MyMedR

Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Malaysia

Ahmed A, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Surin J

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2011 May;42(3):527-38.

We reviewed the epidemiology of STH in Malaysia from the 1970s to 2009. High prevalence rates persist among the rural Aborigines, estate workers and in urban slums and squatter areas. Trichuris trichiura is the most prevalent helminth in Malaysia ranging from 2.1% to 98.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides follows closely with a prevalence rate of 4.6-86.7%, while hookworm is the least prevalent (0-37.0%). A countrywide control program with special emphasis on school-based intervention is highly recommended among aboriginal people.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides/isolation & purification

An unusual presentation of acute cholecystitis: biliary ascariasis

Amjad N, Nor AM, Singh H

Hosp Med, 2001 Jun;62(6):370-1.

PMID: 11436449

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides*

Fulltext Helminthiasis among primary rural school children in Bachok, Kelantan

Anees, A.H., Zulkifli, A., Azmi, A., Syukri, M.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2003;3(2):19-22.

MyJurnal

A cross-sectional study on helminthiasis among rural primary schoolchildren aged 9 to 10 years Bachok, Kelaritan was perfumed. A total of 680 schoolchildren participated in the study. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of the ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hoolcwonn. The worm load was then measured using the modified Stoll`s volumetric dilution
technique. The overall prevalence of helminthiasis was 77 .2%. Trichuris trichiura were the commonest type of heminth noted - 66.8%, compared with Ascaris lumlrricoides (49.7%) and hookworm (1.8%). Mixed infections with Ascaris lumlyricoides and Trichuris trichiura was the commonest type of infection 249(41 .5%) . For Ascaris lumbncoides, 34.6% had mild and 5 I .3% had moderate worm load while for Trichurb trichiura, 66.5% had mild and 30.8 % had moderate worm load. Only 14.1% and 2.7% 4 of the schoolchildren had a heavy load of Ascaris lumlwicoides and Trichuris trichiura respectively. All the schookhildren with hookworm were only mildly infected. Targeted mass treatment for rural Mahysian schoolchildren is still essential, especially in areas where poverty and malnutrition are still prevalent.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris; Ascaris lumbricoides

A study on the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths among lettuce leaves sold in local markets in Penang, Malaysia

Anuar AK, Ramachandran CP

Med J Malaysia, 1977 Jun;31(4):262-5.

PMID: 562969

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/isolation & purification

Fulltext Soil-transmitted helminth infections and associated risk factors in three Orang Asli tribes in Peninsular Malaysia

Anuar TS, Salleh FM, Moktar N

Sci Rep, 2014;4:4101.

PMID: 24525479 DOI: 10.1038/srep04101

Currently, information on prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections among different tribes of Orang Asli (aboriginal) is scarce in Malaysia. The present study is a cross-sectional study aimed at determining the factors associated with the prevalence of STH infections among the Proto-Malay, Negrito and Senoi tribes. Faecal samples were collected from 500 participants and socioeconomic data was collected via pre-tested questionnaire. All samples were processed using formalin-ether sedimentation and Wheatley's trichrome staining. Trichuris trichiura (57%) was the most common STH seen among the participants, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (23.8%) and hookworm (7.4%). Trichuriasis and ascariasis showed an age-dependency relationship; significantly higher rates were observed among Senois who aged <15 years. Likewise, Negritos also showed an age-dependency association with ascariasis affecting mainly the under 15 years old individuals. Multivariate logistic regression model indicated the following predictors of trichuriasis among these communities; being aged <15 years, consuming raw vegetables, belonging to a large household members (≥8) and earning low household income (

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides/isolation & purification

A parasitological study of Pulau Pinang and Pulau Perhentian Kechil, off Trengganu, West Malaysia. II. Intestinal helminthiasis

Balasingam E, Liat LB, Ramachandran CP

Med J Malaya, 1969 Jun;23(4):300-4.

PMID: 4242178

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/isolation & purification

Aggregation and predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura at the familial level

Chan L, Bundy DA, Kan SP

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1994 1 1;88(1):46-8.

PMID: 8153999 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90492-8

This study examines the persistence of familial aggregation and familial predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection over 2 periods of treatment and reinfection, in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both parasite species were shown to be aggregated (assessed by the variance to mean ratio) within families at all 3 interventions, although no consistent trend in aggregation was observed over the period of the study. Associations between mean A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection levels of families, at all 3 interventions, were highly significant (P < 0.0001), suggesting persistent predisposition at the family level.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides*

The effect of repeated chemotherapy on age-related predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura

Chan L, Kan SP, Bundy DA

Parasitology, 1992 Apr;104 ( Pt 2):371-7.

PMID: 1594301

This study examines the persistence of predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura during repeated chemotherapy in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Significant predisposition was observed over 2 periods of reinfection with and without age-standardization of data. Analysis of different age groups indicated that predisposition was most strongly detectable in the younger age classes. The intensities of infection with both parasites were strongly correlated at each cycle of intervention, suggesting that individuals were similarly predisposed to both species.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/growth & development

Ascaris lumbricides eggs in liver and lungs of 2-year-old boy at necropsy. Confirmation by experimental inoculations of animals

Chao TC, Ewert A, Zaman V

Med J Malaya, 1966 Jun;20(4):340-1.

PMID: 4224354

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/isolation & purification*

Fulltext Correlation between Soil Transmitted Helminth Infection and Eosinophil Levels among Primary School Children in Medan

Darlan DM, Tala ZZ, Amanta C, Warli SM, Arrasyid NK

Open Access Maced J Med Sci, 2017 Apr 15;5(2):142-146.

PMID: 28507618 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2017.014

BACKGROUND: Soil Transmitted Helminth infection is one of most prevalent health problems worldwide, especially in environments with poor sanitation. Based on World Health Organisation (WHO) data, more than 2 billion people, or 24% of the world's population, are infected with intestinal parasite. The highest prevalence is located in areas of poor sanitation and unsafe water supplies. In Indonesia, the prevalence of parasite infections is 15% of the entire population.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Soil Transmitted Helminth infection on levels of eosinophils among primary school children. In addition, this study also aimed to determine the prevalence of different types of worm infections and the levels of eosinophils in children infected with worms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was analytic observational using a cross-sectional method. The sampling technique was consecutive and in total 132 samples was obtained. The study involved primary school children in Amplas Medan and Hamparan Perak, Deli Serdang through May to October 2016. Univariate analysis was performed to determine STH infection prevalence and bivariate analysis was used to find the correlation between STH infection and eosinophil levels through a Chi square (χ2) test.

RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminth was 7.6%. The most common types of STH infection were 3.8% with Trichuris trichiura and 3% with Ascaris lumbricoides. A significant correlation was found between Parasite infection and eosinophil levels (Contingency Coefficient (C) = 0.2, χ2 = 5.3, p = 0.021) and the risk of STH infection that caused eosinophilia or increased eosinophil levels in the children with a Prevalence Ratio (PR) of 1.56 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 1.10-2.22).

CONCLUSION: It is recommended that schools at similar risk improve and maintain hygiene and healthy behaviour in the school environment and that parents and teachers pay greater attention to the cleanliness of their children.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides

Fulltext Pro-fibrinolytic potential of the third larval stage of Ascaris suum as a possible mechanism facilitating its migration through the host tissues

Diosdado A, Simón F, Morchón R, González-Miguel J

Parasit Vectors, 2020 Apr 20;13(1):203.

PMID: 32312291 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04067-5

BACKGROUND: Ascaris roundworms are the parasitic nematodes responsible for causing human and porcine ascariasis. Whereas A. lumbricoides is the most common soil-transmitted helminth infecting humans in the world, A. suum causes important economic losses in the porcine industry. The latter has been proposed as a model for the study of A. lumbricoides since both species are closely related. The third larval stage of these parasites carries out an intriguing and complex hepatopulmonary route through the bloodstream of its hosts. This allows the interaction between larvae and the physiological mechanisms of the hosts circulatory system, such as the fibrinolytic system. Parasite migration has been widely linked to the activation of this system by pathogens that are able to bind plasminogen and enhance plasmin generation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the interaction between the infective third larval stage of A. suum and the host fibrinolytic system as a model of the host-Ascaris spp. relationships.

METHODS: Infective larvae were obtained after incubating and hatching fertile eggs of A. suum in order to extract their cuticle and excretory/secretory antigens. The ability of both extracts to bind and activate plasminogen, as well as promote plasmin generation were assayed by ELISA and western blot. The location of plasminogen binding on the larval surface was revealed by immunofluorescence. The plasminogen-binding proteins from both antigenic extracts were revealed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and plasminogen-ligand blotting, and identified by mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Cuticle and excretory/secretory antigens from infective larvae of A. suum were able to bind plasminogen and promote plasmin generation in the presence of plasminogen activators. Plasminogen binding was located on the larval surface. Twelve plasminogen-binding proteins were identified in both antigenic extracts.

CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, the present results showed for the first time, the pro-fibrinolytic potential of infective larvae of Ascaris spp., which suggests a novel parasite survival mechanism by facilitating the migration through host tissues.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris suum/physiology*

Fulltext Epidemiological surveys of, and research on, soil-transmitted helminths in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

Dunn JC, Turner HC, Tun A, Anderson RM

Parasit Vectors, 2016 Jan 27;9:31.

PMID: 26813007 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1310-2

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections of humans fall within the World Health Organization's (WHO) grouping termed the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is estimated that they affect approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide. A significant proportion of these infections are in the population of Southeast Asia. This review analyses published data on STH prevalence and intensity in Southeast Asia over the time period of 1900 to the present to describe age related patterns in these epidemiological measures. This is with a focus on the four major parasite species affecting humans; namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and the hookworms; Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Data were also collected on the diagnostic methods used in the published surveys and how the studies were designed to facilitate comparative analyses of recorded patterns and changes therein over time. PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Global Atlas of Helminth Infections search engines were used to identify studies on STH in Southeast Asia with the search based on the major key words, and variants on, "soil-transmitted helminth" "Ascaris" "Trichuris" "hookworm" and the country name. A total of 280 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria from 11 Southeast Asian countries; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. It was concluded that the epidemiological patterns of STH infection by age and species mix in Southeast Asia are similar to those reported in other parts of the world. In the published studies there were a large number of different diagnostic methods used with differing sensitivities and specificities, which makes comparison of the results both within and between countries difficult. There is a clear requirement to standardise the methods of both STH diagnosis in faecal material and how the intensity of infection is recorded and reported in future STH research and in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the impact of continuing and expanding mass drug administration (MDA) programmes.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides/isolation & purification

Eosinophilic granuloma of pancreas caused by Ascaris eggs

Dutt AK, Beasley D, Sandosham AA

Med J Malaya, 1969 Dec;24(2):158-60.

PMID: 4244144

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/pathogenicity*

The health of the European child in Singapore and Malaya [duplicate2]

Gordon GAC

Malayan Medical Journal, 1928;3:32-40.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides

Acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis due to Ascaris lumbricoides

Harrower G

Malayan Medical Journal, 1933;8:295-8.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides

Fulltext Ascariasis among orang asli children at pos lenjang, Pahang, malaysia

Hartini, Y., Mohamed Kamel, A.G.

Medicine & Health, 2010;5(2):60-65.

MyJurnal

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2006 to determine the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection among Orang Asli (aborigines) children in Pos Lenjang, Pahang. A total of 71 faecal samples were collected from the children (40 girls and 31 boys) aged between 1-12 years. The samples were examined for the presence of the ova of A. lumbricoides using direct faecal smear and formalin-ether concentration techniques. 42.3%. The prevalence of A. lumbricoides infection was found to be slightly higher in males (45.2%) compared to females (40%) (p>0.05). The school-aged children showed higher prevalence of infection (48.6%) as compared to the preschool children (35.3%) (p

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides

Pattern and predictors of soil-transmitted helminth reinfection among aboriginal schoolchildren in rural Peninsular Malaysia

Hesham Al-Mekhlafi M, Surin J, Atiya AS, Ariffin WA, Mohammed Mahdy AK, Che Abdullah H

Acta Trop, 2008 Aug;107(2):200-4.

PMID: 18582430 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.05.022

Data on soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections and reinfection among Orang Asli (aborigine) schoolchildren and their nutritional and socioeconomic status were analyzed to investigate the pattern and the possible predictors of STH reinfection. In this longitudinal study, 120 (60 males and 60 females) Orang Asli primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 years and living in remote areas in Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang were screened for the presence of STH using modified cellophane thick smear and Harada Mori techniques. The overall prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infections were 65.8, 97.5 and 10.8%, respectively. After complete deworming with a 3-day course of 400mg/daily of albendazole tablets, children were re-examined at 3 and 6 months from baseline. The reinfection rate, by one or more of STH species, at 3 months after deworming was high (49.5%) while 79.6% of the children were reinfected at 6 months after deworming. Logistic regression analyses showed that females, stunted children and those living in houses without toilets had significantly higher reinfection rates than others at 3 months (P<0.05). At 6 months, maternal employment status emerged as another predictor where children of working mothers had significantly higher reinfection rates (P=0.026). In conclusion, reinfection rate of STH is high and thus necessitates frequent and periodic deworming among children. Public health personnel need to re-look at the current control measures and identify innovative and integrated ways in order to reduce STH significantly in the rural communities.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides/isolation & purification

Soil-transmitted Helminths in rural infants and children near Kuala Lumpur

Joe LK, Hoa KE, Kong OC

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1971 Jun;2(2):196-200.

PMID: 5136709

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris/isolation & purification*

Some unusual manisfestations of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides

Kanagarayer K

Malayan Medical Journal, 1927;2:23-4.

Matched MeSH terms: Ascaris lumbricoides

Spectrum of cholangitis in a rural setting in North-eastern Peninsular Malaysia

Khan TF, Raj SM, Visvanathan R