Pattern of parasitic infections as public health problem among school children: a comparative study between rural and urban areas

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in rural and urban areas of the Ibb region in Yemen

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were randomly recruited from both urban and rural areas. A total of 258 stool specimens from 112 boys and 146 girls were analysed. All samples were examined using both direct and concentration methods to identify microscopically possible diagnostic stages of intestinal parasites

Results: Of the 258 samples studied, 148 students were found to be positive for at least one parasite infection with an overall estimated prevalence of 57.4%. Of the 138 children from urban areas, 89 [64.5%] were found to be infected, whereas 59/120 [49.2%] students from rural areas were infected. The infection was statistically higher in urban areas [X[2] = 6.164, P = 0.013]. The infection rate was highest among the age group 10-11 years [31.8%] followed by 12-13 years [28.4%]. Infection rates of 23.6% and 16.2% were recorded among 8- to 9-year-olds and 14- to 15-year-olds, respectively. The distributions of parasites among school children detected in descending order were: Entameba histolytica [33.7%], Giardia lamblia [23.6%], Ascaris lumbricoides [14.3%], Trichuris trichiura [9.3%], Hymenolepis nana [6.2%], Schistosoma mansoni [3.1%], Ancylostoma duodenale [1.2%], Enterobius vermicularis [0.8%] and Strongyloides stercoralis [0.8%]

Conclusions: This study showed that infection by intestinal parasites is prevalent among school children and can be a crucial public health problem. This study emphasizes the need for public health interventions to tackle this problem

Cases of hydatidosis in patients referred to Governmental hospitals for cyst removal in Sana’a City, Republic of Yemen

Abstract. Hydatidosis is a parasitic infestation caused by Echinococus granulosus. This disease is endemic in many countries including Yemen. The present review article aims to have a glimpse at the present status of hydatidosis in Yemen. This is the first descriptive study, investigating recorded cases of hydatidosis from the five main governmental hospitals in the capital Sana’a city, over a longer period starting from 2001 and ending in 2008. A total of 796 medical records of patients referred to the five main governmental hospitals in Sana’a city for cyst removal, were studied. Of these cases 482 were females and 314 were males. Their mean age was 30.0 ± 16.9 years. Information regarding the location of the cyst in the body, age, sex and residence of each patient was recorded. A higher infection rate was found in females than males (60.6% and 39.4%, respectively). Single organ involvement was observed in 98.6% cases, among which, the most frequent localizations were the liver (60.8%) followed by the lung (24.7%). Cases of hydatidosis appeared to increase during the period 2001-2008, with the lowest number (n=26) and the highest number (n=140) recorded in 2001 and 2007, respectively. We conclude that the risk of hydatidosis is still high in Yemen, where street or stray dogs move freely down town and the population should be aware about the role of dogs in the transmission of this disease. Hospital records provide a useful indication of infection expressed as annual rate of hospital cases. Finally, the collaboration of Public Health Authorities, the Veterinary Medical Authorities and the Environmental Affairs Authorities is a must to control this disease.

Intestinal parasitosis among apparently healthy workers at restaurants of Sana'a city, Yemen

A cross sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 303 apparently healthy workers in 58 restaurants in Sana'a City, with ages between 12 to 70 years 22.12 +/- 8.34. A required data were taken through a designed questionnaire and stool samples were collected and examined microscopically by direct wet mount [saline and iodine stained smears] and by formalin ether concentration sedimentation technique. The results showed 72.9% an overall infections rate in a descending order they were E. coli [58.85%], E. histolytica [48.87%], G. lamblia [35.29%], S. mansoni [7.69%], T. trichiura [4.98%], A. lumbricoides [4.07%], H. nana [3.62%], and 0.91% for both E. vermicularis and A. doudenale. Intervention programs including health education, strict supervision of health authorities on workers in restaurants, hotels and other food shops as well as environmental sanitation are required

Cryptosporidiosis and other intestinal parasites in 3 yemeni orphanages: Prevalence, risk, and morbidity

The epidemiological pattern of cryptosporidiosis and other intestinal parasites were studied among 3 orphanages in Sana'a City. A total of 292 orphans [225 males and 67 females], aged 4-20 years old were recruited. A questionnaire of demographic information, health status and other relevant information was filled out for each one. Fresh stool specimens were processed by wet mount preparation, formalin-ether concentration and MZL stain. Among 292 orphans, the overall parasitic rate was 62.7%. C. parvum showed highest prevalence [24%] followed by G. lamblia [16.8%], E. histolytica /E.dispar [13%], and then E. coli [18.5%]. Hymenolepis nana was in 7.2% of children but only 3 cases of Ascaris lumbricoides. The risk of C. parvum was significantly higher in children

Anti-leishmanial polyclonal antibodies to assess the performance characteristics of leishmanial antigen detection ELISA

The polyclonal anti bodies raised in rabbits against amastigote antigen extract were purified and fractionated, and IgG class antibodies and from the same antibodies, a peroxidase conjugate [labeled antibodies] reagent were prepared. The antibodies and the labeled antibodies were analyzed for efficacy of the homologous extracted antigens by capture ELISA. The titration curves of the anti-amastigote IgG antibody against extracted antigens showed that both free antibody and corresponding labeled antibody reacted with the original amastigote antigens. Further analysis involved the interaction between the antibody and two leishmanial stages; mammalian amastigote and infective promasitgote by immunoflourescene technique. The strong interaction was not only with surface antigenic components of the stages but also with their internal components. Capture-ELISA system was done to detect specific leishmanial antigens in urine and sera from visceral leishmaniasis patients [VL]. Most of the urine samples were positive [90% sensitivity] for leishmanial antigens without cross-reactivity [100% specificity] with any other tested samples from heterologous parasitic infections. But, only 61% sensitivity and 53% specificity were obtained when the capture ELISA was done to detect the specific leishmanail antigens in sera from VL