Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996
Introduction: Parasitic infections can adversely impact health, nutritional status and educational attainment. This study investigated hookworm and other intestinal parasites in an Aboriginal community in Australia from 1994 to 1996. Methods: Seven surveys for intestinal parasites were conducted...
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doaj-9d2b8b80e0354910b0743eb580aa72aa2021-03-02T01:31:15ZengWorld Health Organization Regional Office for the Western PacificWestern Pacific Surveillance and Response2094-73212094-73132015-03-0161445110.5365/wpsar.2015.6.1.008Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996Jennifer Shield0Kieran Aland1Thérèse Kearns2Glenda Gongdjalk3Deborah Holt4Bart Currie5Paul Prociv6La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, AustraliaQueensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, AustraliaNgalkanbuy Health Centre, Galiwin’ku, Northern Territory, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, AustraliaMenzies School of Health Research and Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, AustraliaUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaIntroduction: Parasitic infections can adversely impact health, nutritional status and educational attainment. This study investigated hookworm and other intestinal parasites in an Aboriginal community in Australia from 1994 to 1996. Methods: Seven surveys for intestinal parasites were conducted by a quantitative formol-ether method on faecal samples. Serological testing was conducted for Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxocara canis IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Of the 314 participants, infections were as follows: Trichuris trichiura (86%); hookworm, predominantly Ancylostoma duodenale (36%); Entamoeba spp. (E. histolytica complex [E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moskovski], E. coli and E. hartmanni) (25%); S. stercoralis (19%); Rodentolepis nana (16%); and Giardia duodenalis (10%). Serological diagnosis for 29 individuals showed that 28% were positive for S. stercoralis and 21% for T. canis. There was a decrease in the proportion positive for hookworm over the two-year period but not for the other parasite species. The presence of hookworm, T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp. was significantly greater in 5–14 year olds (n = 87) than in 0–4 year olds (n = 41), while the presence of S. stercoralis, R. nana, G. duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. in 5–14 year olds was significantly greater than 15–69 year olds (n = 91). Discussion: Faecal testing indicated a very high prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially in schoolchildren. The decrease in percentage positive for hookworm over the two years was likely due to the albendazole deworming programme, and recent evidence indicates that the prevalence of hookworm is now low. However there was no sustained decrease in percentage positive for the other parasite species.http://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/298/456intestinal parasitesNorthern Territory (Australia)Aboriginal community |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jennifer Shield Kieran Aland Thérèse Kearns Glenda Gongdjalk Deborah Holt Bart Currie Paul Prociv |
spellingShingle |
Jennifer Shield Kieran Aland Thérèse Kearns Glenda Gongdjalk Deborah Holt Bart Currie Paul Prociv Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 Western Pacific Surveillance and Response intestinal parasites Northern Territory (Australia) Aboriginal community |
author_facet |
Jennifer Shield Kieran Aland Thérèse Kearns Glenda Gongdjalk Deborah Holt Bart Currie Paul Prociv |
author_sort |
Jennifer Shield |
title |
Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 |
title_short |
Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 |
title_full |
Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 |
title_fullStr |
Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote Aboriginal community of the Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-1996 |
title_sort |
intestinal parasites of children and adults in a remote aboriginal community of the northern territory, australia, 1994-1996 |
publisher |
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific |
series |
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response |
issn |
2094-7321 2094-7313 |
publishDate |
2015-03-01 |
description |
Introduction: Parasitic infections can adversely impact health, nutritional status and educational attainment. This study investigated hookworm and other intestinal parasites in an Aboriginal community in Australia from 1994 to 1996.
Methods: Seven surveys for intestinal parasites were conducted by a quantitative formol-ether method on faecal samples. Serological testing was conducted for Strongyloides stercoralis and Toxocara canis IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
Results: Of the 314 participants, infections were as follows: Trichuris trichiura (86%); hookworm, predominantly Ancylostoma duodenale (36%); Entamoeba spp. (E. histolytica complex [E. histolytica, E. dispar and E. moskovski], E. coli and E. hartmanni) (25%); S. stercoralis (19%); Rodentolepis nana (16%); and Giardia duodenalis (10%). Serological diagnosis for 29 individuals showed that 28% were positive for S. stercoralis and 21% for T. canis. There was a decrease in the proportion positive for hookworm over the two-year period but not for the other parasite species. The presence of hookworm, T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp. was significantly greater in 5–14 year olds (n = 87) than in 0–4 year olds (n = 41), while the presence of S. stercoralis, R. nana, G. duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. in 5–14 year olds was significantly greater than 15–69 year olds (n = 91).
Discussion: Faecal testing indicated a very high prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially in schoolchildren. The decrease in percentage positive for hookworm over the two years was likely due to the albendazole deworming programme, and recent evidence indicates that the prevalence of hookworm is now low. However there was no sustained decrease in percentage positive for the other parasite species. |
topic |
intestinal parasites Northern Territory (Australia) Aboriginal community |
url |
http://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/298/456 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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