title: A Critical Appraisal of Control Strategies for Soil-Transmitted Helminths.
abstract: Interventions that lead to reductions in soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) include chemotherapy with anthelmintic drugs and improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In this opinion article we aim to determine the evidence for optimal approaches for STH control. First we explore the evidence for the above interventions. We then appraise two integration strategies: current chemotherapy-oriented integrated neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and expanded 'multicomponent integration', which includes integrated chemotherapy, WASH, and other intervention strategies. While multicomponent integrated control may be an effective approach to sustainably reduce STH transmission, there is a need for evidence to prove the feasibility of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: suzanne.campbell@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Suzy J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Susana V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Children's Health and Environment Program, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia.
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Soares Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology, and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Archie C A
authors.initials: ACA
authors.lastname: Clements
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006376:Helminths / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012987:Soil