Anthropometric Indices and Serum Micronutrient Status of Helminth - Infected School Children from Semi-Urban Communities in Southwestern Nigeria.

Adequate nutrition is essential for normal growth of children but helminth infection is proposed to cause nutritional deficiencies. This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of helminth infected school aged children in semi-urban communities of South-West Nigeria. Two hundred children from primary schools in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements were analyzed using the WHO AnthroPlus software. Kato Katz method was used to detect ova of helminths in the stool while serum levels of iron, zinc, selenium, ferritin, transferrin, vitamin A, vitamin C and haptoglobin were measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectophotometry as appropriate. 60 (30%) of the children had intestinal helminth infection with Ascaris lumbricoides (23.0%) as most prevalent, followed by hookworm (2.5%) and Trichuris trichuria (0.5%).  Stunting was more prevalent than thinness or underweight among the study population especially the female children. There were significantly reduced serum levels of zinc and vitamin A and significantly increased serum levels of transferrin and selenium in helminth-infected children compared with helminth-uninfected children. This study established the need for regular deworming of school age children and supplementing diets of school children in rural communities with vitamin A and zinc.

Markov model to forecast the change in prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths during a control programme: a case study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: A mathematical model based on the Markov methodology to predict the change in prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections during public health control activities is not available, but would be an extremely efficient planning tool. METHOD: We used the parasitological data collected during a deworming and iron supplementation programme for women of child-bearing age conducted in Vietnam between 2006 and 2011 to develop a Markov transition probability model. The transition probabilities were calculated from the observed changes in prevalence in the different classes of intensity for each STH species during the first year of intervention. The model was then developed and used to estimate the prevalence in year 2, 3, 4 and 5 for each STH species and for 'any STH infection'. The prevalence predicted by the model was then compared with the prevalence observed at different times during programme implementation. RESULTS: The comparison between the model-predicted prevalence and the observed prevalence proved a good fit of the model. CONCLUSIONS: We consider the Markov transition probability model to be a promising method of predicting changes in STH prevalence during control efforts. Further research to validate the model with observed data in different geographical and epidemiological settings is suggested to refine the prediction model.

Avaliação da eficácia de taboa (Typha domingensis Pers.) e batata-de-purga [Operculina hamiltonii (G. Don) D.F. Austin & Staples] in natura sobre nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos, naturalmente infectados, em clima semi-árido / Evaluation of the effectiveness of "taboa" (Typha domingensis Pers.) and "batata-de-purga" [Operculina hamiltonii (G. Don) D.F. Austin & Staples] in natura on gastrointestinal nematodes of goats, naturally infected, in the semi-arid region

Avaliou-se a eficácia da Typha domingensis (taboa) e da Operculina hamiltonii (batata-de-purga) in natura sobre nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos, naturalmente infectados, em clima semi-árido. Foram utilizados 30 caprinos da raça Moxotó, e o rizoma da taboa e a raiz da batata-de-purga, avaliados através da fitoquímica. As fezes foram coletadas nos dias zero, sete e 25, após, o tratamento da contagem de OPG. Os animais foram distribuídos inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. Grupo I tratado com Moxidectina 0,2 por cento em dose única de 0,5 mg Kg-1; o Grupo II tratado com Taboa na dose (10 g 20 Kg-1 peso vivo); Grupo III com batata-de-purga na dose de 9 g 20 Kg-1 p.v.; Grupo IV tratado com taboa 10 g 20 Kg-1 p.v. associada a batata 9 g 20 Kg-1 p.v. durante três dias consecutivos, todos administrados oralmente e o Grupo V como grupo controle. Os grupos tratados apresentaram redução no número médio de OPG aos 7 e 25 dias pós-tratamento, quando comparado com o grupo controle no respectivo período, sendo a batata-de-purga com maior redução aos 7 e a taboa aos 25 dias. A maior eficácia foi da batata-de-purga de 84 por cento e 70 por cento, nos dias 7 e 25 pós-tratamento. Verificou-se que a batata-de-purga foi eficaz no controle de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos no clima semi-árido e que a taboa associada com a batata tem potencial para serem utilizadas em programas alternativos de controle parasitário.

The effectiveness of Typha domingensis ("taboa") and Operculina hamiltonii ("batata-de-purga") in natura was evaluated on gastrointestinal nematodes of goats, naturally infected, in the semi-arid region. Thirty Moxotó goats were used, and the rhizome of "taboa" and the root of "batata-de-purga" were analyzed through phytochemistry. Feces were collected on days zero, seven and 25 after the treatment for FECs. The distribution of animals was completely at random, with five treatments and six replicates. Group I was treated with Moxidectin 0.2 percent in a single dose of 0.5 mg kg-1; Group II was treated with "taboa" at the dose of 10 g 20 Kg-1 body weight; Group III was treated with "batata-de-purga" at the dose of 9 g 20 Kg-1 b.w.; Group IV was treated with "taboa" at 10 g 20 Kg-1 b.w. associated with "batata-de-purga" at 9 g 20 Kg-1 b.w. during three consecutive days. All treatments were orally administered and Group V was used as control. Treated groups showed a reduction in the average number of FECs at seven and 25 days post-treatment when compared to the control group in the respective period; "batata de purga" had a greater reduction at seven days, while "taboa" showed a more pronounced reduction at 25 days. The highest effectiveness was observed for "batata de purga": 84 percent and 70 percent at seven and 25 days post treatment. "Batata-de-purga" was effective in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes of goats in the semi-arid climate and "taboa" associated with "batata de purga" have the potential to be used in alternative programs for parasite control.