Zoonotic Schistosomiasis in Naujan Lake, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines: The Role of Environment, Animals and Community Practices | Chapter 6 | Research Perspective on Biological Science Vol. 6

 

Aims: To identify endemic zones, locate intermediate host sites, and validate predictive screening parameters to support early detection and integrated disease control strategies. Likewise, to correlate and formulate models using environmental and epidemiological factors, ruminant faecal contamination, and presence of Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi snails to predict Schistosomiasis prevalence around Naujan Lake, Oriental Mindoro.

 

Study Design: Cross-sectional observation combining parasitological, malacological, and ecological assessments with statistical modelling for disease prevalence prediction.

 

Place and Duration of Study: Barangay in municipalities of Socorro, Pola, Victoria, and Naujan surrounding Naujan Lake, Oriental Mindoro, between October 2022 and May 2023.

 

Methodology: Formalin Ethylene Acetate Sedimentation Digestion (FEA-SD) technique and direct microscopy were conducted on ruminant faeces and Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (Katsurada 1904) snails. Environmental factors (i.e., water pH, temperature, humidity, and air temperature) were recorded at each site. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between Schistosomiasis prevalence and environmental variables. A predictive model was developed based on significant parameters.

 

Results: Schistosome-positive faecal samples significantly overlapped with snail sites. High-risk transmission areas were confirmed in Socorro and Pola, with carabaos identified as major contributors to parasite proliferation by defecating, particularly in 34 snail-positive sites. Environmental conditions associated with high disease prevalence included water pH 7.51–7.61, humidity 75.33–76.29%, water temperature 23.55–26.19°C, and air temperature 31.47–32.80°C. Formulated model for Schistosomiasis prevalence (Pₛₕᵢₛₜₒₘᵢₐₛᵢₛ) was predicted with 93% accuracy through the equation: Pₛₕᵢₛₜₒₘᵢₐₛᵢₛ = 5.85013(SF - presence of Schistosomes in faeces) – 0.08091(WTEMP - water temperature) – 0.09910 (ATEMP - air temperature).

 

Conclusion: Findings emphasise the strong influence of environmental conditions on disease proliferation. Thus, systematic monitoring of snail sites and environmental parameters to support control programs is recommended. To further mitigate disease transmission, collaborative efforts with local administrative and health agencies are crucial. Results will be translated into community-based awareness campaigns and used to inform local policy development for continuous surveillance and early detection in the four municipalities. Moreover, policy frameworks at both the local and provincial levels should be formulated and implemented to support the integrated control and eventual eradication of Schistosomiasis.

 

Author(s) Details

Dave Christopher G. Viňas
Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 76GW+335, Strong Republic Nautical Hwy, Barcenaga, Naujan, 5204, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines.

 

Nora C. Cabaral-Lasaca
College of Agriculture and Allied Fields, Mindoro State University; 555P+4R2, Alcate, Victoria, 5205, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpbs/v6/5892

Prevalence of Schistosomiasis among Children Less than 18 Years in Kilosa District, Tanzania: A 3-Year Retrospective Review | Chapter 9 | Disease and Health Research: New Insights Vol. 4

Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in Tanzania. However, in the past 15 years, mass drug administration (MDA) targeting school children has remained the mainstay for its control. Despite preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis in school children, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in children aged 5-17 years in Kilosa district over a 3-year period has not been reported. This study determined the prevalence of schistosomiasis among children in Kilosa district.

 

A retrospective study was conducted using laboratory data records from the record books of selected health facilities in four wards of Kilosa District. Samples of urine and stool submitted by young children to the laboratories of health facilities between 2014 and 2016 were recorded.

 

A total of 702 samples were collected from the laboratory records books involving their age, sex and schistosome species. Of the 702 individuals, 541 were examined for urinary schistosomiasis and 161 for intestinal schistosomiasis; 31 (5.7%) were infected with S. haematobium and 11 (6.8%) with S. mansoni respectively.

 

However, the overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in the study area was 6.27%. Among males, the prevalence of S. haematobium was 1.00% and S. mansoni was 2.35% while among females, the prevalence of S. haematobium was 3.96% and S. mansoni was 1.00%. Children aged 13-17 years were infected with both species, with S. haematobium at 5.11% and S. mansoni at 1.99%. Ruhembe Ward had the highest prevalence of both species, with S. haematobium at 8.62% and S. mansoni at 5.17%. The findings confirm that schistosomiasis is a public health problem in the district. Therefore, it is recommended that mass drug administration should be carried out in the district.

 

Author (s) Details

Nicholas J. Kavana
Department of Parasitology and Entomology, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/dhrni/v4/1246

Anemia in Children Co-infected with S. mansoni and Intestinal Protozoans in the Western Region (Tonkpi) of Côte d`Ivoire | Chapter 4 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 2

Background: Anaemia is a serious public health problem affecting nearly 42% of children less than 5 years of age globally. In Cote d`Ivoire, 72% of the children aged 6-59 months were anemic in 2019. Anemia is defined as a reduction in the hemoglobin level in the peripheral blood below the normal threshold set for a particular population. Very commonly in the subtropics, helminthes, protozoans or malaria co-infect the same person, causing morbidities that vary according to age and region. According to the WHO, the prevalence of intestinal protozooses is high worldwide, with over 3 billion people infected, including 450 million in developing countries. This research study aims to characterize the type of anemia observed in 6 years old children infected with helminthes and protozoans in the Western part of Côte d`Ivoire, in order to improve the recommended strategy of care.

Methods: The study was carried out from March 2020 to May 2021 in 22 villages of Biankouma and Man, in the Tonkpi Region, with a cohort of 451 children, both male and female, aged from 3 months to 6 years. All the children were diagnosed with anemia and collected both stool and urine for diagnosis of intestinal schistosomiasis and protozoosis. The children provided venous blood samples for the diagnosis and characterization of anemia (full blood count), and urines and stool samples were used for the diagnosis of helminthiasis and protozoosis. Univariate analysis (Chi-2 test (X2) and P: (Probability) were used for comparison between groups. A significant test was considered at a threshold of 0.05.

Results: Of the 451 children who completed the study, 221 (49.0%) were female and 230 (51.0%) were male. Helminthes infections (230, 51.0%) were more prevalent than the protozoans’ infections (40, 8.9%). 50.0% of children infected by intestinal helminthes (S. mansoni) were anemics (33.9% mild, 64.4% moderate and 1.7% severe). The characterization of anemia revealed that hypochromic microcytic anemia (HMA) was the predominant type, being found in 87 (74.8%) children. It was followed by normochromic microcytic anemia (12 children, 10.4%), normochromic normocytic anemia (09 children, 7.8%), and, finally, hypochromic normocytic anemia (08 children, 7.0%).

Conclusion: S. mansoni infection was highly prevalent among 6 years old children in both sexes and in different age groups, although the number of helminthes parasites present during infections was greatest in older children. Similarly, the prevalence of anemia was high, with moderate anemia and HMA being more prevalent in 6 years old children in the western region of Côte d’Ivoire.

Author(s) Details:

Mocket Adolphe Ehouman,
Olopam Pharma and Research & Development, 10 BP 1274 Abidjan 10, Côte d’Ivoire and Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’ivoire.

Kouakou Eliezer Ngoran,
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’ivoire.

Rufin Kouassi Assare,
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’ivoire.

Ahossan Andre Ehouman,
Institute de Cardiologie, Abidjan, Côte d`Ivoire, BP V206 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Pamela Nassinata Dosso,
Olopam Pharma and Research & Development, 10 BP 1274 Abidjan 10, Côte d’Ivoire.

Cyrille Koffi Konan,
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 22 BP 770, Abidjan 22, Côte d’ivoire.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RUDHR-V2/article/view/13502

The Challenge of Open Defaecation (OD) and Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in Nigeria– A brief Review | Chapter 02 | Emerging Challenges in Environment and Earth Science Vol. 2

 Nigeria is ranked second (2) in the world in terms of open defecation, according to a recent World Health Organization report (OD). This has been identified as an environmental danger that has attracted the attention of both government and non-governmental organisations over time (NGOs). As part of their civic obligation, academia and corporate organisations working in the environmental and public health fields have demonstrated no less concern. The Nigerian government and other stakeholders have responded in a variety of ways, including the adoption of the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) principle. The purpose of this review study was to look at this important topic and the magnitude of the problems and efforts achieved so far in the country. In Nigeria, a thorough evaluation of peer-reviewed journals and published material on OD was conducted. The goal of this study was to find out (a) how much OD has presented a public health issue in our areas. (b) What prevalent activities are the key drivers of OD in Nigeria's present sociocultural norms? (c) In Nigeria, what are the most common obstacles to combating OD? A convincing review suggests that Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) or the Community Approach for Total Sanitation (CATS) is one of the proven solutions typically employed at the community and programme level, as investigated in the Nigerian context– its adaptability, effectiveness, and otherwise. A few models were examined, and recommendations were given where needed.

Author(S) Details

Mela Danjin
College of Nursing and Midwifery Gombe (CONMG), Gombe State, Nigeria.

Henry O. Sawyerr
Environmental Health Science Programme, School of Allied Health and Environmental Science, Kwara State University (KWASU), MaleteIlorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

View Book:- https://stm.bookpi.org/ECEES-V2/article/view/5730