Iron deficiency and soil-transmitted helminth infection: classic and neglected connections

Ellwanger, Joel Henrique; Ziliotto, Marina; Kulmann-Leal, Bruna

doi:10.1007/s00436-022-07697-z

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…With evidence that helminthic regulation of IBD can depend on micro-biota [58], studies on helminth-associated microbiota [1] and future research on helminthic immune regulation can uncover novel immune regulatory pathways important for protection from or management of IBD as well as other immune diseases. • Iron deficiency anemia [65] • Allergen skin sensitization [24,29,66] • Vitamin B12 deficiency [67,68] • Predisposal to IBD [43,63] • Loeffler syndrome [69] • Susceptibility to other immune-mediated diseases [22,66,70] • Biliary and bowel obstruction [69] • Predisposition to metabolic syndrome [59,60] • Cancer ((cholangiocarcinoma) [71,72]; carcinoma of the bladder [73])…”

Section: Hygiene Hypothesis Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Helminthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth Lessons in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

2023

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Helminths are multicellular invertebrates that colonize the gut of many vertebrate animals including humans. This colonization can result in pathology, which requires treatment. It can also lead to a commensal and possibly even a symbiotic relationship where the helminth and the host benefit from each other’s presence. Epidemiological data have linked helminth exposure to protection from immune disorders that include a wide range of diseases, such as allergies, autoimmune illnesses, and idiopathic inflammatory disorders of the gut, which are grouped as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Treatment of moderate to severe IBD involves the use of immune modulators and biologics, which can cause life-threatening complications. In this setting, their safety profile makes helminths or helminth products attractive as novel therapeutic approaches to treat IBD or other immune disorders. Helminths stimulate T helper-2 (Th2) and immune regulatory pathways, which are targeted in IBD treatment. Epidemiological explorations, basic science studies, and clinical research on helminths can lead to the development of safe, potent, and novel therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat IBD in addition to other immune disorders.

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Section: Hygiene Hypothesis Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Helminthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth Lessons in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

2023

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“…The lack of environmental sanitation and access to clean water facilitate the contamination of soil and foods with eggs and larvae of STHs, increasing infection risk ( 8 ). Human immunological, nutritional, and genetic factors may influence both susceptibility to and consequences of STH infection in the host (e.g., parasite load, affecting the number of eggs excreted in the feces) ( 7 , 11 , 12 ). Socio-economic and cultural factors (e.g., open defecation, walking barefoot, and food habits) also modify the STH infection transmission risk ( 12 , 13 ).…”

Section: Soil-transmitted Helminths From a One Health Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Human immunological, nutritional, and genetic factors may influence both susceptibility to and consequences of STH infection in the host (e.g., parasite load, affecting the number of eggs excreted in the feces) ( 7 , 11 , 12 ). Socio-economic and cultural factors (e.g., open defecation, walking barefoot, and food habits) also modify the STH infection transmission risk ( 12 , 13 ). Further discussion about the importance of addressing parasitic diseases under the One Health perspective can be found elsewhere ( 14 , 15 ).…”

Section: Soil-transmitted Helminths From a One Health Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Editorial: Soil-transmitted helminth infections from a One Health perspective

Ellwanger

Cavallero

2023

Front. Med.

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One Health is a multidisciplinary approach aimed at protecting and promoting the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems (1). In a public health context, One Health is particularly applied to investigate, understand, control, and prevent infectious and parasitic diseases, with particular attention to zoonoses. One Health highlights that the health of (I) human societies, (II) domestic and wild animals, and (III) the environment is strongly connected and, therefore, public health issues must be addressed by considering such connections (1). Several examples highlight these aspects in the context of infectious and parasitic diseases. Anthropogenic activities that are detrimental to the environment and animals facilitate the transmission of several zoonotic parasites (2). Pervasive human interaction with wild species (e.g., in wet markets) contributed to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population and the COVID-19 pandemic (3). Deforestation of tropical forests and habitat fragmentation facilitate the dissemination of several viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. By contrast, the preservation of biodiversity and the environment is a protective factor against emerging infectious diseases (4). Currently, there is a growing acceptance of the One Health need to address parasitic diseases in the next decades in a changing, conflicted, and resource-limited world (5, 6).. Soil-transmitted helminths from a One Health perspective Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are a group of parasites that mainly affect populations in places with sanitation problems as STH transmission particularly occurs through contact with soil contaminated with parasitic eggs or larvae (7,8). It is estimated that 1.5 billion individuals are infected with STHs worldwide and they are included in the list of neglected tropical diseases by the WHO (8). STH infections cause several health problems, such as malnutrition, iron deficiency, and child developmental deficits (7, 8). Among STHs,

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“…Approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by intestinal parasites [ 1 , 2 ]. Intestinal helminth infections can have detrimental effects on health, including malnutrition, anemia, and impaired growth and cognitive development [ 3 – 6 ]. In pregnant women, intestinal helminth infections can lead to inadequate weight gain, intrauterine growth retardation, and low birth weight in newborns [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-throughput detection of parasites and ova in stool using the fully automatic digital feces analyzer, orienter model fa280

Boonyong,

Hunnangkul,

Vijit

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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Background Intestinal parasitic infections can harm health by causing malnutrition, anemia, impaired growth and cognitive development, and alterations in microbiota composition and immune responses. Therefore, it is crucial to examine stool samples to diagnose parasitic infections. However, the traditional microscopic detection method is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and dependent on the expertise and training of microscopists. Hence, there is a need for a low-complexity, high-throughput, and cost-effective alternative to labor-intensive microscopic examinations. Methods This study aimed to compare the performance of a fully automatic digital feces analyzer, Orienter Model FA280 (People’s Republic of China) with that of the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT). We assessed and compared the agreement between the FA280 and the FECT for parasite detection and species identification in stool samples. The first part of the study analyzed 200 fresh stool samples for parasite detection using the FECT and FA280. With the FA280, the automatic feces analyzer performed the testing, and the digital microscope images were uploaded and automatically evaluated using an artificial intelligence (AI) program. Additionally, a skilled medical technologist conducted a user audit of the FA280 findings. The second set of samples comprised 800 preserved stool samples (preserved in 10% formalin). These samples were examined for parasites using the FECT and FA280 with a user audit. Results For the first set of stool samples, there was no statistically significant difference in the pairwise agreements between the FECT and the FA280 with a user audit (exact binomial test, P = 1). However, there were statistically significant differences between the pairwise agreements for the FECT and the FA280 with the AI report (McNemar’s test, P < 0.001). The agreement for the species identification of parasites between the FA280 with AI report and FECT showed fair agreement (overall agreement = 75.5%, kappa [κ] = 0.367, 95% CI 0.248–0.486). On the other hand, the user audit for the FA280 and FECT showed perfect agreement (overall agreement = 100%, κ = 1.00, 95% CI 1.00–1.00). For the second set of samples, the FECT detected significantly more positive samples for parasites than the FA280 with a user audit (McNemar’s test, P < 0.001). The disparity in results may be attributed to the FECT using significantly larger stool samples than those used by the FA280. The larger sample size used by the FECT potentially contributed to the higher parasite detection rate. Regarding species identification, there was strong agreement between the FECT and the FA280 with a user audit for helminths (κ = 0.857, 95% CI 0.82–0.894). Similarly, there was perfect agreement for the species identification of protozoa between the FECT and the FA280 with user audit (κ = 1.00, 95% CI 1.00–1.00). Conclusions Although the FA280 has advantages in terms of simplicity, shorter performance time, and reduced contamination in the laboratory, there are some limitations to consider. These include a higher cost per sample testing and a lower sensitivity compared to the FECT. However, the FA280 enables rapid, convenient, and safe stool examination of parasitic infections. Graphical Abstract

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Iron deficiency and soil-transmitted helminth infection: classic and neglected connections

Cited by 11 publications

References 92 publications

Helminth Lessons in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Helminth Lessons in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Editorial: Soil-transmitted helminth infections from a One Health perspective

High-throughput detection of parasites and ova in stool using the fully automatic digital feces analyzer, orienter model fa280

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