Palmar pallor as an indicator for anthelminthic treatment among ill children aged 2-4 years--Western Kenya, 1998.
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Infections with the soil-transmitted intestinal helminths (i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm), estimated to affect approximately 1 billion persons, are among the most common and widespread human infections. Among children aged <5 years, intestinal helminth infections cause malnutrition and anemia, two important causes of mortality. Anthelminthic treatment (deworming) improves nutritional status of school-aged children. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have developed guidelines that include interventions for anemia and malnutrition in the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) for children aged <5 years seen at first-level health-care facilities in developing countries. Under the IMCI guidelines, in geographic areas where hookworm or Trichuris infections are endemic, children aged 2-4 years with palmar pallor are treated with an anthelminthic drug. This report summarizes an investigation of the use of palmar pallor as an indication for anthelminthic treatment among ill children aged 2-4 years seen at first-level health-care facilities in rural western Kenya; the investigation found that palmar pallor was associated with anemia but not with intestinal helminth infection. (+info)
Effect of strategic gastrointestinal nematode control on faecal egg count in traditional West African cattle.
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This paper reports on the effect of strategic anthelmintic treatments and other determinants on faecal egg counts (FEC) of Trichostrongyles in N'Dama cattle of a west African village. Initially, 527 animals from 13 private N'Dama cattle herds were monitored in a longitudinal study from October 1989 to December 1994. Each herd was stratified by age and animals were sequentially allocated to two groups with similar age distributions. One group received a single anthelmintic treatment of fenbendazole (7.5 mg/kg BW), in October 1989 (n = 250), whereas the other group remained untreated (n = 277) throughout the study. In the next rainy season (June to October), the treated animals were treated twice (in July and September). The same treatment schedule was used in the subsequent rainy seasons until December 1994. Biannual anthelmintic treatments decreased the level of FEC between 31% (late dry season) and 57% (rainy season), when compared to untreated controls. The highest levels of FEC were found during the rainy season from June to October. FEC levels decreased until 4 years of age, after which they remained on a constant low level. The variability of returns to anthelmintic treatments between herds did not seem to be influenced by FEC at the herd level. The financial evaluation of anthelmintic interventions cannot be predicted from FEC and must necessarily rely on the direct monitoring of livestock productivity parameters. (+info)
Anti-tumour and anti-metastatic activity of 3-(P-Chlorophenyl)-2,3-Dihydro-3-Hydroxythiazolo (3,2-A)-Benzimidazole-2-acetic acid (WY-13,876).
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Extensive investigation of 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxythiazolo(3,2-alpha)-benzimidazole-2-aceti c acid (Wy-13,876) in BDF1 mice implanted with Lewis lung tumour has shown that it is an effective anti-tumour and anti-metastatic agent. In vitro examination using HEp-2 human epidermal tumour cells has indicated that Wy-13,876 is not cytotoxic. When mice implanted with Lewis lung tumour and treated with Wy-13,876 are also injected with anti-thymocyte serum, an increase in lung metastases is observed suggesting that thymocyte activity is involved in the drug's mechanism of action. An increase in peripheral T lymphocytes observed in rats 18 h after a single oral dose of Wy-13,876 further supports this possibility. When Wy-13,876 is given to tumour -bearing mice in combination with low, ineffective doses of 5-fluorouracil or cyclophosphamide, further reduction of primary tumour growth is observed. (+info)
Treatment of Microcotyle sebastis (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea) infestation with praziquantel in an experimental cage simulating commercial rockfish Sebastes schlegeli culture conditions.
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The antiparasitic efficacy of praziquantel against the blood-sucking polyopisthocotylean Microcotyle sebastis was tested in an experimental cage simulating commercial rockfish-culture conditions. Juvenile rockfish Sebastes schlegeli were separated into 4 pilot net-pens, and the fish in the groups were either fed a control diet (Group C), fed a praziquantel-adsorbed diet (Group F), bathed in 100 ppm praziquantel for 4 min (Group B), or bathed in 100 ppm praziquantel for 4 min and then fed a praziquantel-adsorbed diet (Group BF). The results of the present study indicate that feeding a praziquantel-adsorbed diet significantly reduces the abundance of M. sebastis infestation, and bathing in 100 ppm praziquantel for 4 min is effective for controlling M. sebastis infestation in practical rockfish culture systems. (+info)
Effects of treatment for intestinal helminth infection on growth and cognitive performance in children: systematic review of randomised trials.
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OBJECTIVE: To summarise the effects of anthelmintic drug treatment on growth and cognitive performance in children. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases: Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group controlled trial register, Cochrane controlled trials register, Embase, and Medline. Citations of all identified trials. Contact with the World Health Organization and field researchers. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials in children aged 1-16 that compared anthelmintic treatment with placebo or no treatment. Assessment of validity and data abstraction conducted independently by two reviewers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Growth and cognitive performance. RESULTS: Thirty randomised controlled trials in more than 15 000 children were identified. Effects on mean weight were unremarkable, and heterogeneity was evident in the results. There were some positive effects on mean weight change in the trials reporting this outcome: after a single dose (any anthelmintic) the pooled estimates were 0.24 kg (95% confidence interval 0.15 kg to 0. 32 kg; fixed effects model assumed) and 0.38 kg (0.01 kg to 0.77 kg; random effects model assumed). Results from trials of multiple doses showed mean weight change in up to one year of follow up of 0.10 kg (0.04 kg to 0.17 kg; fixed effects) or 0.15 kg (0.00 to 0.30; random effects). At more than one year of follow up, mean weight change was 0.12 kg (-0.02 kg to 0.26 kg; fixed effects) and 0.43 (-0.61 to 1. 47; random effects). Results from studies of cognitive performance were inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: There is some limited evidence that routine treatment of children in areas where helminths are common has effects on weight gain, but this is not consistent between trials. There is insufficient evidence as to whether this intervention improves cognitive performance. (+info)
Control of intestinal helminths in schoolchildren in Low-Napo, Ecuador: impact of a two-year chemotherapy program.
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A school-based control program of intestinal helminths was undertaken among schoolchildren in the Low-Napo region, north-eastern Ecuador. Forty-eight percent of children were infected with one or more helminths at the first examination. The prevalence at the baseline was Ascaris 33.2% followed by hookworm 24.1% and Trichuris 6.5%. Sex was found to be a significant factor influencing the prevalence of hookworm and Trichuris. Prevalence was compared 9 months and 18 months after treatment. After 9 months, Ascaris and Trichuris prevalence had decreased but not hookworm. All of them increased after 18 months. The findings suggest that only a course of mebendazol had a minor effect on the control of helminth infections. (+info)
Paragonimiasis miyazakii associated with bilateral pseudochylothorax.
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A 37-year-old man who suffered from bilateral pleural effusions, subcutaneous abdominal induration and blood eosinophilia, was admitted to our hospital. He had ingested raw crabs at a pub-restaurant before the onset of his symptoms. His pleural effusions were chyliform containing cholesterol crystals, and a high level of immunoglobulin E (36,580 IU/ml) and anti-Paragonimus miyazakii antibody were detected. He was effectively treated with praziquantel. This case suggests that paragonimiasis should be strongly suspected if blood eosinophilia, pseudochylothorax, and a high level of immunoglobulin E in pleural effusion are detected. (+info)
Persisting antibody reaction in paragonimiasis after praziquantel treatment is elicited mainly by egg antigens.
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Antibody responses in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with active and chronic paragonimiasis and in sera from patients on whom follow-up studies were done after praziquantel treatment were analyzed using antigens of Paragonimus westermani prepared from eggs, metacercariae, juveniles of 4- and 7-week old, adult worms and recombinant protein of 28 kDa cruzipain-like cysteine protease (rPw28CCP). The patient sera/CSFs of active and chronic paragonimiasis revealed strong antibody reactions against the crude extracts of 4- and 7-week old juveniles as well as against those from egg and adult. rPw28CCP also showed specific reaction to the sera with active paragonimiasis. After the treatment, levels of specific antibodies in the sera gradually decreased to negative range in most patients. In some cases with persisting high antibody levels, however, the reactions at 27 kDa egg protein were sustained throughout the observation period of 34 months. The reactions at 35 and 32 kDa in adult extract and rPw28CCP disappeared rapidly after the treatment. Persistent antibody reactions even after successful treatment are provoked by continuous antigenic challenge from eggs which were not resolved by treatment. (+info)