Intestical polyparasitism in a rural Kenyan community

Background: Polyparasitism seems to be a common feature in human populations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, very little is known about its epidemiological significance, its long term impact on human health or the types of interactions that occur between the different parasite species involved.Objectives: To determine the prevalence and co-occurrence of intestinal parasites in a rural community in the Kibwezi, Makueni district, Kenya.Design: A cross sectional study.Setting: Kiteng’ei village, Kibwezi, Makueni district, between May and September 2006.Subjects: One thousand and forty five who comprised of 263 adult males, 271 adult females> 15 years of age and 232 boys, and 279 girls < 15 years of age.Interventions: All infected members of the community were offered Praziquantel (at dosages of 40 mg/ kg body weight) for Schistosomiasis and Albendazole (600 mg) for soil transmitted helminths.Results: A total of ten intestinal parasite species (five protozoan and five helminth parasite species) were present in this community and polyparasitsm was common in individuals 5- 24 years of age with no gendar related differences. Most of the infections were mild. The protozoan parasites of public health significance present were Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia with prevalence of 12.6% and 4.2%, respectively. The helminth parasites of public health significance in the locality were Schistosoma mansoni with a prevalence of 28%, and hookworms prevalence of 10%. About 53% of the study population harboured intestinal parasite infections, with 31 % of the infected population carrying single parasite species infections, and 22% harbouring two or more intestinal parasite species per individual. Significant positive associations (p value

Integrated Mapping of Neglected Tropical Diseases: Epidemiological Findings and Control Implications for Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, Southern Sudan

Integrated control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is being scaled up in a number of developing countries, because it is thought to be more cost-effective than stand-alone control programmes. Under this approach, treatments for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis (LF), schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection, and trachoma are administered through the same delivery structure and at about the same time. A pre-requisite for implementation of integrated NTD control is information on where the targeted diseases are endemic and to what extent they overlap. This information is generated through surveys that can be labour-intensive and expensive. In Southern Sudan, all of the above diseases except onchocerciasis require further mapping before a comprehensive integrated NTD control programme can be implemented. To determine where treatment for which disease is required, integrated surveys were conducted for schistosomiasis, STH infection, LF, and loiasis, throughout one of ten states of the country. Our results show that treatment is only required for urinary schistosomiasis and STH in a few, yet separate, geographical area. This illustrates the importance of investing in disease mapping to minimize overall programme costs by being able to target interventions. Integration of survey methodologies for the above disease was practical and efficient, and minimized the effort required to collect these data

The African Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) as a non-human primate model for infections with Cyclospora Cayetanensis

Clinical epidemiology and pathogenesis of Cyclospora species was studied in 64 wild-trapped Cercopithecus aethiops at the Institute of Primate  Research, Nairobi, Kenya. The monkeys were screened for Cyclospora parasites using conventional microscopy, examination of hot Safranin stained faecal smears, Cyclospora specific antibody responses and  molecular characterization of DNA following nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. Efficacy of Trimethoprim-Sulphamethoxazoletherapy for Cyclospora positive monkeys was evaluated. Experimental Cyclospora infections were established by oral inoculation. Oocyst shedding was used to confirm establishment and duration of infection. Gross and histopathological characteristics were  described . The animals remainedasymptomatic. Cyclospora parasites were identified in 41 (64%) of animals with infections mostly in male adults. Incubation period was 14-17 days, the duration of infection one to two months. A PCR product of 294 base pair was visualized, confirming Cyclospora species in the natural and  experimental infections. Cyclospora specific antibody responses were  recorded in positive monkeys. Response to treatment was evaluated by cessation Cyclospora oocyst shedding by D17 post-treatment anddecreased Cyclospora specific antibody levels. Relapse infections occurred in 33% of the treated animals but responded to second TMP-SMX therapy.Pathological findings recorded were moderate haemorrhagic enteritis, parasites vacuoles in the enterocytes, mild lymph node enlargement,lymphocytic infiltrations, focal necrosis and granulomas in the liver. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that AGM may offer a suitable modelfor study of cyclosporiasis

Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Wild -trapped Pabio anubis and Cercopithecus aethiops in Kenya

Gastrointestinal parasite infections by multiple parasite species involving helminths and protozoans occur in non-human primates. The objective of the study was to screen for gastrointestinal parasite infections from sixty five wild-trapped Pabio anubis (olive baboons) and sixty four Cercopithecus aaethiops (African green monkeys) from various locations in Kenya and at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR), Nairobi, in March 2008 to June 2009 to obtain preliminary data as baseline for proposed further study on coccidian parasites. Four faecal samples per individual animal were collected on Mondays and Thursdays for two consecutive weeks and processed for parasitological examination for gastrointestinal parasites. The animals were asymptomatic at the time of faecal sampling. Twelve taxa of intestinal parasites, 5 helminth and 7 protozoan parasites were identified. The helminth genera observed were Oesophagostomum, Trichuris, Strongyloides, Trichostrongylus and Enterobius with species prevalence of 33.6%, 30.4%, 26.2%, 8.8%, 0.8%, 0.4%, and 10.0%, 47.6%, 16.0%, 3.2%, 0.4% for olive baboons and African green monkeys, respectively. The intensity of infections ranged from 0-2350 eggs per gram (epg). Most individuals (56.2%) had mild infections of 1-300 epg and only 8% had egg counts greater or equal to 400. The protozoan parasites identified in this study were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora spp, Cryptosporidia spp, Isospora spp, Iodamoeba butschilii and Paramecium spp with prevalence of 77.3%, 23.1%, 3.8%, 2.7%, 2.2%, 1.2%, 0%, and 76.8%, 23.6%, 63.6%, 6.2%, 0.4%, 0%, 0.4% for olive baboons and African green monkeys, respectively. Majority (63.1%) of the animals had 2-3 parasite infections. Though the infections were asymptomatic in these non-human primates, they harbour important parasites that pose potential danger to public health, livestock and wildlife animals

The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants in semi-arid Turkana district iof Kenya

No Abstract. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 52 (2) 2004: pp. 85-9

Gross and histopathological findings in Cercopithecus aethiops with experimental Cyclospora infection in Kenya

Purity N Nguhiu1, Claire N Wamae2,3, Japheth K Magambo4, Paul G Mbuthia5, Daniel C Chai6, Dorcas S Yole61Department of Veterinary Services, Kabete, Ministry of Livestock Development, Nairobi, 2Directorate of Research and Development, Kenya Methodist University, Meru, 3Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 4Meru University College of Science and Technology, Meru, 5Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Nairobi, 6Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi, KenyaAbstract: In 2009, experimental Cyclospora infections were established in two juvenile female and two adult male Cercopithecus aethiops (African green monkeys) at Nairobi&amp;#39;s Institute of Primate Research (IPR). The study animals were humanely sacrificed, and gross and histopathological evaluation was done at seven weeks post-infection. On gross examination, the juveniles had no abnormalities except for a slight enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes, while the adults displayed more pathology of enlarged lymph nodes, hemorrhagic gastrointestinal tracts, widespread necrotic foci of the liver, and enlarged spleens. Significant histopathological findings were observed in both the juveniles and adults, which ranged from mild inflammatory reactions in the stomach and intestines to intense cellular infiltrations with mitotic activity and lymphocytic infiltrations around the periportal area of the livers. The lymph nodes had extensive hyperplasia with many mitotic cells.Keywords: Cyclospora spp., cyclosporiasis, nonhuman primates, pathological findings, histopathological findings, African green monkey

Cystic echinococcosis in Mundari tribe-members of South Sudan.

Many neglected tropical diseases, including the zoonotic disease cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis), are endemic to East Africa. However, their geographical distribution is heterogenous and incompletely characterized. The aim of this study was to determine if Mundari pastoralists harbor endemic human hydatidosis. The survey was conducted in cattle camps randomly selected from accessible sites provided by officials in Terekeka, South Sudan. Following informed consent, a questionnaire collected demographic data and hydatid exposure risk. A systematic sonographic abdominal exam was performed using General Electric's LOGIQ Book XP with a 3C-RS 2-5 MHz curvilinear transducer. Six hundred and ten individuals were screened from 13 camps. Four infections were identified, all in women. The prevalence of abdominal hydatid disease in the Mundari tribe-members in cattle camps was 0·7% and all individuals reporting at least one high-risk exposure to hydatid disease. Cystic echinococcosis is endemic among Mundari pastoralists; however, it would appear to be less endemic than in neighboring tribes