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Asociaciones sinergísticas entre uncinarias y otras especies de helmintos en una comunidad rural en Brasil
Author(s) -
Fleming Fiona M.,
Brooker Simon,
Geiger Stefan M.,
Caldas Iramaya R.,
CorreaOliveira Rodrigo,
Hotez Peter J,
Bethony Jeffrey M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01541.x
Subject(s) - ascaris lumbricoides , hookworm infection , helminths , schistosoma mansoni , hookworm infections , helminthiasis , immunology , biology , ascariasis , helminth infections , epidemiology , schistosomiasis , veterinary medicine , environmental health , medicine
Summary Objective To identify possible synergistic associations of hookworm and other helminths. Method Cross‐sectional survey of all households within 10 km 2 of Americaninhas, a rural community in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We determined the prevalence and intensity of single and multiple helminth species infection in an age‐stratified sample of 1332 individuals from 335 households. Results Hookworm was the most prevalent helminth infection (68.2%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (48.8%) and Schistosoma mansoni (45.3%). Overall, 60.6% of individuals harboured mixed helminth infections. Multivariate analysis indicated significant positive associations for co‐infection with hookworm and S. mansoni and for co‐infection with hookworm and A. lumbricoides . Co‐infections with hookworm and A. lumbricoides resulted in higher egg counts for both, suggesting a synergistic relationship between these species, although, we found important age differences in this relationship. However, the intensity of S. mansoni or A. lumbricoides co‐infection did not differ from that of mono‐infection. Conclusion These results have implications for the epidemiology, immunology and control of multiple helminth infections. More research is needed to examine the rates of re‐infection and immune responses after chemotherapy, and to what extent the effects of polyparasitism are altered by chemotherapy.