Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Case Study
I. Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis
Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is a human infection of the intestinal tract caused by different species of parasitic worms acquired through contact with contaminated soil (Bethony et al. 2006). Light helminth infections are well endured by human hosts and usually have no symptoms, but some serious cases cause morbidity and mortality (CDC, 2013; Parasitology, 2010). These parasitic worms compromise a person’s nourishment, usually among children, resulting to stunted growth and impaired cognitive development (WHO, 2017; Bethony et al. 2006). Severe infections can cause health problems ranging from abdominal pain, malaise and diarrhea to granuloma, rectal prolapse and loss of blood and protein (Magalhães et al. 2015; CDC, 2013); while rare cases of helminths invading other organs cause eosinophilia and pneumonia (Shekhawat and Vijayvergia, 2011).
I.A. Epidemiological Status of Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis According to the World Health Organization (2017), soil-transmitted helminthiasis is among the leading global public health problems affecting 24% of the …show more content…
thiabendazole, albendazole, and mebendazole) and is commonly used to treat soil-transmitted helminth infections (Bethony et al. 2006; Geary et al. 2009). Generally, these drugs efficacy is due to its selective binding to β-tubulin of the nematode impeding the microtubule polymerisation of the parasite (Dye and Walker, 2007) and inhibition of the fumarate reductase enzyme responsible for energy generation (Barragry, 2011). As a result of tubulin polymerization inhibition, cellular transport and energy metabolism (i.e. digestion and absorption of nutrients) is reduced, which in return starve the parasite and eventually killing it (Vercruysse and Claerebout,
Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is a human infection of the intestinal tract caused by different species of parasitic worms acquired through contact with contaminated soil (Bethony et al. 2006). Light helminth infections are well endured by human hosts and usually have no symptoms, but some serious cases cause morbidity and mortality (CDC, 2013; Parasitology, 2010). These parasitic worms compromise a person’s nourishment, usually among children, resulting to stunted growth and impaired cognitive development (WHO, 2017; Bethony et al. 2006). Severe infections can cause health problems ranging from abdominal pain, malaise and diarrhea to granuloma, rectal prolapse and loss of blood and protein (Magalhães et al. 2015; CDC, 2013); while rare cases of helminths invading other organs cause eosinophilia and pneumonia (Shekhawat and Vijayvergia, 2011).
I.A. Epidemiological Status of Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis According to the World Health Organization (2017), soil-transmitted helminthiasis is among the leading global public health problems affecting 24% of the …show more content…
thiabendazole, albendazole, and mebendazole) and is commonly used to treat soil-transmitted helminth infections (Bethony et al. 2006; Geary et al. 2009). Generally, these drugs efficacy is due to its selective binding to β-tubulin of the nematode impeding the microtubule polymerisation of the parasite (Dye and Walker, 2007) and inhibition of the fumarate reductase enzyme responsible for energy generation (Barragry, 2011). As a result of tubulin polymerization inhibition, cellular transport and energy metabolism (i.e. digestion and absorption of nutrients) is reduced, which in return starve the parasite and eventually killing it (Vercruysse and Claerebout,