Molecular Detection of Intestinal Helminths and Protozoa Among Young Children in Dosso Region, Niger

Authors

Kristen Aiemjoy, Stanford University School of Medicine
Ahmed M. Arzika, The Carter Center
Catherine Cook, University of California, San Francisco
Elodie Lebas, University of California, San Francisco
Nils Pilotte, Smith College
Jessica R. Grant, Smith College
Steven A. Williams, Smith CollegeFollow
Thomas M. Lietman, University of California, San Francisco
Jeremy D. Keenan, University of California, San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Publication Title

Gates Open Research

Abstract

Eukaryotic parasites are significant contributors to childhood illness in Niger. While helminthiases have received national attention through mass deworming efforts, the epidemiology of intestinal protozoa in Niger remains underexamined. This study employed real-time PCR diagnostics to describe the prevalence of two schistosomes, four soil-transmitted helminths, and one protozoan parasite in Boboye Department, Dosso Region. Prevalence was assessed using bulk stool specimens collected from a population-based sample of 86 children residing in 9 communities. Anthropometric measurements were used to calculate child growth z-scores and stool consistency was graded. Helminths were absent from the study population, with the exception of a single Schistosoma haematobium infection (1/86; 1.2%). Giardia duodenalis was the only protozoa present, detected in 65% (56/86) of children. Prevalence of G. duodenalis peaked in 2-year-olds with 88% (15/17) positivity. The population was generally undernourished, though growth indices did not differ significantly between children with and without G. duodenalis infection.

Keywords

Molecular diagnostics, Protozoa, Schistosoma, Soil-transmitted helminths

Volume

4

DOI

10.12688/gatesopenres.13124.2

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rights

© 2020 Aiemjoy K et al.

Comments

Archived as published. Open access paper.

Recommended Citation

Aiemjoy, Kristen; Arzika, Ahmed M.; Cook, Catherine; Lebas, Elodie; Pilotte, Nils; Grant, Jessica R.; Williams, Steven A.; Lietman, Thomas M.; and Keenan, Jeremy D., "Molecular Detection of Intestinal Helminths and Protozoa Among Young Children in Dosso Region, Niger" (2020). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/158