Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among inhabitants of Tan-nan village, Nantou County, Taiwan.

The pork infected with cysticerci was sent to our laboratory in June 1971. Microscopic examination revealed the infection of Cysticercus cellulosae. Subsequently, the source of the pork was traced, and the survey of intestinal parasitism was carried out among inhabitants at Tan-nan village, Hsin-I District, Nantou County, Taiwan, in August 1973. Results obtained only indicated the presence rather than endemic of taeniasis solium in this village. The parasites and infection rates found in the present study from 417 individuals by means of direct smear and formalin-ether sedimentation technic of stool specimens are as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides (81.3%), hookworm (30.9%), Trichuris trichiura (73.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.5%), Clonorchis sinensis (2.9%), Hymenolepis diminuta (0.7%), Taenia solium (0.2%), Taenia saginata (0.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (3.1%), Entamoeba coli (8.4%), Endolimax nana (2.6%), and Giardia lamblia (4.3%).     

Incidence of tuberculosis,hepatitis, brucellosis,and shigellosis in British medical laboratory workers.

A retrospective postal survey of 21 000 medical laboratory workers in England and Wales showed 18 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1971, a five-times increased risk of acquiring the disease compared with the general population. Technicians were at greatest risk, especially if they worked in morbid anatomy departments. Of the 35 cases of hepatitis, the technicians were again the occupational group most likely to acquire the disease. Microbiology staff were twice as likely to report shigellosis as those in other pathology divisions but only one case of brucellosis was reported in the whole laboratory population. A similar survey carried out in 1973 of 3000 Scottish medical laboratory workers corroborates the results from England and Wales. Medical laboratory workers continue to experience a considerable risk of developing an occupationally acquired infection. Improvements in staff safety and health care seem to be necessary.     

Prevalence of urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis among school children in South-west Nigeria

BackgroundThe risk of co-infection with Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni and the potential harmful effect on morbidity and control is enhanced by the overlapping distribution of both species in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the reported high endemicity of both species in Nigeria, studies on the spread and effect of their mixed infection are limited. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among school children in two communities in South-west Nigeria to investigate the prevalence of mixed human schistosome infection, intensity, and possible ectopic egg elimination.MethodsUrine and stool samples were collected from consenting school children in Ilie and Ore communities of Osun State, Nigeria. Schistosoma haematobium eggs were detected in urine using the urine filtration technique, while S. mansoni eggs were detected in stool using the Kato–Katz thick smear technique.ResultsThe study enrolled 466 primary and secondary school children (211; 45.3% males vs. 255; 54.7% females; mean age 11.6 ± 3.16 years). The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 40% (185/466), with 19% (89/466) recording single S. haematobium infection while 9% (41/465) had a single S. mansoni infection. The geometric mean egg count for S. haematobium was 189.4 egg/10ml urine; 95% CI: range 115.9–262.9, while for S. mansoni, it was 115.7 epg; 95% CI: range 78.4–152.9. The prevalence of ectopic S mansoni (S. mansoni eggs in urine) was 4.7%, while no ectopic S. haematobium (S. haematobium eggs in stool) was recorded. Mixed infection of S. haematobium/S. mansoni had a prevalence of 9.5% (44/466). More females (54.5%) presented with S. haematobium/S. mansoni co-infection. For both parasites, males had higher infection intensity, with a significant difference observed with S. haematobium (p = 0.0004). Hematuria was significant in individuals with single S. haematobium infection (p = 0.002), mixed ectopic S. haematobium/S. mansoni (p = 0.009) and mixed S. haematobium/S. mansoni/ectopic S. mansoni (p = 0.0003).ConclusionsThese findings suggest the probability of interspecific interactions between S. haematobium and S. mansoni. Scaling up of mass administration of praziquantel and control measures in the study areas is highly desirable.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among atomic bomb survivors

The aim of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers increased with atomic bomb radiation dose, and whether radiation decreased the ability to clear HBV among the atomic bomb survivors. The study subjects were 6,121 participants in the Adult Health Study of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After adjustment for age, sex, city and potential confounders, the rates of seropositivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), indicating current HBV infections, and anti-hepatitis B core antibody, indicating either cured or current infections, increased with radiation dose. However, no relationship was observed between radiation and anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (indicating cured infection). The proportion of persons who were unable to clear the virus, as the proportion of HBsAg-positive persons among those ever infected by HBV (positive for HBsAg or surface or core hepatitis B antibody), increased significantly with radiation dose among those receiving blood transfusions. This proportion was not related to dose among those who reported no such transfusions. The findings may suggest a lower likelihood of clearance after HBV infection among those who were more likely to have been infected with HBV as adults after atomic bomb irradiation rather than as infants or adults prior to irradiation.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus in chronic hepatitis B patients

The aim of the current study was to detect HBV by Real time - PCR in chronic hepatitis B patients. Fifty-eight sera of chronic hepatitis B patients were subjected during the period March 2009 to April 2010 in Ilam cities in West of Iran. Sera assayed by real-time PCR and ELISA methods. Twenty serum samples from healthy volunteers and non-hepatitis B patients and negative for hepatitis B seromarkers served as negative controls for the study. Among fifty-eight sera, ELISA showed fifty-five (94.8%) of the samples were positive for HBsAg and three (5.2%) negative results obtained while real-time PCR specified fifty-eight (100%) positive results in chronic hepatitis B patients. HBsAg status did not necessarily reflect HBV DNA level in the serum, as 5.2% of chronic Hepatitis B patients were positive for HBV DNA but negative for HBsAg. HBV DNA was not found to be positive amongst any of the negative controls. Real time - PCR is a sensitive and reproducible assay for HBV DNA quantization.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B antibodies in hospital personnel.

Of 426 hospital staff tested for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBS) by the radioimmunoassay method 57 (13.4%) had positive results. Laboratory staff had the highest prevalence, followed by nurses, and both values were significantly higher than that of administrative staff. Clerical staff working in laboratories were at the same risk for hepatitis B as general-duty nurses. Significantly more staff with anti-HBS had a history of hepatitis (19.3%) compared with staff without anti-HBS (79%), and significantly more staff with a history of hepatitis had anti-HBS (25.6%) compared with staff without such a history (12.0%). History of blood transfusions was not related to prevalence of anti-HBS. The risk for hepatitis B is greater in hospital staff who are in direct contact with patients or handle patients'' blood and other specimens. However, contact with patients is less important than contact with patients'' blood and other specimens.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers in Indochinese refugees.

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 14 347 Indochinese refugees was 11.6%; the rate was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in males (14.0%) than in females (8.8%). Most of the HBsAg-positive refugees were in the age group 20 to 29 years. Antibody to HBsAg was detected in 50.9% of the males and 46.6% of the females, a significant difference (P less than 0.01). Antibody to core antigen alone was found in 2.4% of the males and 2.2% of the females. The cumulative prevalence of one or more hepatitis B markers was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the males (67.3%) than in the females (57.5%). The hepatitis B e antigen and its antibody were detected in 54.8% and 39.2% respectively of 1050 HBsAg-positive blood samples. The adw, adr and ayw determinants of HBsAg were found in 23%, 35% and 42% respectively of 74 samples.     

Low immune response to hepatitis B vaccine among children in Dakar, Senegal

HBV vaccine was introduced into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Senegal and Cameroon in 2005. We conducted a cross-sectional study in both countries to assess the HBV immune protection among children. All consecutive children under 4 years old, hospitalized for any reason between May 2009 and May 2010, with an immunisation card and a complete HBV vaccination, were tested for anti-HBs and anti-HBc. A total of 242 anti-HBc-negative children (128 in Cameroon and 114 in Senegal) were considered in the analysis. The prevalence of children with anti-HBs ≥ 10 IU/L was higher in Cameroon with 92% (95% CI: 87%-97%) compared to Senegal with 58% (95% CI: 49%-67%), (p<0.001). The response to vaccination in Senegal was lower in 2006-2007 (43%) than in 2008-2009 (65%), (p = 0.028). Our results, although not based on a representative sample of Senegalese or Cameroonian child populations, reveal a significant problem in vaccine response in Senegal. This response problem extends well beyond hepatitis B: the same children who have not developed an immune response to the HBV vaccine are also at risk for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTwP) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Field biological monitoring should be carried out regularly in resource-poor countries to check quality of the vaccine administered.     

Pattern of intestinal parasitic infection in preschool children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A total of 1,167 stool specimens collected from 0.6-6 years old patients attending King Abdel Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Riyadh, were examined for intestinal parasites. Of these 243 (20.8%) were positive. Giardia lamblia (13.5) and Enterobius vermicularis (4.2%), were the commonest parasites found. Other parasites present include Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica and Hymenolepis nana. Abdominal pain (38.6%) and diarrhoea (27.6%) were the most common causes of referral presented among both males and females examined groups. Out of 211 patients positive for different parasites and showing different causes of referral, 45.5% were accompanied with abdominal pain and 22.3% having pruritus ani, while the percentage of patients having diarrhoea and positive for different parasites (9.5%) are less. It has been concluded that diarrhoea is not a major sign of parasitic infestation in 0.6-6 years old age group. Other causes of referral include, loss of appetite, underweight and failure to thrive which are mainly associated with Giardia lamblia infection.     

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and its associated factors among primary school students in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionIntestinal parasitic infection are a major public health concern affecting both children and adolescents in Ethiopia. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine pooled prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infection in this target group.MethodWe systematically retrieved available articles on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection following database searches using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct between March 1 and May 27, 2020. Two authors independently extracted all relevant data using a standardized Microsoft Excel data extraction form. Heterogeneity among included studies was assessed with the Higgins I² tests. The pooled estimates and associated factors were assessed with a random-effects model using Stata/se Version 14.ResultWe retrieved 30 eligible articles with a pooled sample size of 14,445 primary school children with response rate of 97.8%. Entamoeba spp (16.11%), Ascaris lumbricoides (13.98%), hookworm (12.51%) and Giardia lamblia (9.98%) are the top causes of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in Ethiopia. The pooled prevalence for at least one intestinal parasitic infection was 46.09 (95% CI: 38.50, 53.68). Heterogeneity was assessed by doing subgroup analysis by study province/region. Thus, the highest prevalence of 66.6% (95% CI: 55.5, 77.7) occurred in Tigray region, which was followed by Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region at 50.8% (95% CI: 33.1, 68.5). No latrine availability (OR = 4.39: 2.50,7.73), no fingernail hygiene (OR = 2.37: 1.67, 3.35), open defecation (OR = 1.67:1.64,4.36), no formal maternal education (OR = 2.02: 1.18,3.47), rural residence (OR = 1.88: 1.46, 2.41), no habit of wearing shoes (OR = 2.66: 1.79, 3.96), non-pipe source of drinking water (OR = 1.99: 1.42,2.76), no regular hand washing practices (OR = 3.45:1.85,6.47), and no habit of washing fruits and vegetables (OR = 1.59:1.01,2.49) were associated with parasitic infection.ConclusionsThe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was high (46%). Attention should be given to promoting personal hygiene, latrine utilization, wearing shoes, avoiding eating raw food, creating awareness for those mothers who lack formal education. Moreover, future research ideally will expand on the topic by conducting research in regions which have no prior research.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus markers among malaria-exposed gold miners in Brazilian Amazon

Hepatitis B and C virus markers were assessed during a survey on malaria in gold mine camps in southern Brazilian Amazon in order to identify risk factors associated to these viral diseases. The study comprised 520 subjects, most of them were gold miners. Missing subjects totaled 49 (8.6%). Among these 520, 82.9% had HBV markers and 7.1% were HBsAg positive. Previous hospitalization, surgery, sexually transmitted diseases and incarceration were quite common among surveyed people, but there is no association between total HBV markers and these factors. On other hand, HBsAg was independently associated to history of sexually transmitted diseases and history of surgery after adjustment. The most frequent HBsAg subtypes identified, adw2 (59%), predominates in populations of Northeast Brazil. The most surveyed people were immigrants coming from that area suggesting that immigrants carried HBV themselves to the study area. Immunoblot (RIBA) confirmed-anti-HCV were found in 2.1%. The only variable associated to anti-HCV in multivariate analysis was illicit intravenous drug. Lack of HCV infection in subjects with such a high HBV markers prevalence reinforces the opinion that HCV is transmitted by restricted routes when compared to HBV. Furthermore, gold miners in Amazon may be considered as a risk group for HBV infection, but not for HCV.     

Prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among school children in africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionParasitic infections, especially intestinal protozoan parasites (IPPs) remain a significant public health issue in Africa, where many conditions favour the transmission and children are the primary victims. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out with the objective of assessing the prevalence of IPPs among school children in Africa.MethodsRelevant studies published between January 2000 and December 2020 were identified by systematic online search on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus databases without language restriction. Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity of studies were assessed using Cochrane Q test and I² test, while publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test.ResultsOf the 1,645 articles identified through our searches, 46 cross-sectional studies matched our inclusion criteria, reported data from 29,968 school children of Africa. The pooled prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites amongst African school children was 25.8% (95% CI: 21.2%-30.3%) with E. histolytica/ dispar (13.3%; 95% CI: 10.9%-15.9%) and Giardia spp. (12%; 95% CI: 9.8%-14.3%) were the most predominant pathogenic parasites amongst the study participants. While E. coli was the most common non-pathogenic protozoa (17.1%; 95% CI: 10.9%-23.2%).ConclusionsThis study revealed a relatively high prevalence of IPPs in school children, especially in northern and western Africa. Thus, poverty reduction, improvement of sanitation and hygiene and attention to preventive control measures will be the key to reducing protozoan parasite transmission.     

Prevalence of TT virus in patients with hepatitis B,C and hepatitis of unknown etiology

Discovery of TT virus in 1997 gave raise to intensive subsequent studies to learn about its structure, features and, what is the most important, about its role in pathogenesis of liver disease. The aim of the work was to analyze prevalence of TTV DNA in patients with diagnosed hepatitis B, C, that of unknown etiology and in healthy blood donors as well. Additionally the divergence of TTV sequence was estimated in selected cases. TTV DNA was detected by PCR technique using specific oligonucleotide primers for coding regions. TT virus has been detected in 25.6% (32/125) HBsAg positive patients and in 23.9% (51/213) HCV infected patients. In healthy blood donors the frequency of TTV was 24.3% (34/140) similarly to that found in HCV and HBV infected patients. The frequency of TTV DNA among patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology was 9.1%. This result was statistically significant lower than in the other groups. When detected sequences have been compared to these from NCBI base the homology result was 71% to 95%, and among different patients and groups of patients identity was 46% to 73%. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that it is very unlikely that TTV coinfection plays any significant role in HCV or HBV infection. The hypothetical role of TTV infection in the etiopathogenesis of cryptogenic chronic hepatitis has not been confirmed. The results obtained in the small group of patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology are not conclusive and should be taken with some precaution. The final conclusion is the TTV coinfection does not contribute to the liver pathology. The divergence of TTV sequences may explain the various frequency of TTV viremia reported by other authors.     

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in nursery schools from Ciego de Avila Province, Cuba. 1989-1993]

The prevalence of intestinal parasitsm in nursery schools from Ciego de Avila province was annually avaluated during 1989-1993. The percentage of infected children ranged from 16.6% to 31.6%. An increase of frequence of infection was observed from 1991. Protozoa were more predominant than helminths. In the whole five-year period studied Giardia intestinalis had a higher prevalence (19.6%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (3.0%). The nematode most frequently found was Trichuris trichiura (0.5%).     

Prevalence and significance of hepatitis B surface antigen in a general hospital.

Over a 6-month period 2025 patients admitted to New Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). CIEP detected 12 HBsAg-positive patients and RIA 16. RIA is therefore the more sensitive test for HBsAg. Of the 16 patients 2 had liver disease previously diagnosed, 3 had malignant disease and 11 were asymptomatic carriers. Of the 11 carriers all were born in countries where the carrier rate is known to be high. Routine screening of hospital patients on admission is of no value in detecting unsuspected liver disease but is of value in detecting asymptomatic carriers, which is of importance for the patient and his family. Routine screening tests for HBsAg in Canadian hospitals that treat many patients born in countries with a known high HBsAg prevalence is recommended. Routine screening is also recommended in all hospitals in Mediterranean and Asian countries.     

Prevalence of hepatitis A and B infections in multiply transfused thalassaemic patients.

Evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections was south in 148 multiply transfused patients with thalassaemia and in healthy controls (2040 for HBV and 217 for HAV). The prevalence of the HBV surface antigen or antibody to it was significantly higher in patients than in controls and increased with the number of blood transfusions. In contrast, the prevalence of antibody to HAV was significantly lower in patients than in controls and decreased with the number of blood transfusions. These results support the view that blood transfusion does not play any appreciable part in transmitting HAV. Indeed, regular blood transfusion, where donors almost all have HAV antibody, seems to give protection against infection.