title: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Laos: a community-wide cross-sectional study of humans and dogs in a mass drug administration environment.
abstract: We conducted a community cross-sectional survey of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in humans and dogs in four provinces in northern Laos. We collected and tested human and dog fecal samples and analyzed results against sociodemographic data. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, and Strongyloides stercoralis was 26.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.7-28.4%), 41.5% (95% CI = 38.8-44.1%), 46.3% (95% CI = 43.3-49.0%), and 8.9% (95% CI = 7.4-10.4%), respectively. We observed strong heterogeneity for helminthiasis by ethnicity, province, and wealth status, which coincided with a risk profile demonstrating that Mon-Khmer persons and the poorest households are highly vulnerable. Necator americanus was the dominant hookworm species infecting humans and Ancylostoma ceylanicum was the only Ancylostoma species detected. Hookworm prevalence in village dogs was 94%, and the dominant species was A. ceylanicum. Necator americanus was also detected in dogs. It appears that dogs have a role in human hookworm transmission and warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia. james.conlan@foodstandards.gov.au
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Conlan
authors.forename: Boualam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khamlome
authors.forename: Khamphouth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vongxay
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pallant
authors.forename: Banchob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sripa
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Blacksell
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: R C Andrew
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017221:Necator americanus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015995:Prevalence; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012987:Soil