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

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

Development of schistosomal school-based health education model for Yemeni school children

In this study, 152 students [90 males and 62 females] of primary [5[th] and 6[th] grades, 52 males and 30 females] and preparatory [1[st] and 2[nd] grades, 38 males and 32 females] schoolchildren of different age and sex group inhabited in two endemic villages with Schistosoma mansoni in Taiz Governorate were examination. The highest prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni were-among males at the age group from 10-<12years. A significant relationship was recorded between prevalence and intensity of infection and those who using pond water for human usage. The prevalence was significantly higher among children who received previous praziquantel treatment as well as those who didn't have TV, Radio and/or Video. The results were discussed on the light of certain variables