ABSTRACT
Background: Enterobiasis (pin worm infection) is caused by Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis). According to World Health Organization, over a billion people are infected worldwide. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the transmission of E. vermicularis infection in children from a poor urban community in Sri Lanka. Methods: This study was conducted in the Hantana Tea Estate (HTE) in Kandy district of Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2013. After obtaining informed consent, data (socio economic data, educational level, deworming history, conditions and availability of the sanitary and housing facilities) were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Clean rectangular (2x3 cm) transparent adhesive cellulose tapes (scotch tape) were distributed among all participants to collect samples. Results: Out of the 204 children 65 (31.9%) were positive for E. vermicularis eggs. Children aged 1-3 years showed the highest prevalence rate (37.5%). The risk factors significantly associated with E. vermicularis infection were, a lack of parental knowledge about pinworm infection (p<0.001), hand washing only with water before a meal (p< 0.001) and after defecation (p<0.029) and de-worming period more than three months (p<0.001). Age, sex, family clusters, sucking fingers, toilet facilities and socioeconomic status were not found to be significantly associated with the infection (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of enterobiasis in children in Hantana Tea Estate indicating a high level of transmission. A lack of parental knowledge and poor personal hygiene were significantly associated with the transmission of E. vermicularis. Furthermore, the present study recommends mass medication of residents and their contacts to reduce the transmission of pin worm infection could be suggested. Further, it seems that singledose treatment may not be effective against enterobiasis. Therefore, treatment should be repeated 2 to 3 times at 3 weeks intervals.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the potential role of fresh Carica papaya (C. papaya) leaf extract on haematological and biochemical parameters and toxicological changes in a murine model. Methods: In total 36 mice were used for the trial. Fresh C. papaya leaf extract [0.2 mL (2 g)/mouse] was given only to the test group (18 mice). General behavior, clinical signs and feeding patterns were recorded. Blood and tissue samples were collected at intervals. Haematological parameters including platelet, red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), serum biochemistry including serum creatinine, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were determined. Organs for possible histopathological changes were examined. Results: Neither group exhibited alteration of behavior or reduction in food and water intake. Similarly, no significant changes in SGOT, SGPT and serum creatinine levels were detected in the test group. Histopathological organ changes were not observed in either group of mice except in three liver samples of the test group which had a mild focal necrosis. The platelet count (11.33±0.35)í105/μL (P=0.000 04) and the RBC count (7.97±0.61)í106/μL (P=0.000 03) were significantly increased in the test group compared to that of the controls. However, WBC count and PCV (%) values were not changed significantly in the test group. The platelet count in the test group started to increase significantly from Day 3 (3.4±0.18í105/μL), reaching almost a fourfold higher at Day 21 (11.3í105/μL), while it was 3.8í105/μL and 5.5í105/μL at Day 3 and Day 21 respectively in the control. Likewise, the RBC count in the test group increased from 6í106/μL to 9í106/ μL at Day 21 while it remained near constant in the control group (6í106/μL). Conclusions: Fresh C. papaya leaf extract significantly increased the platelet and RBC counts in the test group as compared to controls. Therefore, it is very important to identify those chemicals of C. papaya leaves as it can be recommended to be used as a medication to boost thrombopoiesis and erythropoiesis in humans and in animals in which these cell lineages have been compromised.