INTRODUCTION Helminths (helmins: worms) are group of parasitic metazoans. Soil transmitted helminths infections or helminthiasis (STH) are caused by these group of parasitic worms namely; roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). They are also called intestinal worms because the adult worms live in the intestine. STH is now the most common parasitic infection of humans worldwide, surpassing even the most common talked about parasitic infection, malaria. “Approximately two billion people are infected and four billion of the world populations are at risk of being infected, as of latest estimate, with highest number of cases occurring in tropical and sub-tropical countries; Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and China” (source, www.wikipedia.org). STH are usually transmitted by ingestion of eggs which are present in the soil which was contaminated by human feces. Food items such as vegetables and fruits are also contaminated especially in areas where fecal matter is used as manure or fertilizer, the eggs also contaminate the water supply, this happens in areas where there is poor sanitation and poor communities where the people do not have resources to build a toilet or latrine. Transmission can also be through penetration of the skin by the larvae of hookworms or accidental ingestion of the larvae of Ancylostoma duodenale. STH are common among children who play with contaminated sand and put the hand in their mouth or use the same hands to eat without washing them or pick up contaminated food items from the ground. STH is said to be one of the most important cause of intellectual and physical retardation in children, they cause abdomi... ... middle of paper ... ...d one so this can result in the persistence of the infection. Some remote African communities do not have an access to a good health system. SUMMARY • soil transmitted helminth infections are caused by parasitic worms that live in the intestine (ascaris and hookworms live in the small intestine while whip worm live in the large intestine) • the infected is transmitted by ingestion of the eggs from soil contaminated by human feces or through penetration of the skin by the larvae of hookworms • it affects nutritional, growth and cognitive development of infected children • effective control measures for the infection include use of anthelminth drugs or deworming, health education, good hygiene or sanitation • It affects about one third of the world population and is common in tropical and sub-tropical regions as they worms tend to strive in the soil of these regions.
[1, 4, 5, 9, 13] There have been no documented cases where a human has contracted the disease from another human. [4] It appears, based on field and lab data, that infection requires direct contact with the virus through means such as contact with infective bodily secretions, urine, or tissues. [12] It is unknown to scientists how the virus can be maintained in the bat populations and avoids extinction as the host species becomes immune to its presence. [14] The incubation period from time of infection to the onset of symptoms is about 5-14 days in experimentally induced animals [4] and 8-14 days in natural field cases.
?No public health officer could free them from congenital defeats, various worms and diseases indigenous to filthy surroundings?
The meningeal worm is also known as the brain worm, or the deer worm. It frequently infects llamas and alpacas, but can infect other species as well like moose, elk, goats, and sheep. The meningeal worm is an internal parasite that is a part of the protostrongylidae family with the definitive host being the common white tailed deer. Even though they are the host, adult meningeal worms rarely cause clinical signs of disease in the deer. The white tail deer’s tolerance to infection from these worms is actually beneficial to the parasite because the white tail deer are the only species that will allow the worm to complete their life cycle. So alpacas and llamas are unsuitable hosts and that is why the meningeal worm is such a threat to them. It can cause varying degrees of damage to their central nervous system. “The cerebrospinal fluid tap is especially useful for diagnosing meningeal worm and ruling out other diseases.” (Whitehead, Bedenice 2009.) Ruling out other diseases helps to narrow down what could be ...
...surrounded it due just to who was known to contract the disease first. The lack of prevention was then mostly due to the lack of information, and the neglect to the urgency of the disease by political leaders, as seen in Uganda by president Nelson. We could have saved millions of people lives had they known that the disease could affect anyone around them including themselves, and had they known what to do prevent the spread to them firstly, if not how to prevent transmitting it to someone else.
Schistosomiasis is a parasite. This parasite is a worm that you get through contaminated water. Urine and feces usually contaminate the water. The worm goes in to your body and migrates to the bladder, rectum, liver, lungs, spleen, intestines and some veins. After the worm migrates to these places this is where it matures and lays its eggs. The disease has the ability to lay two thousand to three thousand eggs per day and can live for twenty years. There are five different kind of Schistosomiasis that effect humans, these different kinds are; S. mansoni, S. Heamatobium, S. japonicum, S. intercalatum and S. mekongi. There are also other kinds of Schistosomiasis that occasionally infect humans, there are; S. bovis, S. mathei, and some avian schistosomes.
The most common way this disease is transmitted from one animal to the next is through mosquitoes. A mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites a dog and transmits the infection to them. The larvae grow, develop, and migrate in the body over a period of 6 to 7 months, in which time they become sexually mature male and female worms. this is the prepatent period. The worms then reside in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels. The worms begin to mate and release microfilaria into the blood stream. When a mosquito bites an infected dog it takes in some of the microfilaria in the blood. After 10 to 30 days there is larvae in the mosquito’s salivary gland which can then be passed on to the next dog the mosquito bites.
The main objectives of the pathogen are to gain entry inside the host, once inside grow and reproduce, and avoid host defenses. There are three possible routes of infection: respiratory, alimentary, and traumatic. The respiratory route is the easiest and most direct means of entry. Under crowded conditions, the rate of infection is even more rapid. The diseases brought over to America were mainly spread by the respiratory method. The alimentary pathway of infection is through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. Throughout Europe during the 15th century, food and water were contaminated with fecal matter and by unsanitary habits ( i.e. the lack of bathing). The traumatic route of infection is through insect and animal bites.
More people exposed to the fungus because of increased travel or relocation to the southwestern United States
been previously touched by an infected person, will transmit the disease to the healthy person who
This parasite is spread through the bite of sandflies. There are three different types of infections and they each show varying degrees of severity. The cutaneous form produces mild skin ulcers, mucocutaneous produces ulcers in the mouth and nose, and the visceral form of the disease starts with skin ulcers and then fever, low red blood cell count, and an enlarged spleen and liver. The parasite is detected by a microscope and visceral can also be found by doing blood tests. 12 million people are in infected in 98 different countries and 2 million new cases are found every year. The disease also kills around 20 to 50 thousand people a year.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on their website Animal and Veterinary it states the following. (Show a slide of how the heartworms are transferred)
A person can prevent the disease. And, there are many ways to do this. One is to put on insect repellent with Deet. Another is to wear long sleeves and long pants. Also, tuck your pants in socks. And, wear a hat. Finally, stay away from wooded areas.
Heymann, D. (2004). Control of Communicable Diseases Manual.18th edition. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.
horrible disease was spread by infected rats and fleas and killed 1/4 to 1/3 of the
After the smallpox pandemic, science has done a lot to cure and control most other outbreaks of diseases. But with the shortage of healthcare and medication in the developing regions, what is there to stop many diseases from spreading. In Kenya, there is only 1 doctor for over 5000 people. How does 1 doctor make sure 5000 people are not in trouble with a live-threatening disease?