Important Trematodes In Man In Indonesia

Trematode infections are considered to be a non public health problem in Indonesia, with the excep­tion of the two species namely Schistosoma japonicum and Fasciolopsis buski which are still assumed to be the most important trematodes of Indonesia. Other trematode infections reported occasionally were caused by: Echinostoma spp, Haplorchis yokogawai, Haplorchis taichui, Paralecithodendrium molenkampi, Phaneropsolus bonnei and Plachiorchis javensis. Schistosoma japonicum infection has been known to be endemic among the inhabitants of Lake Lindu since 1937. Surveys carried out since that time revealed prevalence rates which varied from 8-55%. Further studies proved that the species at Lindu were similar to the species found in Asia. Resurvey initiated in 1971 gave almost a similar prevalence rate followed by the discovery of the molluscan intermediate host namely Oncomelania hupensis lindoensis. In 1972 a new focus of schistosomiasis was discovered at Napu Valley. Other survey did not reveal any other endemic foci. The result of a biological study carried out since 1976 reconfirmed the diagnosis of the species. Clinical study showed that the significant signs and symptoms of schistosomiasis found among the Lindu inhabitants were : dermatitis, diarrhea, dysentry, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, distention of the abdomen, melaena. hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Control of schistosomiasis was initiated in 1981, using praziquantel for mass treatment. Twelve cycles of treatment at Lake Lindu area and 10 cycles at Napu Valley resulted in a reduction of overall prevalence rate from 15,80 % at Lindu area in 1981 to 1,14 % in 1987 whereas in Napu Valley the reduction was from 35,8 % in 1982 to 1,00 % in 1987. Fasciolopsis buski infection was first reported in 1982 from the Regency of Babirik, Hulu Sungai Utara in South Kalimantan Province. The following survey in that area in 1986 revealed a prevalence rate of 27,0 %. Clinical examination showed that some of the complaints were : diarrhea, poor appetite, mild abdominal colic or burning sensation, vomiting and fever. Physical examination revealed emaciation, anemia, distented abdomen, ascites, and jaundice. Another survey in four other adjacent villages showed prevalence rates that varied from 0,00% - 68,3%. The epidemiological survey carried out recendy did not reveal the intermediate hosts except only two metacercariae which could not be identified

Distinct Genetic Diversity of Oncomelania hupensis, Intermediate Host of Schistosoma japonicum in Mainland China as Revealed by ITS Sequences

The intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in Asia is the snail Oncomelania hupensis, which can be separated phenotypically into ribbed- and smooth-shelled morphotypes. In China, the typical morphotype is ribbed-shelled, with its distribution restricted to mainland China. Smooth-shelled snails with varix are also distributed in China, which are considered to belong to the same subspecies as the ribbed-shelled snails. In this study we investigate the genetic variation among O. hupensis from different geographical origins using combined complete ITS1 and ITS2 regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Snails including ribbed-shelled and smooth-shelled (but with varix on the shell) from the lake/marshland region of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and smooth-shelled snails from mountainous regions of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, were genetically distinct with no shared haplotypes detected. Furtheremore, the snails from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces were clustered in separate clades in the phylogenetic tree, and three clades were observed for snails from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The population diversity of O. hupensis in China is thus considered large, and evolutionary relationships in the host-parasite system of O. hupensis-S. japonicum may be of interest for further research

Soil transmitted helminths and schistosoma mansoni infections among school children in zarima town, northwest Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Ethiopia, because of low quality drinking water supply and latrine coverage, helminths infections are the second most predominant causes of outpatient morbidity. Indeed, there is a scarcity of information on the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths and Schistosomiasis in Ethiopia, special in study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of soil transmitted helminths and intestinal Schistosomiasis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 school children of Zarima town from April 1 to May 25, 2009. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and possible risk factors exposure. Early morning stool samples were collected and a Kato Katz semi concentration technique was used to examine and count parasitic load by compound light microscope. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS-15 version and p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 319 study subjects, 263 (82.4%) of the study participants infected with one or more parasites. From soil transmitted helminths, <it>Ascaris lumbricoides </it>was the predominant isolate (22%) followed by Hookworms (19%) and <it>Trichuris trichiura </it>(2.5%). <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>was also isolated in 37.9% of the study participants. Hookworm and <it>S. mansoni infections </it>showed <it>s</it>tatistically significant associations with shoe wearing and swimming habit of school children, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Prevalence of soil transmitted helminths (STH) and <it>S.mansoni </it>was high and the diseases were still major health problem in the study area which alerts public health intervention as soon as possible.</p

Development of cognitive abilities of children infected with helminths through health education

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of health education in learning and cognitive development of children infected, previously treated in an endemic area for helminthiasis. METHODS: It is a longitudinal, experimental, with random allocation of participants. The study included 87 children of both sexes enrolled in the school hall of Maranhão, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and divided into two groups: intervention and control. Initially the children were submitted to the parasitological fecal examination for infection diagnosis and, when positive, they were treated. For the data collection, a structured questionnaire and the psychological tests Raven, Wisc-III and DAP III were applied, before and after the educational intervention. For the group comparison, the Mann Whitney test was used, and established significance level of 5%. RESULTS: It was found that previously infected children who received the educational intervention, children showed higher performance than the control group in strutured questionnaire (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is acceptable to suppose the positive influence and the importance in the use of educational interventions in the cognitive recovery and learning of children previously treated with anthelmintics