Substitution of Malachite Green with Nigrosin - Eosin Yellow Stain in the Kato-Katz Method: Microscopical Appearance of the Helminth Eggs

Background:The Kato-Katz thick smear technique is the standard technique recommended by the World Health Organisation for the quantitative diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni and other intestinal helminth infections.The major problem of the technique is that a few hours after the preparation of slides hookworm eggs over clear and disappear due glycerin. Objective:To illustrate clear visibility of different helminth eggs microscopically in Odongo-Aginya method; substitution of malachite green with 7.5nigrosin in 10formalin and 5eosin in 10formalin. Method: Measured; strained stool specimen was stained with mixture of nigrosin/ eosin and covered with cellophane cover slips.The prepared slide was examined immediately microscopically. Result: Slides prepared with Odongo-Aginya method can be examined immediately or later without compromising the visibility of parasite eggs and larvae. Hookworm eggs remain visible for a long time. Conclusion:The present publication shows microscopic appearance of the helminth eggs using the Odongo-Aginya modification

Appreciation of school deworming program by parents in Ha Giang Province (Vietnam).

School-based deworming programs are one of the most cost-effective public health strategies to reach children with anthelminthics and health education. However, despite their low cost and high health impact, they are not implemented on a large scale. The present survey investigated a school-based deworming program in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, to assess the community perception and support towards these programs. Information from 81 households, 88 primary school students, 25 teachers and 9 people in charge of commune health stations was collected by structured questionnaires. The survey displayed complete satisfaction and a high level of support within all 4 questioned groups. In addition 96.1% of all parents noticed an improvement in their children's health. The great appreciation of the deworming program by the community is an additional argument to convince decision makers to implement and scale up these programs. Even teachers that did not receive any specific training were able to distribute the drug successfully following the page of written instructions accompanying the drug.

Evaluation of coverage of deworming interventions in Vietnam.

In 2004-2005, the school deworming program in Vietnam targeted 2,400,000 school-children in 25 provinces. A questionnaire survey of a random sample of schools throughout the country was organized to validate the teacher feedback, assess the real coverage of the program and estimate the occurrence of side-effects. A total of 91 schools in four different provinces were visited few days after drug distribution. A total of 2,323 children and 80 teachers were questioned. The total cost of the monitoring has been estimated at US dollar 7,000 (less than 10% of the deworming program). The survey demonstrated a coverage of 95% for school-children and of 86.3% for teachers (on average a coverage 2% lower than the one reported by the teachers through forms on the day of drug administration). Approximately 0.4% of those interviewed reported side-effects after deworming, while the occurrence of side effects through routine reports was 0.15%. In both cases, the side effects were described as mild forms of nausea, abdominal pain, or headaches that did no required pharmacological treatment. The survey confirmed the positive results of routine reporting; we consider the survey a cost-effective activity to maintain the control activities under monitoring.

Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the city of Portoviejo (Ecuador)

We studied the stool samples of 151 school children in a district of the city of Portoviejo (Ecuador) in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and their relationships with anthropometric indices. The samples were analyzed with the semiquantitative Kato-Katz technique and the intensity of infections was categorized as light, moderate or high according to the thresholds set by the World Health Organization. Prevalence of soil transmitted helmintiasis was 65 percent (92 out of 141 collected samples), Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common STH (63 percent) followed by Trichuris trichiura (10 percent) and hookworm (1.4 percent). Heavy intensity infections were found in 8.5 percent of the stool samples, with T. trichiura showing higher worm burdens than A. lumbricoides. Sixteen percent of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted), while 27 percent were below the third percentile for height (stunted). A significant relationship was found between the worm burden and the degree of stunting. This study suggests that the periodic administration of an antihelminthic drug should be targeted to preschool and school children to allow a normal growth spurt and prevent stunting