Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist
(1) Background: soil-transmitted helminths are a problem worldwide, largely affecting disadvantaged populations. The little data available indicates high rates of infection in some remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Studies of helminths were carried out in the same remote community in the N...
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doaj-16d22c14cc6749e788498d4c941597312020-11-24T20:42:45ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662017-10-01245110.3390/tropicalmed2040051tropicalmed2040051Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura PersistDeborah C. Holt0Jennifer Shield1Tegan M. Harris2Kate E. Mounsey3Kieran Aland4James S. McCarthy5Bart J. Currie6Therese M. Kearns7Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT 0811, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT 0811, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT 0811, AustraliaSchool of Health and Sports Science, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore QLD 4558, AustraliaQueensland Museum, South Brisbane QLD 4101, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston QLD 4006, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT 0811, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT 0811, Australia(1) Background: soil-transmitted helminths are a problem worldwide, largely affecting disadvantaged populations. The little data available indicates high rates of infection in some remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Studies of helminths were carried out in the same remote community in the Northern Territory in 1994–1996 and 2010–2011; (2) Methods: fecal samples were collected from children aged <10 years and examined for helminths by direct smear microscopy. In the 2010–2011 study, some fecal samples were also analyzed by agar plate culture and PCR for Strongyloides stercoralis DNA. Serological analysis of fingerprick dried blood spots using a S. stercoralis NIE antigen was also conducted; (3) Results and Conclusions: a reduction in fecal samples positive for S. stercoralis, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura was seen between the studies in 1994–1996 and 2010–2011, likely reflecting public health measures undertaken in the region to reduce intestinal helminths. Comparison of methods to detect S. stercoralis showed that PCR of fecal samples and serological testing of dried blood spots was at least as sensitive as direct smear microscopy and agar plate culture. These methods have advantages for use in remote field studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/2/4/51Strongyloides stercoralisstrongyloidiasisTrichuris trichiuraRodentolepis nanaNorthern TerritoryAboriginal |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Deborah C. Holt Jennifer Shield Tegan M. Harris Kate E. Mounsey Kieran Aland James S. McCarthy Bart J. Currie Therese M. Kearns |
spellingShingle |
Deborah C. Holt Jennifer Shield Tegan M. Harris Kate E. Mounsey Kieran Aland James S. McCarthy Bart J. Currie Therese M. Kearns Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Strongyloides stercoralis strongyloidiasis Trichuris trichiura Rodentolepis nana Northern Territory Aboriginal |
author_facet |
Deborah C. Holt Jennifer Shield Tegan M. Harris Kate E. Mounsey Kieran Aland James S. McCarthy Bart J. Currie Therese M. Kearns |
author_sort |
Deborah C. Holt |
title |
Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist |
title_short |
Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist |
title_full |
Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist |
title_fullStr |
Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist |
title_full_unstemmed |
Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist |
title_sort |
soil-transmitted helminths in children in a remote aboriginal community in the northern territory: hookworm is rare but strongyloides stercoralis and trichuris trichiura persist |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
issn |
2414-6366 |
publishDate |
2017-10-01 |
description |
(1) Background: soil-transmitted helminths are a problem worldwide, largely affecting disadvantaged populations. The little data available indicates high rates of infection in some remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Studies of helminths were carried out in the same remote community in the Northern Territory in 1994–1996 and 2010–2011; (2) Methods: fecal samples were collected from children aged <10 years and examined for helminths by direct smear microscopy. In the 2010–2011 study, some fecal samples were also analyzed by agar plate culture and PCR for Strongyloides stercoralis DNA. Serological analysis of fingerprick dried blood spots using a S. stercoralis NIE antigen was also conducted; (3) Results and Conclusions: a reduction in fecal samples positive for S. stercoralis, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura was seen between the studies in 1994–1996 and 2010–2011, likely reflecting public health measures undertaken in the region to reduce intestinal helminths. Comparison of methods to detect S. stercoralis showed that PCR of fecal samples and serological testing of dried blood spots was at least as sensitive as direct smear microscopy and agar plate culture. These methods have advantages for use in remote field studies. |
topic |
Strongyloides stercoralis strongyloidiasis Trichuris trichiura Rodentolepis nana Northern Territory Aboriginal |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/2/4/51 |
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