Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist

Deborah Holt; Jennifer Shield; Tegan M Harris; Kate E Mounsey; Kieran Aland; James S McCarthy; Bart J Currie; Therese M Kearns

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed2040051

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Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist

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Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Children in a Remote Aboriginal Community in the Northern Territory: Hookworm is Rare but Strongyloides stercoralis and Trichuris trichiura Persist

Deborah Holt, Jennifer Shield, Tegan M Harris, Kate E Mounsey, Kieran Aland, James S McCarthy, Bart J Currie and Therese M Kearns

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vol.2(4), 51

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed2040051

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis

strongyloidiasis

Trichuris trichiura

Rodentolepis nana

Northern Territory

Aboriginal

UniSC Diversity Area - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

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.

Details

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
Authors: Deborah Holt (Author) - Charles Darwin University
Jennifer Shield (Author) - Charles Darwin University
Tegan M Harris (Author) - Charles Darwin University
Kate E Mounsey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Kieran Aland (Author) - Queensland Museum
James S McCarthy (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Bart J Currie (Author) - Charles Darwin University
Therese M Kearns (Author) - Charles Darwin University
Publication details: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Vol.2(4), 51; 9
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed2040051
ISSN: 2414-6366
Copyright note: Copyright © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Biomedicine; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450922702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases; Parasitology; Tropical Medicine

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