Jennifer Shield1, Kieran Aland2, Thérèse Kearns3, Glenda Gongdjalk4, Deborah Holt3, Bart Currie5, Paul Prociv6. 1. La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia . 2. Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia . 3. Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia . 4. Ngalkanbuy Health Centre, Galiwin'ku, Northern Territory, Australia . 5. Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia . ; Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia . 6. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Parasitic infections can adversely impact health, nutritional status and educational attainment. This study investigated hookworm and other intestinal parasites in an Aboriginal community in Australia from 1994 to 1996. METHODS: Seven surveys for intestinal parasites were conducted by a quantitative formol-ether method on faecal samples. Serological testing was conducted for Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxocara canis IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Of the 314 participants, infections were as follows: Trichuris trichiura (86%); hookworm, predominantly Ancylostoma duodenale (36%); Entamoeba spp. (E. histolytica complex [E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moskovski], E. coli and E. hartmanni) (25%); S. stercoralis (19%); Rodentolepis nana (16%); and Giardia duodenalis (10%). Serological diagnosis for 29 individuals showed that 28% were positive for S. stercoralis and 21% for T. canis. There was a decrease in the proportion positive for hookworm over the two-year period but not for the other parasite species. The presence of hookworm, T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp. was significantly greater in 5-14 year olds (n = 87) than in 0-4 year olds (n = 41), while the presence of S. stercoralis, R. nana, G. duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. in 5-14 year olds was significantly greater than 15-69 year olds (n = 91). DISCUSSION: Faecal testing indicated a very high prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially in schoolchildren. The decrease in percentage positive for hookworm over the two years was likely due to the albendazole deworming programme, and recent evidence indicates that the prevalence of hookworm is now low. However there was no sustained decrease in percentage positive for the other parasite species.
INTRODUCTION: Parasitic infections can adversely impact health, nutritional status and educational attainment. This study investigated hookworm and other intestinal parasites in an Aboriginal community in Australia from 1994 to 1996. METHODS: Seven surveys for intestinal parasites were conducted by a quantitative formol-ether method on faecal samples. Serological testing was conducted for Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxocara canis IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Of the 314 participants, infections were as follows: Trichuris trichiura (86%); hookworm, predominantly Ancylostoma duodenale (36%); Entamoeba spp. (E. histolytica complex [E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moskovski], E. coli and E. hartmanni) (25%); S. stercoralis (19%); Rodentolepis nana (16%); and Giardia duodenalis (10%). Serological diagnosis for 29 individuals showed that 28% were positive for S. stercoralis and 21% for T. canis. There was a decrease in the proportion positive for hookworm over the two-year period but not for the other parasite species. The presence of hookworm, T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp. was significantly greater in 5-14 year olds (n = 87) than in 0-4 year olds (n = 41), while the presence of S. stercoralis, R. nana, G. duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. in 5-14 year olds was significantly greater than 15-69 year olds (n = 91). DISCUSSION: Faecal testing indicated a very high prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially in schoolchildren. The decrease in percentage positive for hookworm over the two years was likely due to the albendazole deworming programme, and recent evidence indicates that the prevalence of hookworm is now low. However there was no sustained decrease in percentage positive for the other parasite species.
Authors: Sebastiaan J van Hal; Damien J Stark; Rashmi Fotedar; Debbie Marriott; John T Ellis; Jock L Harkness Journal: Med J Aust Date: 2007-04-16 Impact factor: 7.738
Authors: Anson V Koehler; Richard S Bradbury; Melita A Stevens; Shane R Haydon; Aaron R Jex; Robin B Gasser Journal: Electrophoresis Date: 2013-05-26 Impact factor: 3.535
Authors: Matthew Paltridge; Simon Smith; Aileen Traves; Robyn McDermott; Xin Fang; Chris Blake; Brad Milligan; Andrew D'Addona; Josh Hanson Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2020-02 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Therese M Kearns; Bart J Currie; Allen C Cheng; James McCarthy; Jonathan R Carapetis; Deborah C Holt; Wendy Page; Jennifer Shield; Roslyn Gundjirryirr; Eddie Mulholland; Linda Ward; Ross M Andrews Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-05-15
Authors: Akua Obeng Forson; Isaac Arthur; Michael Olu-Taiwo; Kathrine Korkor Glover; Prince Jonathan Pappoe-Ashong; Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2017-09-18
Authors: Deborah C Holt; Jennifer Shield; Tegan M Harris; Kate E Mounsey; Kieran Aland; James S McCarthy; Bart J Currie; Therese M Kearns Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2017-10-04
Authors: Meruyert Beknazarova; Harriet Whiley; Jenni A Judd; Jennifer Shield; Wendy Page; Adrian Miller; Maxine Whittaker; Kirstin Ross Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2018-06-05