title: Seroprevalence of Sparganosis in Rural Communities of Northern Tanzania.
abstract: In this study, the seroprevalence of sparganosis and its relationship with sociodemographic factors in northern Tanzania have been assessed. A total of 216 serum samples from two rural districts, Monduli and Babati, were tested for sparganosis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The seroprevalence of anti-sparganum IgG antibodies was 62.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 56.1-68.9) in all age groups. There were significant associations between district (relative risk [RR] = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.42-2.69), education (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.15-1.70), and pet ownership with seropositivity (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02-2.16) based on univariate analysis. However, only the district was significantly associated with seropositivity (odds ratio = 4.20, 95% CI = 1.89-9.32) in binary logistic regression analysis. Providing health education to people residing in sparganosis-endemic areas is likely to improve the efficacy of preventative measures and reduce human disease burden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavana
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Parthasarathy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonaimuthu
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kasanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Ayub
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassuku
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.|Endemic and Tropical Diseases Unit, Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Mekhlafi
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mun Yik
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Behram
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yee Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057805:Pets; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013032:Sparganum / Q000276:immunology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G