)D, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and interleukin-13 (IL-13) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence and association of 25(OH)D, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 with the burden of STH infection in stunted children. In total, 401 stunted children were recruited. A higher burden of STH infection was found for lower levels of IL-5 ( r  = -0.477; p  = 0.004) and IL-13 ( r  = -0.433; p  = 0.028). Thus, 25(OH)D, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 play a role in the burden of STH infection.

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., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: We evaluated the results of examining a single faecal sample for gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) using a combination of traditional methods with multiplex qPCR for helminths and protozoa, compared to a reference standard of examining three faecal samples from each person using traditional diagnostic methods alone., Methods: Three faecal samples were collected at weekly intervals from 596 healthy Nepalese men. Each sample underwent formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) concentration and light microscopy, and charcoal culture. The combined results of these investigations for all three stool samples were designated the reference standard. The first sample was also analysed using a multiplex TaqMan™ qPCR assay, screening for five helminths and three protozoa. We compared sensitivity and specificity of analysing the first faecal sample with qPCR alone, or a hybrid approach combining qPCR with traditional methods, to the reference standard. Additionally, a serum sample was taken from each participant for Strongyloides stercoralis IgG ELISA., Results: The reference standard identified 139 GIP infections in 133 (22.3%) participants. Use of qPCR alone in one stool identified 176 infections in 147 (24.8%) participants, rising to 187 infections in 156 (26.3%) when combined with FEA microscopy and charcoal culture. The sensitivity of this latter hybrid approach was 100% for Strongyloides spp., 90.9% for Trichuris trichiura, 86.8% for hookworm species and 75% for Giardia duodenalis compared to the reference standard. The hybrid approach increased the detected prevalence of G. duodenalis by 4.5% (27 cases) overall, T. trichiura by 2.9% (17 cases), Strongyloides spp. by 1% (6 cases), and hookworm by 0.5% (3 cases), compared to the reference standard., Conclusion: Examination of a single faecal sample using qPCR alone showed superior or equivalent sensitivity to traditional methods for most GIP infections when both were compared to the reference standard. Combining molecular and traditional methods to analyse a single stool improved the detection rate for most studied parasites. This approach has value in settings where repeated sampling and/or faecal culture for helminths is impractical, but molecular diagnostics are available., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aims: In pursuit of enhancing prevention efforts for the notably high endemic Opisthorchis viverrini infection in lower Mekong sub-region countries, particularly Thailand and Laos, this cross-sectional study investigated the transmission potential of O. viverrini and other intestinal helminths along the Thailand-Laos border in seven Thai villages., Methods and Results: Human and pet faecal samples, Bithynia snails and cyprinid fish were analysed for helminth infections. Additionally, a questionnaire survey assessed relevant risk factors among the human population. Two groups of helminth infections were detected in humans: foodborne infections (FBIs) including O. viverrini, minute intestinal flukes (MIFs), and Taenia spp., and soil-transmitted infections (STIs) including hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis, with prevalence rates of 7.4%, 0.5%, 2.5%, 0.5%, 2.5% and 3%, respectively. Smoking was identified as a risk factor for O. viverrini infection [adjusted odds ratios (ORa) = 3.12, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.33-7.30, p = 0.009] and FBIs (ORa = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.14-5.33, p = 0.022), while male was a risk factor for FBIs (ORa = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.16-5.94, p = 0.021). In dogs, hookworm, Toxocara spp., Spirometra mansoni, Trichuris vulpis and Hymenolepis diminuta were identified with prevalence rates of 35.6%, 8.1%, 8.1%, 1.2% and 1.2%, respectively. In cats, hookworm, Toxocara spp., S. mansoni, Strongyloides spp., Platynosomum fastosum, MIFs and H. diminuta were identified with prevalence rates of 50%, 17.9%, 10.7%, 7.1%, 3.6%, 3.6% and 3.6%, respectively. Bithynia snails showed 2% virgulate and 0.7% unknown cercariae infections, while among 19 cyprinid fish species, only unknown metacercariae were found., Conclusions: Our findings underscore the necessity of an integrated approach following the One Health concept to effectively combat these parasitic diseases while addressing human, animal and environmental health., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF), soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SC) in Indonesia before and after PC implementation through a systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for articles published between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2022, reporting LF, STH and SC in Indonesia. Using the Ministry of Health lists of districts receiving PC programs, we identified whether data collection was conducted before or after PC implementation in that particular district. A meta-analysis was performed with a random-effects model applied to pool pre- and post-PC prevalence of LF, STH and SC., Results: Overall, 195 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of LF was 9.72% (95% CI, 5.56%-13.87%). The pre-PC pooled prevalence of LF was 11.48% (95% CI, 5.52%-17.45%). The prevalence decreased after PC implementation, and the pooled prevalence was 7.12% (95% CI, 1.79%-12.44%). The overall prevalence of STH was 35.16% (95% CI, 30.36%-39.96%). The pre-PC prevalence of STH was 36.29% (95% CI, 30.37%-42.20%). The post-PC prevalence of STH decreased at 31.93% (95% CI, 24.25%-39.62%), although the difference between before and after PC was not significant (p = 0.379). Only nine studies investigated the prevalence of SC; based on the random-effects model, the pooled prevalence was 21.90% (95% CI, 4.88%-38.92%). Owing to the scarcity of studies, we could not perform the funnel tests for publication bias and moderating variables of the pooled prevalence for SC., Conclusions: The prevalence of LF and STH decreased after PC implementation, although it was not significant. The difference for SC could not be assessed because of limited post-PC data. The uneven distribution of research and the lack of standardised sampling methods may not fully capture the situation., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) is a group of helminths that are considered to be neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and, globally, affect more than 1.5 to 2.6 million people yearly. Depending on the species, they can be acquired by ingesting embryonated eggs from contaminated matter or by skin penetration. Most species of STH are found in the tropics, such as the Philippines. Despite the Mass Drug Administration (MDA), the cases of STH infection continue to rise in the country. Surveys from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) indicate that a high prevalence of STH (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Necator americanus) was primarily observed in the provinces of the country, such as in Camarines Sur., Objectives: To correlate remote sensing covariates such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) - to STH-infected cases of the 37 municipalities of Camarines Sur., Methodology: The available public health record of STH cases from 2015 to 2019 were calculated using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS)and correlated using Pearson Correlation Coefficient., Results: The results showed that infection was higher in children than adults, and A. lumbricoides caused 60% of infection. No correlation of indices with infection cases during 2015 and 2017 was observed; however, 2019 showed a moderate strength (p = 0.037) in correlation., Conclusion: This indicates that infection relied not mainly on vegetation and urbanization but on additional environmental factors and non-environmental variables., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: Not applicable. The authors confirm that this article is original research and has not been published or presented previously in any journal or conference in any language in whole or in part. Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Consent for Publication: All of the authors consented to publish this manuscript., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: Helminthiasis and malaria prevail in developing countries including Ethiopia, where they claim lives, retard physical and mental growth, reduce productivity and contain economic growth. Implementing helminthiasis and malaria control strategies require adequate knowledge and practices of the affected communities. Knowledge and practices of parents of school age children was assessed in relation to risk of child infection with Helminthiasis and malaria., Methods: A total of 398 parents of school age children attending Maksegnit Number Two Elementary School from September 2020 to June 2021 were interviewed regarding their sociodemography, knowledge and practice towards Helminthiasis and malaria. The risk of child infection with Helminthiasis and malaria in relation to sociodemography and household practices was tested using multivariable logistic regression model., Results: Risk of child infection with Helminthiasis was lower when the responding parent was female (OR = 0.54; CI = 0.32-0.92) and monthly household income was ≥ 2001 birr (OR = 0.39; CI = 0.22-0.70). A monthly income of ≥ 2001 birr was associated with a low risk of child infection with malaria (OR = 0.37; CI = 0.21-0.65). Children living with married parents were at higher risk of Helminthiasis (OR = 2.25, CI = 1.33-3.81) and malaria (OR = 2.71, CI = 1.60-4.58) infection. Latrine with wooden floor was correlated with a high risk of child infection with Helminthiasis (OR = 7.2; CI = 2.16-23.95). While washing with soap after toilet (OR = 0.09; CI = 0.03-0.34) and eating washed cabbage/fruit (OR = 0.26; 0.15-0.44) were associated with a lower risk of infection. Parents who participated in environmental management based vector control were less likely to report child infection with malaria (OR = 0.44; 0.20-0.97). A child living in residual insecticide sprayed house was at risk of malaria infection (OR = 3.16; CI = 1.45-6.92)., Conclusions: In general female responding parent, higher household income, and washing with soap after toilet or eating washed cabbage/fruit were associated with decreased risk of intestinal helminthiasis infection in children. In addition, higher income and participation in enviroinmental management based vector contol were associated with decreased malaria infection risk in children., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (IRB# 0618-20-FB) and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University (ALIPB IRB/25/2012/20). Prior to conducting the study, permission was obtained from Amhara Regional Health Office, Central Gondar Zonal Health Office, Gondar Zuria District Health Office, Central Gondar Educational Office and Maksegnit Number Two Primary School Director Office. Written informed consent was obtained from parents/guardians who were willing to participate in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are a parasitic infection that predominantly affects impoverished regions. Model-based geostatistics (MBG) has been established as a set of modern statistical methods that enable mapping of disease risk in a geographical area of interest. We investigate how the use of remotely sensed covariates can help to improve the predictive inferences on STH prevalence using MBG methods. In particular, we focus on how the covariates impact on the classification of areas into distinct class of STH prevalence., Methods: This study uses secondary data obtained from a sample of 1551 schools in Kenya, gathered through a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional surveys. We compare the performance of two geostatistical models: one that does not make use of any spatially referenced covariate; and a second model that uses remotely sensed covariates to assist STH prevalence prediction. We also carry out a simulation study in which we compare the performance of the two models in the classifications of areal units with varying sample sizes and prevalence levels., Results: The model with covariates generated lower levels of uncertainty and was able to classify 88 more districts into prevalence classes than the model without covariates, which instead left those as "unclassified". The simulation study showed that the model with covariates also yielded a higher proportion of correct classification of at least 40% for all sub-counties., Conclusion: Covariates can substantially reduce the uncertainty of the predictive inference generated from geostatistical models. Using covariates can thus contribute to the design of more effective STH control strategies by reducing sample sizes without compromising the predictive performance of geostatistical models., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)’s Scientific and Ethics Review Unit (SSC Number 2206 – for NSBDP data), and the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Eastern Africa Baraton (UEAB/REC/01/08/2021 – for Granular mapping data). At school, parental or guardian informed consent was obtained based on passive opt-out informed consent rather than written opt-in informed consent due to the routine and low risk nature of the study procedure. Additionally, individual assent was obtained from each child before participation in the study. All data used were anonymised. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are two of the most common helminths contributing to the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) burden in the Lower Mekong Basin. Although mass drug administration is the cornerstone of control programs to reduce morbidity caused by these infections, this approach has limitations in preventing re-infections. Elimination requires additional measures such as reservoir host treatment, improved hygiene and health education to reinforce MDA's impact. This study aims to examine the impact of a scalable multi-component One Health Helminth Elimination program in the Lower Mekong Basin (HELM) that combines human praziquantel (PZQ) and albendazole (ALB) treatment with a program that includes the "Magic Glasses" and the "Lawa Model" interventions with health promotion at their core., Methods: This study will employ a cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) in 18 rural communities (with sub-district or villages as cluster units) across Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The control arm will receive one round of PZQ/ALB treatment, while in the intervention arm, multi-component HELM program will be implemented, which includes PZQ/ALB treatment together with the Magic Glasses and Lawa Model interventions. OV and STH infections levels will be evaluated in individuals aged 5-75 years at baseline and will be repeated at follow-up (12 months after the HELM intervention), using modified formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique and quantitative PCR. The primary outcome of the study will be cumulative incidence of human OV and STH infections. Outcomes between the study arms will be compared using generalized linear mixed models, accounting for clustering., Discussion: Evidence from this trial will quantify the impact of a multi-component One Health control strategy in interrupting Ov and STH infections in the Lower Mekong Basin., Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12622000353796. Prospectively registered 28 February 2022., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was submitted to and received ethical approval from the Australian National University Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol number 2022/507), Cambodia Ministry of Health National Ethics Committee for Health Research (NECHR) (209NECHR), the Lao PDR Ministry NECHR (07NCEHR) and Khon Kaen University Ethics Committee for Human Research (Reference No. HE651147). This study is prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12622000353796. Participation in the survey will be voluntary. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants ≥ 18 years old. Inclusion of participants < 18 years old required consent from a parent or guardian and assent from individuals 5 to 17 years old. The study objectives, intervention components, voluntary participation and the right to withdraw at any time will be verbally elaborated and outlined in the information sheet. Two copies will be signed by the study participants: an original copy and a duplicate. Researchers will keep the original copies of the consents signed by the study participants and leave the duplicate copies with them for their own records. This trial will also involve collection of stool specimens for storage. If the study participants will not allow the storage and use of remaining stool samples for future research, the remaining samples will be disposed immediately after the completion of all the procedures of this study. This study also obtained ethical approval from the Australian National University Animal Ethics Committee (Protocol Number A2022/27) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Khon Kaen University (Reference No. 660201.2.11/245 (39)). Consent for publication: Not applicable—there are no personal information or identifying images of study participants are presented here or will be presented in reports of the trial results. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Deworming for pregnant women using a single dose of albendazole or mebendazole is recommended by the WHO in areas where the baseline prevalence of hookworm and/or trichuriasis is >20%. However, other helminths and protozoa infecting pregnant women are not affected by these drugs and dosages. To assess the prevalence and diversity of intestinal helminth and protozoan infections, we analyzed stool samples from pregnant women recently enrolled into a birth cohort, along a rural-urban gradient in northern coastal Ecuador from 2019 to 2022. Participants provided a stool sample in their third trimester (n = 444). Samples were concentrated by the Ritchie method and observed microscopically for the detection of cysts, eggs, and larvae. The overall prevalence of infection with one or more parasites was 69% (95% CI: 67-74%), ranging from 52% in urban participants to 76% in rural participants (percentile rank = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07-1.87). This differential between urban and rural communities persisted when data were disaggregated into helminth and protozoan infections (prevalence = 19% and 46%, respectively, in urban participants compared with 42% and 58% among rural participants). The most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (27%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (13%) and hookworm (7.4%). Hymenolepis nana, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Enterobius vermicularis were also observed. Six protozoan pathogens were detected, including Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (23%), Giardia intestinalis (5%), and Balantidium coli, along with nine protozoa that are nonpathogenic or of debated pathogenicity. The high infection burden and diversity of intestinal parasites found in this study highlight a need to revise strategies for preventing and treating intestinal parasitic infections in pregnant women.

Background: Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections occurring during pregnancy may pose adverse health consequences to the mother and the developing baby. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and STHs, and their association with adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women in Jimma Town., Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 314 pregnant women was conducted in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. The pregnant women were recruited from selected public health facilities during their antenatal care (ANC) visits from August to December 2021. Data on demographic characteristics and factors associated with S. mansoni and STH infections were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Moreover, during the third trimester, stool specimen of each pregnant woman was examined using Kato-Katz technique, and hemoglobin was measured using a HemoCue analyzer. Data on adverse birth outcomes were collected during delivery. Data were analyzed using STATA-MP&#95;12 (StataCorp., TX, USA)., Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections was 26.1%. Soil-transmitted helminths and S. mansoni were detected in 20.4% (95%CI: 15.9-24.8) and 5.7% (95%CI: 3.2-8.3) of the pregnant women, respectively. The magnitude of low birth weight was 6.4%, higher in those with late-term delivery and maternal anemia (p < 0.05). Maternal anemia was also associated with post-partum bleeding (p < 0.05). Pregnant women who carry out laundry activities in the river were significantly more infected by S. mansoni (AOR 10.7, 95% CI: 2.2-51.9)., Conclusions: This study sheds light on the burden of maternal STH and S. mansoni infections in Jimma Town. A quarter of the pregnant women were infected with STHs and S. mansoni. It is recommended that pregnant women in the area avoid washing clothes in the river to reduce the risk of S. mansoni infection. Screening for intestinal parasitic infections should be conducted for pregnant women living in endemic areas during their ANC follow-up., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval was obtained from ethical review board of Institute of Health, Jimma University (Ref: IHRPGD/105/21). Permission was sought from administrations of the health facilities. The aim of the study was explained to the study participants and informed consent was obtained from all study participants. The study participants provided written consent prior to enrollment into the study. Confidentiality of individual information was maintained at all steps of the research. Pregnant women infected with any of the intestinal parasites were treated based on the national guidelines. Study participants with anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl) were counseled and treated for improvement of their hemoglobin level. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: In Ghana, schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections are of major public health problems in children. In the last decades, various interventions have been instituted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the control and subsequent elimination of SCH and STH. However, these infections still remain common in both adults and children in many districts in Ghana. This study aimed to identify challenges in achieving sustainable coverage of mass drug administration for the control of STH and SCH and to explore opportunities to scale up its implementation among people living in hard-to-reach communities., Method: Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members were conducted to access challenges to mass drug administration (MDA), and 20 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with key informants were conducted to access opportunities to optimize MDA to control and eliminate soil-transmitted helminth infections and schistosomiasis in hard-to-reach communities., Results: Results showed participants held the correct notions of SCH and STH, and expressed willingness to participate in the MDA program. However, the lack of community drug distributors (CDDs) in the communities, inadequate and misleading information of MDA activities, and general concern about the adverse effects of MDA medications were some of the challenges identified to hinder MDA operations., Conclusion: Transitioning from SCH and STH control to elimination goals requires intensive health education campaigns before MDA are conducted in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana. Furthermore, there is a need for political members and policymakers to collaborate in providing scarce and sanitary infrastructure and continuously provide disease-specific information to community members to address and dispel common misconceptions and anxieties regarding the transmission and treatment of SCH and STH., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Forson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) and schistosomiasis are parasitic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of significant public health importance globally, including Nigeria. Urogenital schistosomiasis is highly endemic in Apojola, a rural community in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, but data on STH and intestinal schistosomiasis in the neglected community are lacking., Objectives: To determine the prevalence and intensity of STH and intestinal schistosomiasis and the risk factors associated with the infections in Apojola., Methods: The study was community-based and cross-sectional. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic, personal, and household WASH characteristics of the study population. Stool samples were collected and processed for parasitological examination using the triplicate Kato-Katz (K-K) smears., Results: A total of 283 individuals (males, 50.2%; females, 49.8%) aged 3 to 65 years (mean age ± S.D.: 19.6 ± 14.8 years) participated in the study. No case of intestinal schistosomiasis was recorded in the study, while the overall prevalence of any STH was 38.2%: A. lumbricoides (24.0%) and hookworms (25.8%). Prevalence of infection was not significantly different between males and females for any STH (40.1% vs. 36.2%, χ 2  = 0.473, p = 0.492); A. lumbricoides (23.2% vs. 22.7%, χ 2  = 0.012, p = 0.913); or hookworms (28.2% vs. 23.4%; p = 0.360; χ 2  = 0.839), but significantly varied with age for any STH (χ 2  = 22.225, p = 0.002); A. lumbricoides (χ 2  = 16.354, p = 0.022); or hookworms (χ 2  = 20.001, p = 0.006). The intensity of infection was neither associated with gender nor age and was mostly light. Walking barefoot, toilet type (absent/bush), and irregular washing of fruits and/or vegetables before consumption were significantly associated with STH., Conclusion: Our data indicate that intestinal schistosomiasis is not prevalent in Apojola and that the community is a moderate-risk area for STH. Hence, the current annual preventive chemotherapy for STH (PC STH) with albendazole or mebendazole in school-aged children (SAC) through the school-based delivery programme should be extended to non-enrolled SAC and pre-SAC using other delivery platforms. This should be complemented with regular and effective health education campaigns as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related interventions., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical approvals for the study were granted by the Health Research Ethics Committees of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (Ref: CMUL/HREC/01/20/713) and the Ogun State Ministry of Health, Abeokuta (Ref: HPRS/381/337).Following full disclosure of the objectives, procedures and benefits of the study, written informed consent was obtained from each subject (parent or legal guardian in the case of a minor) before participation in the study. They were also informed of their rights to refuse participation in the study and to withdraw at any time during the study without affecting their rights of access to any intervention. Participants’ confidentiality was ensured through a coding process. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Intestinal parasitic (IP) infections caused by helminths are among the most significant public health concerns that mainly affect deprived people in Sub-Sahara African countries. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic helminths among patients attending Mekaneselam hospital., Method: In this cross-sectional study conducted from August 2022 to February 2023, stool specimens were collected and examined microscopically to detect intestinal helminths using direct wet-mount and formal-ether concentration techniques. A structured questionnaire was employed to obtain information regarding the socio-demographic characteristics and associated risk factors. Data were analyzed via appropriate univariate and multivariable logistic regression methods using SPSS version 25.0., Result: The overall prevalence of the parasitic helminths was 51 (12.6%) out of 404 patients attending in Mekaneselam town during the study period. In this study, seven species of intestinal helminths were detected, with Ascaris lumbricoides (5.7%) being the most prevalent followed by Trichuris trichiura (2.2%). Significant positive associations were observed between intestinal helminths infection and the socio-demographic characteristics including marital status (χ 2  = 7.97, p = 0.047), educational level (χ 2  = 9.34, p = 0.025) and residence (χ 2  = 3.90, p = 0.048). The odds of being infected with IP were three times higher among divorced patients than married individuals (AOR = 3.21, CI = 1.15-8.96, p = 0.03). Illiterate individuals were three times (AOR = 2.61, CI = 1.24-5.49, p = 0.011) and those who attended primary school were two times (AOR = 2.3, CI = 1.029-5.143, p = 0.042), more likely to have helminthic infections. Participants who did not wash their hands after using the toilet were five times more likely to acquire IP helminths than those who did (AOR = 4.36, CI = 2.83-6.72, p = 0.000). In the case of the feeding habit, study subjects who ate unwashed vegetables were more likely to acquire helminths than those who did not eat unwashed vegetables (AOR = 5. 43, CI = 4.33-23.77, p = 0.000)., Conclusion: This study highlighted a substantial prevalence of intestinal helminths infections (12.6%) in the study area, warranting the urgent need for attention and interventions from relevant public health authorities., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants of the study were verbally informed about the purpose of the study, type of information to be sought during the interview, risks and benefits, confidentiality, the right to withdraw from the study, and additional study-related information. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants (adults and legal guardians/parents in the case of minors) before the interview. Participation was based on their willingness to participate, and participants could stop at any time without any obligation during the discussion or interview if they felt uncomfortable. The study was conducted after the receipt of ethics approval letter Ref No. WU3161/E-01/22 dated on July 21/2022 from the Institutional Review Board at Wollo University in Dessie, Ethiopia. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Orang Asli (OA), Malaysia's indigenous minority, continue to experience ongoing soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections despite efforts including the Resettlement Programme (RPS). This study explores STH epidemiology and associated risks of moderate-to-heavy infections among 259 indigenous Negritos across four states in Peninsular Malaysia. Stool samples, anthropometrics, haemoglobin levels (finger-prick) and sociodemographic and environmental-sanitation factors via pretested questionnaires were collected. Parasitological examinations (direct faecal smear, formol-ether concentration, and Kato-Katz techniques) were thoroughly performed. The study revealed a 63.3% overall STH prevalence, with Trichuris trichiura (57.9%) being the most common, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (35.5%) and hookworm (8.9%). Moderate-to-heavy infections were observed in 39.3% for T. trichiura and 48.9% for A. lumbricoides, with mixed infections of these two species being the most prevalent (50.6%). The risk for moderate-to-heavy infection increased significantly if other household members were infected (P < 0.001). Adults and adolescents also showed high infection rates, with no significant differences with children's groups. These findings emphasize the need for anthelmintic treatment across all age groups and strategize local policies targeting older groups of the OA community to control ongoing transmission and reduce the STH burden and protect the future well-being of OA children, who deserve a healthier future., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections can cause a significant disease burden. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with STHs, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to assess the distribution of the global burden and trend of STH infections from 1990 to 2021., Methods: We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 on the age-standardized rates (ASRs) of prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of STH infections for all age groups in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The ASRs of prevalence and DALYs by age, gender, and socio-demographic index (SDI) were calculated to quantify the spatial distribution and temporal trend. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between ASR and SDI., Results: In 2021, there were an estimated 642.72 million cases and 1.38 million DALYs caused by STH infections worldwide. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) of STH infections was 8429.89 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 7697.23, 9362.18 ] per 100,000 population globally. The ASPR of STH infections varied across 21 geographic regions in 2021, being mainly prevalent in most African and Latin American locations. The prevalence was higher in the groups of 5-19 years, especially the group of 5-9 years with the ASPR of 16,263 (95% UI: 14,877.06, 18,003.49) and ASR of DALYs of 40.69 (95% UI: 25.98, 60.91) per 100,000. The ASPR of STH infections showed an obvious decreasing trend worldwide (estimated annual percent change = - 4.03, 95% confidence interval: - 4.13, - 3.93) with variations in different species infections during the study years. At the regional level, the ASR of STH infections prevalence (r = - 0.8807, P < 0.0001) and DALYs (r = - 0.9069, P < 0.0001) were negatively correlated with SDI ., Conclusions: STH infections remain a public health problem in 2021, particularly in regions such as the middle parts of Africa and Americas, and in the 5-19 age populations. The reduction in the rate of prevalence and the loss of DALYs are negatively correlated with the increase in SDI. Enhancing political commitment, providing accurate preventive chemotherapy, and advancing techniques for surveillance and mapping systems are essential to achieve the target of ending STH infections as a public health problem by 2030., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and mutualistic gut microbes coexist in the gastrointestinal tract. However, limited data exist regarding how STH infections are associated with gut microbiome profiles., Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected in a longitudinal study to identify and explain differences in microbial communities between STH-infected and non-infected Ethiopian school children. We collected 138 stool samples and analyzed them for STH infection using standard direct wet mount and Kato Katz methods. The gut microbiome profiles were characterized using targeted amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from the total DNA extracted from the stools., Results: Children infected with Trichuris trichiura showed significantly lower microbial diversity than those who were non-infected (p<0.05). We also observed significant difference in microbiome composition based on Trichuris trichiura infection status (PERMANOVA p< 0.01). A comparison of microbial taxa at the genus level among participants infected with different helminth species showed a significant increase in Agathobacter relative abundance among children infected with Trichuris trichiura compared to non-infected subjects (adjusted p = 0.001)., Conclusions: Our results indicate that changes in the gut microbiome composition may vary depending on the species of helminth present. Further studies should investigate how Trichuris trichiura selectively alters microbiome composition compared to other STH species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Taye et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) affect approximately 1.5 billion people globally. The current STH control strategy is annual or twice-annual preventive chemotherapy, typically school-based deworming targeting children and women of reproductive age. Mathematical modeling suggests that it may be possible to interrupt STH transmission through high-coverage community-wide mass drug administration (cMDA). DeWorm3 is a cluster randomized trial testing cMDA for prevalence reduction and transmission interruption. The purpose of this study is to describe coverage of cMDA in study clusters over time and correlates of coverage at individual and cluster levels., Methods: From 2018-2020, DeWorm3 delivered six rounds of cMDA with 400 mg albendazole at sites in Benin, India, and Malawi. We report coverage, treatment uptake, and directly observed therapy across all rounds. Factors associated with coverage at the cluster level were identified using binomial generalized estimating equations, while factors associated with non-treatment at the individual level were identified using binomial mixed-effects models., Results: Coverage was high across all clusters and rounds, exceeding the WHO target of 75% in all sites and across all rounds (78% to 95%); cluster-level coverage tended to increase over time. Younger, unmarried, and migratory adults were more likely to be untreated at all sites; adult males were more likely to be untreated in Benin and Malawi. Among children, girls were more likely to be untreated, as were non-school-attending and migratory children. Higher adult education was associated with greater odds of non-treatment among adults, but lower odds among children in the household. Belonging to a less wealthy or minority language-speaking household was associated with non-treatment among both adults and children., Conclusions: It is possible to deliver community-wide MDA with high coverage. Unique individual and community-level factors influence treatment across settings, and these may be addressed through targeted programming., Trial Registration: Field Studies on the Feasibility of Interrupting the Transmission of Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH), NCT03014167., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Soil-transmitted diseases are caused by intestinal worms transmitted via various routes into the human body resulting in various clinical manifestations. This study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic factors contributing mainly to the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among newly arrived laborers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia., Methods: A total of 188 stool specimens were collected and examined macroscopically and microscopically using different techniques. In addition, real-time PCR was used as a molecular tool to detect several STHs. The descriptive analysis was used to evaluate demographic data and categorical variables in association with STHs infection., Results: Of all participants, the mean age was 26.08 ± 2.67 years, including 103 females and 85 males. A total of 86 (45.70%) were illiterate, followed by 60 (31.90%) of participants belonging to elementary level. STHs and other intestinal parasites were detected among 35 newly arrived laborers (18.61%). Nineteen cases (10.11%) were infected with STHs, including 15 cases with one STHs (four A. lumbricoides, four N. americanus, four T. trichiura, two S. stercoralis, one A. duodenale ) and four cases with two STHs (two T. trichiura and N. americanus ; one S. stercoralis and A. duodenale ; one T. trichiura and S. stercoralis ). High rates of STHs infection were detected among drivers (11.70%) followed by housemaids (11.20%), but with no significant association to occupation. Higher rates of STHs infection were detected among those used to walk on soil barefoot in their home countries before arriving in Jeddah., Conclusion: This study found that none of the newly arrived expatriate laborers in Jeddah was aware of STHs. About 10% of them had infection with one or two STHs, mainly among newly arrived laborers from Asian countries. There is a need for awareness programs and regular screening for STHs and other intestinal parasites among newly arrived expatriate laborers., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Wakid and Al-Refai.)

Objective: It is known that protozoa and helminths that cause intestinal infections adversely affect human life. Changing climate and demographic and socio-economic factors worldwide necessitate the determination and updating of the incidence of these parasites. Our study aimed to retrospectively examine the distribution of intestinal parasites detected in the Parasitology Laboratory of Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine between 2017 and 2021., Methods: Parasitological examinations were performed using the native-lugol and formol-ether condensation method. Staining method (Modified Ziehl-Neelsen) and cellophane tape method were then applied to evaluate the specimens considered necessary., Results: One or more parasites were detected in 33 of 373 patients (8.8%) evaluated in the study. These were Giardia intestinalis at a rate of 30.5% (11/36), Enterobius vermicularis at a rate of 27.7% (10/36), Blastocystis sp. at a rate of 19.4% (7/36), Entamoeba coli at a rate of 11.1% (4/36), Cryptosporidium spp. at a rate of 8.3% (3/36) and Taenia saginata at a rate of 2.7% (1/36). It was determined that two patients were coinfected by Entamoeba coli and Blastocystis sp. while one patient was coinfected by Entamoeba coli and Giardia intestinalis ., Conclusion: It is thought that determining the incidence of intestinal parasites, which are an important public health problem, may help guide studies for preventive health services. Although the five-year laboratory data obtained from the study do not reflect our region, it is thought that intestinal parasites maintain their importance., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Parasitic neglected tropical diseases, such as schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), remain as significant public health concerns in developing countries such as the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis and STH among school-age children (SAC) and adults in two co-endemic provinces in Mindanao in southern Philippines as part of monitoring of national control programs. Stool samples were collected, processed using Kato-Katz technique, and examined microscopically for presence of intestinal helminth ova. A total of 776 SAC and 526 adults participated in the study. Low schistosomiasis prevalence was generally observed in SAC (0.8%) and adults (0.4%). Generally low STH prevalence was reported in both SAC (3.9%) and adults (3.4%). Only three SAC had heavy intensity STH, which was not seen in adults. Results indicate a state of good morbidity control, which may be a result of effective implementation of mass drug administration (MDA) strategy for schistosomiasis, STH, and lymphatic filariasis in the last several years. The low prevalence and intensities of infections may also be partly attributed to the low diagnostic sensitivity of Kato-Katz technique in detecting low intensity intestinal helminth infections. While results of this study also indicate similarly low levels of both these infections in previous studies, sustaining high MDA coverage rates and addressing remaining challenges related to intensified case finding and treatment, improvements in safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, veterinary public health, and vector ecology and management will be necessary to interrupt transmission in these areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The World Health Organization advocates integrating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) into common delivery platforms to combat them in resource-constrained settings. However, limited literature exists on the benefits of integration. This study examines the feasibility and impact of adding skin screening to a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in Côte d'Ivoire., Methods: In June 2023, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of Côte d'Ivoire piloted screening for skin-related NTDs alongside a national MDA campaign targeting soil-transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis. Two districts, Fresco and Koro, were selected for the pilot. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative assessments. The quantitative aspect focused on campaign costs and outputs, using an ingredient approach for costing. The qualitative evaluation employed an empirical phenomenological approach to analyze the campaign's operational feasibility and appreciation by stakeholders., Findings: MDA activities cost $0·66 per treated child and skin screening $0·62 per screened person, including medical products. The MDA campaign exceeded coverage targets in both districts, whereas skin screening coverage varied by locality and age group. Both the service delivery team and the beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the integrated campaign. However, opportunities for improvement were identified., Conclusion: Integrating MDA and skin NTD screening proved operationally feasible in this context but had not recorded cost-saving effects. The performance of the MDA campaign was not negatively affected by additional skin screening activities, but effective integration requires thorough joint planning, strengthened training, and proper supervision., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Intestinal helminth infections in cats are often neglected major zoonoses spread from pets to humans worldwide., Aim: This study evaluated the prevalence and identified risk factors associated with zoonotic gastrointestinal helminth infections in different cat populations in the most populous megapolitan areas of Indonesia: Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek)., Methods: Fecal samples from the shelter (stray) and household (owned) cats were analyzed using sugar flotation techniques. Intestinal helminth eggs were detected microscopically based on structural and morphometric characteristics. Risk factors for the occurrence of helminth infection were identified through statistical analysis of cat ownership, breed, migrant status, management practices, caging, feed type, and deworming medications used. Human cases of worm larvae infestation identified during the interviews were reported., Results: Analysis of 354 fecal samples revealed that 37.9% (134/354) of examined cats were infected with Toxocara sp., 22.6% (80/354) with Ancylostoma sp., 25.4% (90/354) with Uncinaria sp., 3.1% (11/354) with Strongyloides sp., 2% (7/354) with Diphyllobothrium sp., and 0.6% (2/354) with Dipylidium sp . Infection with roundworms and hookworms was associated with a variety of factors, including introduction of new animals, management practices, cage cleanliness, feed type, use of deworming medication, routine deworming, and contact with other animals. A human case of cutaneous larva migrans was due to hookworm ( Ancylostoma sp. /Uncinaria sp.) infection., Conclusion: The prevalence of important zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes (hookworms and roundworms) is high in cats in Jabodetabek, Indonesia. To reduce the risk of transmission to other animals or humans, adequate measures to control, manage, and prevent zoonotic helminth infections are required. This study presents important baseline information that provides a basis for future epidemiologic studies and the development of strategies to manage zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths in cats in the region., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect millions of people in Africa, with Uganda bearing a significant burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) set a goal to reduce NTDs and improve access to diagnosis and management by 2030. However, NTDs have not been well integrated into primary healthcare in many countries, including Uganda, due to limited knowledge and resources among health workers. The study aimed to assess the readiness and capacity of primary healthcare centres to diagnose and manage soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis., Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 204 health workers in 20 health facilities in four districts bordering Lake Kyoga. In this study we evaluated health workers' knowledge of symptoms, diagnosis and management of STHs and schistosomiasis as well as the availability of resources and training., Results: Our findings indicate that health workers have strong knowledge about STHs (86.76%), with lower knowledge levels regarding Schistosoma haematobium (59.72%) and Schistosoma mansoni (71.43%). Regarding resources and training, 95% of health facilities had laboratory services, but the majority lacked diagnostic equipment. Furthermore, only 17% of health workers reported prior training on schistosomiasis and related topics and only 25% had training on surveillance and reporting., Conclusions: While health workers in eastern Uganda demonstrated a good knowledge base for some NTDs, there were knowledge gaps and challenges in training on surveillance and reporting mechanisms. Continuously building the capacity of health workers along with investing in diagnostic infrastructure is essential for improved NTD control and ultimately reducing associated morbidity and mortality in the region., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Background: The control of the Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) infections primarily relies on the school-based Preventive Chemotherapy (PCT) with mebendazole. Given the efficacy of ivermectin on STH, the control of the latter is expected to be potentialized in areas where ivermectin is also distributed for onchocerciasis and/or lymphatic filariasis control/elimination. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of STH in the Lomie Health District where annual school-based deworming campaigns and community-directed treatments with Ivermectin have been underway for almost two decades., Methodology/principal Findings: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 schools of the Lomie Health District, East Region, Cameroon. Stool samples were collected from school-aged children and analysed using the Kato-Katz technique. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to enrolees to assess compliance with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Of the 491 children (median age: 9 years; IQR: 7-10) enrolled, 83.9% (95% CI: 80.3-87.1) were infected with at least one STH species. Trichuris trichiura was the predominant species (78.5%), and no hookworm was found. The prevalence trend slightly decreased between 1987 and 2010 (~8%) and remained unchanged since 2010 (p-value = 0.05). Overall, 46.8% and 41.8% of children were heavy-to-moderately infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Poor hand hygiene (OR: 2.24, 95% IC: 1.4-3.4, p-value = 0.0002) and the use of river as a source of drinking water (OR: 14.8, 95% IC: 6.9-33.3, p-value = 0.0001) were the main risk factors associated with the STH infection in Lomie Health District., Conclusions/significance: The persistent high prevalence and intensity of STH infection despite 16 years of mebendazole-based PCT and expected collateral impact of ivermectin mass distribution, points to plausible implementation gaps, poor compliance to WASH or sub-optimal efficacy of the anthelminthics used. This study highlights the need to further assess the cause of the persistent high prevalence and implement context-adapted control measures in order to curb STH transmission., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Efon-Ekangouo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

We report the frequency and associated factors of tuberculosis (TB) and parasite coinfection from newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients (TB+) and non-TB participants (TB-) from the Regional Tuberculosis Control Center, households, and health facilities in Bobo-Dioulasso from 2019 to 2021. Biological samples were examined for parasite infection using direct microscopy, concentration techniques, and the immunochromatographic rapid test. Data were analyzed using STATA 14. Of a total of 192 participants involved, 95 were TB+ and 97 were non-TB. There was no statistically significant difference in parasitic infections between the two groups, although it was higher in TB+ than TB- (69.5% [66/95] versus 55.7% [54/97]; P = 0.07). Protozoal infection prevalence was significantly higher in patients with TB+ than in those TB- (61.1% versus 37.1%; P = 0.001). Specifically, Entamoeba spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. followed this pattern with 35.8% versus 19.6% (P = 0.01) and 22.1% versus 8.3% (P = 0.007), respectively. Although higher in TB+ patients, helminthiasis frequency was not significantly different between the two groups (23.2% versus 15.5%; P = 0.2). Helminth species were Schistosomia mansoni (17.9% versus 12.4%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (3.2% versus 1.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (2.1% versus 2.1%), Wuchereria bancrofti (1.1% versus 0.0%), and Hymenolepis nana (1.1% versus 0.0%). Illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0-6.1), smoking (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1-5.3), and handwashing after defecation (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.7) were associated with parasites. This study reported a high frequency of parasite coinfection in TB patients. These findings suggest the need for adequate health education for behavioral change and systematic diagnosing of parasites in TB patients for better coinfection management.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infections are one of the most common neglected tropical diseases. It has become one of a significant public health problem programmatically aimed for prevention and control in Ethiopia. Limited evidence is available on communities' knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding STH particularly in rural settings of Jimma, Ethiopia., Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study triangulated with the qualitative method was conducted. The survey included 732 sampled rural households. Linear regression was used to assess association between predictors of knowledge and preventive practices of STH; likewise logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of hand washing practice at critical times. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were done to test differences in median risk perception score by socio-demographic factors. Qualitative data were collected through 7 key informant interviews, 6 focus group discussions and 7 expert group discussions then transcribed verbatim. Then, the data were coded, categorized and thematized using the Atlas ti.7.1.4 software package., Results: Almost all of the respondents (99.6%) had heard of STH. The prevalence of comprehensive knowledge, risk perception and preventive practices towards STH were 46.7%:(95%CI:43.2, 50.4), 55.2%: (95%CI:51.2,59) and 44.4%:(95%CI:40.8, 48.2) respectively. Likewise, the magnitude of knowledge and practice of hand washing at critical times were 42.5%: (95%CI: 38.7,45.9) and 43.9%: (95%CI: 40, 47.5) respectively. Risk perception and comprehensive knowledge towards STH varied significantly across districts and by respondents' educational status. Ownership of improved latrine was associated to comprehensive knowledge of STH. The STH preventive practice that varied across districts was predicted by the overall and knowledge specific to washing hands at critical times. The practice of washing hands at critical times was significantly associated to knowledge of hand washing, owning improved latrine, and age from 15 to 34 year compared to >45 year. Moreover, qualitative findings were supportive of the findings., Conclusion: Despite reported exposures to STH communication opportunities, the study found modest levels of knowledge, perceptions, and preventive practices related to STH among rural communities where the burden of STH was the programmatic concern. These levels of knowledge, perceptions, and practices varied across the districts. Educational and latrine status predicted overall knowledge, whereas knowledge specific to hand washing and overall knowledge were predictors of STH preventive practice. Furthermore, washing hands during critical times was moderately improved among the young-aged, ownership of improved latrine and knowledgeable on hand washing. This study underscores the need for locally tailored and contextualized community behavioral change interventions needs to be strengthened toward improved STH preventive practices., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Abdissa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are neglected parasites more prevalent in the tropics. Periodic mass distribution of albendazole, is one key strategy to control STHI in endemic areas. However, benzimidazoles have low efficacy against STHI, and there is a lack of information on the magnitude of the problem in Ethiopia. Articles were searched from PubMed using MeSH words, Google Scholar, Web of science, EMBASE and Scopus database to retrieve the data published and available until December 30, 2022. Totally, 107 published articles were retrieved. Only studies conducted in English that reported the efficacy of albendazole against STHI in any year and studies with more than fifty positive cases were included in the present study. The efficacy of albendazole was estimated by its cure rate and egg reduction rate. Excel software was used to extract the name of the authors, the total sample size, number of cured participants, treatment assessment time, STH parasite involved, the study area, and the year of publication. The pooled efficacy of albendazole against STHs was analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis version 2.2 software. A total of 14 studies (13 for hookworm, 12 for Ascaris lumbricoides, and 12 for Trichuris trichiura) fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the present systematic review and meta-analysis. The total positives for hookworm, A. lumbricoides, and T. trichiura were 1253 (24.9%), 1570 (29.5%), and 1647 (30.6%), respectively. The overall pooled efficacy of albendazole was 92.2% (95% CI 86.2-98.9%) against hookworm, 97.7% (95% CI 96.3-98.6%) against A. lumbricoides, and 38.6% (95% CI 31.0-46.9%) against T. trichiura. In subgroup analysis, the efficacy of albendazole against hookworm was 93.4% (95% CI 85.1-97.2%) in Oromia, 96.7% (95% CI 93.8-98.2%) in Sidama, and 77.2% (95% CI 64.4-86.4%) in Amhara region. Its heterogeneity was high (I 2  = 89.418). The efficacy of albendazole against A. lumbricoides was 98.3% (95% CI 97.0-99.0%) in Oromia and 96.63% (95% CI 93.2-98.3%) in Sidama region. Its heterogeneity was moderate (I 2  = 41.5%). Albendazole efficacy against T. trichiura was 39.0% (95% CI 30.4-48.5%) in Oromia and 37.8% (95% CI 21.8-56.9%) in Sidama region with high heterogeneity (I 2  = 90.6%). In the present review, albendazole is effective against hookworm and A. lumbricoides but less effective against T. trichiura. Albendazole should therefore be used as a treatment option in hookworm and A. lumbricoides endemic areas. However, alternative drugs should be sought for T. trichiura., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Parasitic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) or 'infectious diseases of poverty' continue to affect the poorest communities in the world, including in the Philippines. Socio-economic conditions contribute to persisting endemicity of these infectious diseases. As such, examining these underlying factors may help identify gaps in implementation of control programs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and investigate the role of socio-economic and risk factors in the persistence of these diseases in endemic communities in the Philippines., Methods: This cross-sectional study involving a total of 1,152 individuals from 386 randomly-selected households was conducted in eight municipalities in Mindanao, the Philippines. Participants were asked to submit fecal samples which were processed using the Kato-Katz technique to check for intestinal helminthiases. Moreover, each household head participated in a questionnaire survey investigating household conditions and knowledge, attitude, and practices related to intestinal helminthiases. Associations between questionnaire responses and intestinal helminth infection were assessed., Results: Results demonstrated an overall schistosomiasis prevalence of 5.7% and soil-transmitted helminthiasis prevalence of 18.8% in the study population. Further, the household questionnaire revealed high awareness of intestinal helminthiases, but lower understanding of routes of transmission. Potentially risky behaviors such as walking outside barefoot and bathing in rivers were common. There was a strong association between municipality and prevalence of helminth infection. Educational attainment and higher "practice" scores (relating to practices which are effective in controlling intestinal helminths) were inversely associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection., Conclusion: Results of the study showed remaining high endemicity of intestinal helminthiases in the area despite ongoing control programs. Poor socio-economic conditions and low awareness about how intestinal helminthiases are transmitted may be among the factors hindering success of intestinal helminth control programs in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte. Addressing these sustainability gaps could contribute to the success of alleviating the burden of intestinal helminthiases in endemic areas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Helminths are a major global health issue, impacting health, educational, and socioeconomic outcomes. Infections, often starting in childhood, are linked to anemia, malnutrition, cognitive deficit, and in chronic cases of Opisthorchis viverrini (OV), cholangiocarcinoma. The main control strategy for helminth infection is mass drug administration; however, this does not prevent reinfection. As such, prevention strategies are needed. The "Magic Glasses" is a school-based cartoon health education package that has demonstrated success in improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) surrounding soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in China and the Philippines. This study is designed to assess the acceptability and impact of the 2 new versions of the Magic Glasses targeting STH and OV designed for the Lower Mekong audience in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), and Thailand., Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptability of the "Magic Glasses Lower Mekong" and "Magic Glasses Opisthorchiasis" education packages among schoolchildren in the Lower Mekong Basin, and the impact of these education packages on students' KAP surrounding STH and OV, respectively., Methods: Schoolchildren will be recruited into a cluster randomized controlled trial with intervention and control arms in rural schools in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. Schoolchildren's initial acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated using an adapted questionnaire. Sustained acceptability will be assessed at 9-month follow-up through focus group discussions with students and interviews with teachers. Impact will be evaluated by KAP questionnaires on STH and OV. KAP questionnaires will be administered to children at baseline and at follow-up. Indirect impact on parents' KAP of OV and STH will be assessed through focus group discussions at follow-up., Results: The trial is in progress in Lao PDR and Thailand and is expected to commence in Cambodia in January 2024. The results of the study are expected to be available 18 months from the start of recruitment. We hypothesize that participants enrolled in the intervention arm of the study will have higher KAP scores for STH and OV, compared with the participants in the control arm at follow-up. We expect that students will have initial and sustained acceptability of these intervention packages., Conclusions: This trial will examine the acceptability of the "Magic Glasses Opisthorchiasis" and "Magic Glasses Lower Mekong" interventions and provide evidence on the effectiveness of the "Magic Glasses" on KAP related to OV and STH among schoolchildren in the Lower Mekong Basin. Study results will provide insight on acceptability and impact indicators and inform a scaling up protocol for the "Magic Glasses" education packages in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand., Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12623000271606; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385315&isReview=true., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/55290., (©Suji Y O'Connor, Mary Lorraine Mationg, Matthew J Kelly, Gail M Williams, Archie CA Clements, Banchob Sripa, Somphou Sayasone, Virak Khieu, Kinley Wangdi, Donald E Stewart, Sirikachorn Tangkawattana, Apiporn T Suwannatrai, Vanthanom Savathdy, Visal Khieu, Peter Odermatt, Catherine A Gordon, Sangduan Wannachart, Donald P McManus, Darren J Gray. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 16.09.2024.)

Background: In Ethiopia, 79 million people live in soil transmitted helminths endemic areas. The Ethiopia established a National goal to eradicate STH transmission by 2025. To meet that goal, it is imperative that data is acquired on community helminth infection risk. This study examined the prevalence of STH and risk factors for infection in vegetable farmers working on Akaki River Bank, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 7, 2022, and June 2023. A stratified random sampling was used to select farming households. Two hundred and sixteen farmers were enrolled in the study. Data on socio-demographic, WASH, wastewater irrigation related factors were collected by trained data collectors using a structured questionnaire. Kato-Katz concentration was utilized to detect STH. The data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed with Stata 14.0, using p-values less than 0.05 to identify significant factors. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for infection., Results: The prevalence of STH was 22.2% (95% CI = 13.6-27.9%), with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most common (11.1%), followed by hookworm (7.4%), and Trichuris trichiura (3.7%). Low income levels (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.25-5.99), lack of handwashing before eating (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.58 - 11.3), absence of fingernails cleanliness (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.74-39.5), not wearing shoes at work (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI = 2.98-82.2), touching the face with dirty hands (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 0.68-28.2), washing vegetables with irrigation wastewater (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.95-45.2), and not wearing protective clothing during farming activities (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.58 - 22.4) were the significant risk factors for infection with STH., Conclusion: Of the farming communities examined in this study, one of the five was found to be infected with soil transmitted helminth. This research has shown clear risk factors for STH infection including: lack of personal hygiene practices, insufficient sanitation access, and limited use of protective equipment. To achieve the national goal, there is a need for farming communities to understand preventative risks of infection, improve WASH (Water access, sanitation and hygine) practices, WASH access, protective equipment, and health education., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: One-fifth of the global population is infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Mass drug administration (MDA) with deworming medication is widely implemented to control morbidity associated with STH infections. However, surveillance of human infection prevalence by collecting individual stool samples is time-consuming, costly, often stigmatized, and logistically challenging. Current methods of STH detection are poorly sensitive, particularly in low-intensity and low-prevalence populations., Methodology/principal Findings: We aimed to develop a sensitive and specific molecular method for detecting STH DNA in large volumes of soil (20 g) by conducting laboratory and proof of concept studies across field sites in Kenya, Benin, and India. We collected human stool (n = 669) and soil (n = 478) from 322 households across the three study sites. We developed protocols for DNA extraction from 20 g of soil and qPCR to detect Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, and Ancylostoma duodenale. Agreement between detection of STH via qPCR, digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), and microscopy-based methods was assessed using the Cohen's Kappa statistic. Finally, we estimated associations between soil characteristics and detection of STH in soil by qPCR, as well as between STH detected in soil and STH detected in stool from matched households, adjusting for soil characteristics. The overall prevalence of STH in soil by qPCR was 31% for A. lumbricoides, 3% for T. trichiura, and 13% for any hookworm species. ddPCR and qPCR performed similarly. However, there was poor agreement between STH detected in soil by qPCR versus light microscopy. Microscopy underestimated the prevalence of A. lumbricoides and N. americanus and overestimated T. trichiura. Detection of an STH species in household soil was strongly associated with increased odds of a household member being infected with that same species., Conclusions/significance: Soil surveillance for STH has several benefits over stool-based surveillance, including lower cost and higher success rates for sample collection. Considering that delivery of MDA occurs at the community level, environmental surveillance using molecular methods could be a cost-effective alternate strategy for monitoring STH in these populations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Manuel et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)