Soil-Transmitted Helminths: Prevalence and Intensity of Some Soil Transmitted Nematodes among Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Penka-Michel Sub-division, West-Cameroon

Background: Soil transmitted helminth infections are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) affecting mostly pupils in developing countries. They seem to lose more and more interest due to the fact that resources and research are being justifiably diverted to more recent priorities such as HIV/AIDS, cancers, tuberculosis and malaria. As a result, specific data on STH infections is often lacking. Aims:To evaluate the prevalence and intensities of STH parasites among pupils in Penka-Michel Sub-division, West-Cameroon in order to refresh information for a better management of these parasitic diseases.Original Research Article Settings and Design:A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted from October to December 2018 in Penka-Michel Sub-division.Methods and Materials:To evaluate the prevalence and intensities of STH parasites among pupils, seven hundred and twenty nine (729) stool samples were collected from pupilsaged 4 to 14 years old in 23 randomly selected primary schools.The samples were analysed using the concentration method of Willis and the Mc Master technic.Results:Out of 729 pupils enrolled, 107(14.7%) were infected with one or more STH parasite species. The nematodes species identified were Ascaris lumbricoides(9.9%), Trichuris trichiura(5.3%) and hookworms (2.2%). Pupils aged from 8 to 11 years were the most infected (17.3%). Statistically females were more infected with hookworms (2.2%). These parasites occurred as monospecific (84.11%), bi-specific (13.0%) and tri-specific (2.80%) infections. The mean fecal eggs count was 3652.78±8715.93, 266.67±273.81 and 118.75±72.74 for A. lumbricoides,T. trichiuraand hookwormrespectively.According to faecal concentration of eggs, 88.18% of infections were light.Conclusion:These results show the necessity of sustainable application of regular deworming, health education and improvements in sanitation among pupils in Penka-Michel Sub-division

Gastrointestinal Helminth Infections in HIV Seropositive and Seronegative Patients in Dschang, Cameroon.

Background: Helminth infections are widely spread around the world and constitute a major public health problem. They present one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide with a greater proportion occurring in the less developed areas of the world like Sub-Saharan Africa. This area has the highest regional prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the world. Due to the overlapping geographical distribution of these infections, coinfection between helminths and HIV are likely to be common. Little has been reported on the relationship between HIV status and the presence of these parasites in Dschang. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine and compare prevalence and intensity of helminth infections between Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infected (seropositives) or non infected (seronegatives) patients. Methods: Patients were recruited using the registration number at their arrival in the District and Saint Vincent de Paul hospitals of Dschang. For each subject, stool and blood samples were collected. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of stool samples were carried out using Willis and McMaster techniques respectively. As for serological analysis of HIV/AIDS, the test was done using DETERMINE HIV1/HIV2 rapid test and IMMUNOCOMB test for confirmation. Results: Five hundred and seventy (570) patients were recruited following inclusion criteria. One hundred and seven (107) were seropositives and four hundred and sixty three (463) seronegatives. The overall prevalence of helminthic infections was 23.11%. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm and Capillaria hepatica were found with respective prevalences of 10.9%, 6.8%, 3.2% and 0.2%. The general prevalences were 10.28% and 20.73% for HIV seropositives and seronegatives respectively. The mean intensities of infection were 182.25±566.12, 130.95±153.79, 91.66±104.67 and 50±0.00 epg for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm and C. hepatica respectively. In seropositives, these values were 50±0.00, 68.75±88.30, 50±0.00 and 0±0.00 epg while in seronegatives; they were 282.41±831.46, 145.59±167.59, 94.11±107.35 and 50±0.00 epg for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm and C. hepatica, respectively. Seropositives were statistically significant (p<0.05) less infected with helminths than seronegatives. Elsewhere, the mean intensities of infection were lower in seropositives than in seronegatives. Conclusion: The prevalence and parasite loads are fewer in seropositives than in seronegatives. Therefore, harboring HIV is not associated with increasing in helminths prevalence.

In vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Bidens pilosa Linn. (Asteraceae) Leaf Extracts against Haemonchus contortus Eggs and Larvae.

Haemonchus contortus is a major health and welfare problem for small ruminants, responsible for economic losses through reduced productivity and increased mortality. The in vitro efficacy of Bidens pilosa was determined against this gastrointestinal nematode (GIN). Fresh eggs, embryonated eggs and larvae (L1 and L2) were incubated at room temperature in infused aqueous extract, macerated aqueous and ethanolic leaf extract of B. pilosa at concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 mg/ml for 48, 6 and 24 hours, respectively. Distilled water and 1.5% Tween 80 were used as negative controls. They did not affect development of eggs and larvae whereas extracts showed a concentration dependent activity eventhough aqueous extracts exhibited a weak activity on the different developmental stages of H. contortus compared to ethanolic extract. Ethanolic extract was more potent on larvae than on eggs. It inhibited 92.5±7.5% and 67.4±7.4% egg embryonation and egg hatch at 5 mg/ml, with IC50 values of 2.1 mg/ml and 3.3 mg/ml respectively and induced 100±0% and 89.8±3.2% L1 and L2 larvae mortality at 5 mg/ml with LC50 values of 1.8 and 1.96 mg/ml respectively. The overall findings of the current study indicated that the evaluated medicinal plant in occurrence B. pilosa possess potential anthelmintic effect and further in vivo and toxicity evaluation are indispensable to validate its use as anthelmintic for the control of GIN.

In vitro anthelminthic efficacy of Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) extracts on the gastro-intestinal nematode parasite of mice: Heligmosomoides bakeri (Nematoda, Heligmosomatidae)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the ovicidal and larvicidal activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Dichrocephala integrifolia (D. integrifolia) against the eggs (fresh and embryonnated), the first and second larval stages of Heligmosomoides bakeri. In order to verify if this medicinal plant possesses active compounds capable of inhibiting the embryonation and hatching of eggs or to induce the mortality of larvae (L1 and L2).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>dried extracts were diluted in distilled FIV water to obtain five different concentrations: 625, 1,250, 2,500, 3,750 and 5,000 µg/mL. Fresh eggs obtained from artificially infected mice feces were exposed to these different concentrations for 48 h. Time of contact for embryonated eggs was 6 h while L1 and L2 larvae were exposed for 24 h. Distilled water (placebo) and 1.5% DMSO were used as negative controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Distilled water, and 1.5% DMSO had no effect on embryonation, hatching and larval survival. Aqueous extracts of D. integrifolia showed a weak activity against all stages of the parasite at all concentrations tested. On the contrary, the ethanolic extract of D. integrifolia inhibited the embryonation of 87.5% of fresh eggs, the hatching of 81.1% of embryonated eggs and induced the mortality of 98.1% and 98% of L1 and L2 larvae respectively at 5,000 µg/mL.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of the present study indicate that the ethanolic extracts of D. integrifolia contained compounds with ovicidal and larvicidal properties. In spite of these results, in vivo tests, studies on toxicity and mechanism of action of active compounds are also needed to validate the utilisation of this medicinal plant by population of Dschang-Cameroon to treat gastro-intestinal parasites.</p>

Acute and sub-acute toxicity of ethanolic extract of Canthium mannii Hiern stem bark on Mus musculus.

Acute and sub-acute toxicity of ethanolic extract (ETE) of C. mannii was assessed on white mice (Mus musculus). After 48 h of extract administration, no death was registered. It was deduced that the LD50 was indisputably higher than 16 g/kg body weight. The sub-acute toxicity test was based on the daily administration of three doses of ETE (300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg body weight) for four weeks; 1% DMSO served as negative control. As for the first experiment, no sign of toxicity was registered. Conversely, the sub acute doses stimulated and increased the weight-rate of mice after 7 days of treatment. Except for the spleen weight, the doses administrated did not modify the weight index. It was observed that, sub-acute doses induced and increased (a) the food (particularly) and water consumption according to time and (b) the number of red and white blood cells. It was thought that, ETE can stimulate the haematopoietic function. Finally, no time variation of the activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme was observed in the serum of euthanized mice. The results showed the innocuity of ETE of C. mannii and thus validated his utilization in cameroonian traditional pharmacopoea.

In vitro activities of acetonic extracts from leaves of three forage legumes (Calliandra calotyrsus, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena diversifolia) on Haemonchus contortus

OBJECTIVE@#To assess ovicidal activity of three acetonic extracts from the leaves of three forage legume, Calliandra calotyrsus (C. calotyrsus), Gliricidia sepium (G. sepium) and Leucaena diversifolia (L. diversifolia) in vitro on Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus).@*METHODS@#Eggs were exposed for 24 hours to five different concentrations (0.075, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.25 mg/mL) of acetonic extracts at room temperature (24 °C). Distilled water and 0.4% Tween were used in the bioassay as negative controls.@*RESULTS@#The later did not affect embryonation and egg hatching of H. contortus. Conversively, significant effects were obtained with the acetonic extracts of leaves of all three plants and the maximum activity was observed with the highest concentration (1.25 mg/mL). The acetonic extract of G. sepium was found to be more active (2.9% and 0.0% for embryonation and egg hatching, respectively) than the other substances 16.5% and 33.5%, respectively for C. calothyrsus, 33.7% and 33.3%, respectively for L. diversifolia.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results suggest that the three forage legumes do possess ovicidal properties and further studies on larvae should be carried out.