Ascaris lumbricoides aggregation in relation to child growth status, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, and plant anthelmintic use in Madagascar

The relationships between Ascaris lumbricoides worm burden, growth status, general delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) response, and plant anthelmintic use were investigated in a 12-mo prospective survey of 663 children, 4-10 yr old, living in the Ranomafana rainforest, Madagascar. Initial feca...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Journal of parasitology Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 25 - 33
Main Authors:	Kightlinger, L.K. (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.), Seed, J.R, Kightlinger, M.B
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States American Society of Parasitologists 01-02-1996
Subjects:	Analysis of Variance ANCYLOSTOMATIDAE Animals ANTHELMINTHIQUE ANTHELMINTICS Anthelmintics - therapeutic use Anthropometry Antigens ANTIHELMINTICOS Ascariasis - epidemiology Ascariasis - immunology Ascariasis - therapy ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES Ascaris lumbricoides - growth & development Ascaris lumbricoides - immunology BODY MEASUREMENTS Child Child Development Child growth Child nutrition disorders Child, Preschool CHILDREN CRECIMIENTO CROISSANCE Cross-Sectional Studies DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY DELAYED TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY DELGADEZ Ecology-Epidemiology Eggs ENFANT Feces - parasitology Female GROWTH HIPERSENSIBILIDAD RETARDADA HOOKWORMS Humans HYPERSENSIBILITE RETARDEE Hypersensitivity, Delayed IMMUNE RESPONSE Infections MADAGASCAR Madagascar - epidemiology MAIGREUR Male MALNUTRICION MALNUTRITION MEDICION DEL CUERPO MENSURATION CORPORELLE NINOS Nutrition Disorders - complications Parasite Egg Count Phytotherapy Plants Prevalence Prospective Studies Regression Analysis REPONSE IMMUNITAIRE RESPUESTA INMUNOLOGICA Skin Tests THINNESS TRICHURIS TRICHURIS TRICHIURA Worms Madagascar
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The relationships between Ascaris lumbricoides worm burden, growth status, general delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) response, and plant anthelmintic use were investigated in a 12-mo prospective survey of 663 children, 4-10 yr old, living in the Ranomafana rainforest, Madagascar. Initial fecal examinations revealed prevalences of 93% for A lumbricoides, 55% for Trichuris trichuria, and 27% for hookworm. After anthelmintic treatment and a 12-mo reinfection period, 428 of the children participated in worm expulsion studies using pyrantel pamoate, revealing an overdispersed A. lumbricoides worm population, mean = 19.2 (SD = 20.4). Malnutrition was common with 72% of the children growth stunted, 61% underweight, and 6% wasted. The children were also skin tested to recall antigens for DCH, with 94% reacting. The DCH immune response was significantly decreased in the malnourished children; however, DCH was not reduced in relation to increasing worm intensity. Growth status, growth velocity, and triceps skinfold did not vary significantly in relation to A. lumbricoides worm burden. Traditional plant anthelmintic treatment was effective in significantly reducing worm intensity. This study indicates that, in human communities where the children are predominately stunted, A. lumbricoides does not aggregate in the most malnourished or immunodepressed children.
Bibliography:	9740428 S30 T10 L72 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0022-3395 1937-2345
DOI:	10.2307/3284110