Intestinal Parasite Infections Affect Billions of People Worldwide

WHY IS IDENTIFYING INTESTINAL PARASITES IMPORTANT?

Trichuris trihiura whipworm egg

Hookworm eggsNecator americanus hookworm egg Ascaris lumbricoides roundworm egg

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites• Intestinal parasites cause many illnesses and mortality

throughout the world • More than 1.3 billion people worldwide have ascariasis,

and 250 million suffer from associated morbidity

Source: World Health Organization 2004

Ascariasis:disease of humans

caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris

lumbricoides

Ascariasis:disease of humans

caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris

lumbricoidesAscaris lumbricoides roundworm

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites• Intestinal parasites cause many illnesses and mortality

throughout the world • Trichuriasis afflicts about 1 billion people throughout the

world

Source: World Health Organization 2004

Trichuriasis:parasitic infection in the gut the caused by the parasitic whipworm Trichuris trichiura

Trichuriasis:parasitic infection in the gut the caused by the parasitic whipworm Trichuris trichiura

Trichuris trichiura whipworm

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites• Hookworms infect over 1.25 billion people throughout the

world. The hookworms (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale) are medically important human parasites and cause serious morbidity in many parts of the world.

Source: World Health Organization 2004

Hookworm:live in the small intestine of the host sucking and ingesting blood through

the intestine wall

Hookworm:live in the small intestine of the host sucking and ingesting blood through

the intestine wall Hookworms

Parasite Infections CauseParasite Infections Cause

• Diarrhea, Blood in the stool, Dehydration• Aggravate malnutrition & Weight loss• Protein & Micronutrition depletion• Promotes anaemia & Fatigue• Intestinal inflammation, alter gastrointestinal physiology• Inhibits growth• Morbidity and mortality

Source: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Parasitology, Vol 121 2000 pp.S23-S38

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

Groups in high riskGroups in high risk

•Children•Pregnant women•Elderly•People with comorbidities

• Cancer patients • HIV patients

Source: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2006, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1997, Jpn, J. Infect. Dis 2002

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

Intestinal Parasite Infections in ChildrenIntestinal Parasite Infections in Children• Weighed as much as two kilograms less than healthy

children• Anaemic• Anti-parasite treatment:

• dramatic increase in their short- and long-term memory

• increase in reasoning capacity and reading comprehension

• school absenteeism dropped by as much as 25%Source: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2006, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1997, Jpn, J. Infect. Dis 2002

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

Intestinal Parasite Infections in Pregnant WomenIntestinal Parasite Infections in Pregnant Women

• Increase anaemia• Low pregnancy weight gain • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)• Low birth weight (LBW)• Greater risks of infection • Higher perinatal mortality rates• Impact on new-born health

Source: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2006, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1997, Jpn, J. Infect. Dis 2002

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

Intestinal Parasite Infections in ElderlyIntestinal Parasite Infections in Elderly

• Gastrointestinal problems are among the most common health problems of elderly people (60+ years)

• Leading cause of death• Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and India• Reported prevalence of intestinal parasitosis

Source: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2006, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1997, Jpn, J. Infect. Dis 2002

IntestinalIntestinal ParasitesParasites

Intestinal Parasite Infections in People with Intestinal Parasite Infections in People with Comorbidities Comorbidities

• Infectious complications are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality

• Cancer patients• Increased parasitic infections

• HIV-seropositive and AIDS patients• Chronic diarrhea is responsible for considerable

morbidity and mortalitySource: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1996, Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2006, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1997, Jpn, J. Infect. Dis 2002

IntestinalIntestinal Parasite Data: WHOParasite Data: WHO• Major cause of human disease and misery• Plague billions of people • Kill millions annually• Present and worsening threat to human health and

welfare around the globe• The Global Burden of Disease

• Intestinal Parasites 39 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)• Malaria 35.7million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)

Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasite Infections Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasite Infections

Sample Preparation: Sample Preparation: ConcentrationConcentrationMaximizes the numbers of ova, cysts & larvae organisms detected which may be too scanty to be seen by direct microscopy alone.

Poor concentration technique leads to poor recovery of parasites.•Difficult to diagnose•False negatives•Increased mortality

Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasite Infections Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasite Infections

Sample Sample AnalysisAnalysis

• High Sensitivity with great Morphology of ova and oocysts

• Little or No cross-contamination risk

• Consistent Results as it enables the laboratory to have a Standardised procedure in place

• Safe for lab staff preferably no contact with hazardous samples or reagents

• Minimum requirements for space and laboratory staff

• Low cost

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