Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria inciden... more Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria incidence in the last two decades in Ethiopia. However, lack of local data on the disease transmission and community knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria are thought to reverse the trend of malaria in certain areas. Therefore, assessment of the prevalence and community awareness towards malaria plays pivotal role for the success of malaria control and prevention. Objective. To assess malaria prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria among febrile patients in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility based crosssectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among 149 febrile patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Data about knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria were collected using semistructured questionnaire. Blood sample from each participant was tested for Plasmodium species through m...
Introduction: The peak incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection occurs among you... more Introduction: The peak incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection occurs among young people aged 15-24 years. University students are vulnerable to HIV because of their age, living arrangement and lack of family supervision. However, there is scarcity of data on prevalence of HIV infection among university students in different parts of Ethiopia. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HIV infection among regular undergraduate students at Bahir Dar University. Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted on 817 students in Bahir Dar University from January to March 2013. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic variables and behavioral factors. Whole blood samples were tested for the presence of antibody to HIV infection using National HIV rapid diagnostic tests algorithm. Regression analysis was computed to identify the independent risk factors. Results: Overall, the sero-prevalence o...
Elephantiasis is a symptom of a variety of diseases that is characterized by the thickening of th... more Elephantiasis is a symptom of a variety of diseases that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. Some conditions having this symptom include: Elephantiasis nostras, due to longstanding chronic lymphangitis; Elephantiasis tropica or lymphatic filariasis, caused by a number of parasitic worms, particularly Wuchereria bancrofti; non-filarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, an immune disease caused by heavy metals affecting the lymph vessels; proteus syndrome, the genetic disorder of the so-called Elephant Man, etc. Podoconiosis is a type of lower limb tropical elephantiasis distinct from lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects all population at risk, whereas podoconiosis predominantly affects barefoot subsistence farmers in areas with red volcanic soil. Ethiopia is one of the countries with the highest number of podoconiosis patients since many people are at risk to red-clay soil exposure...
BACKGROUND Multidrug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) is becoming a major threat to tuberculosis co... more BACKGROUND Multidrug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) is becoming a major threat to tuberculosis control programs in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES To determine risk factors of MDR-TB patients in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. METHODS Case-control study was conducted from May 2013 to January 2014. Resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid were done molecularly using line probe assay. TB patients infected with MDR-M.tuberculosis and non MDR-M.tuberculosis strain were considered as cases and controls, respectively. Data was collected using structured questionnaire with face to face interview. Patients' clinical record review was also done.Multivariate analysis was computed to determine the risk factors of MDR-TB. RESULTS A total of 153 MDR-TB and equal number of non MDR-TB patients' participated in the study. Patients who had TB treatment failure (AOR=13.5,CI=2.69-70), cavitations on chest x-ray (AOR=1.9,CI=1.1-3.38) and contact with MDR-TB patients (AOR=1.4,CI=0.19-0.39) were mor...
Background In Ethiopia, anti-malaria treatment is initiated after parasitological confirmation us... more Background In Ethiopia, anti-malaria treatment is initiated after parasitological confirmation using blood film microscopy at health centers and hospitals, or serological rapid diagnostic tests at health posts. At health posts, the diagnosis is performed by health extension workers using rapid diagnostic tests after little training. However, there is paucity of data about the health extension workers’ performance on rapid diagnostic tests. Hence, periodic monitoring of the performances of health extension workers on malaria rapid diagnostic tests and predicted factors plays a pivotal role for the control of malaria. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in May 2020, among 75 health extension workers working at health posts in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Their performance on malaria rapid diagnostic tests was assessed by distributing known positive and negative samples as confirmed by investigators using both rapid diagnostic test and blood film microscopy. ...
BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the two most importa... more BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the two most important agents of infectious diseases. Both HBV and HIV share common modes of transmission and have serious effects on both pregnant women and infants. In Bahir Dar city administration, there is a scarcity of information on sero-prevalence of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women. The main objective of this study was to assess sero-prevalence and risk factors of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2013 to April 2013. Socio-demographic and explanatory variables were collected using a structured questionnaire by face to face interview. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIV infection was also detected using the national HIV test algorithms. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and bin...
Background. While rapid diagnostic tests are an alternative diagnostic tests for microscopy in th... more Background. While rapid diagnostic tests are an alternative diagnostic tests for microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria in rural settings, their performance has been inconsistent. Performance of rapid diagnostic tests might be affected by manufacturing process, transportation and storage, parasitemia level, and skill of personnel who perform the tests. Therefore, periodic evaluation of the local field performance of rapid diagnostic tests is mandatory in order to make early corrections in case of decreased performance. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2020 among 257 malaria-suspected patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Capillary blood was collected from each participant and tested for Plasmodium infection by CareStart™ rapid diagnostic test kit and thin and thick blood film microscopy. Data were analyzed using statistical software for social sciences version 20 and MedCalc software version 19.3. Sen...
Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria inciden... more Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria incidence in the last two decades in Ethiopia. However, lack of local data on the disease transmission and community knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria are thought to reverse the trend of malaria in certain areas. Therefore, assessment of the prevalence and community awareness towards malaria plays pivotal role for the success of malaria control and prevention. Objective. To assess malaria prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria among febrile patients in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility based crosssectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among 149 febrile patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Data about knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria were collected using semistructured questionnaire. Blood sample from each participant was tested for Plasmodium species through m...
Plasmodium coinfection with hookworm and/or Schistosoma mansoni has detrimental effects on human’... more Plasmodium coinfection with hookworm and/or Schistosoma mansoni has detrimental effects on human’s hemoglobin level. This study aimed to determine the effects of plasmodium, hookworm, and S. mansoni infections on hemoglobin level among febrile school age children in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to August 2016. Plasmodium and helminths infections were detected using Giemsa stain and formol-ether concentration techniques, respectively. Hemoglobin level was determined using Hemocue method. Among 333 children, 143 (42.9%), 49 (14.75%), and 22 (6.6%) had Plasmodium, hookworm, and Schistosoma mansoni infections, respectively. The prevalence of Plasmodium-hookworm and Plasmodium-Schistosoma mansoni coinfections was 18 (12.6%) and 4 (2.8%) in children, respectively. The overall prevalence of anaemia in children was 41.4%. Effect of Plasmodium, hookworm, and Schistosoma mansoni on hemoglobin level was high. Therefore, febrile children should be sc...
Background. Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni are the major helminthic parasites... more Background. Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni are the major helminthic parasites that cause major public health problems among schoolchildren in developing countries. Infection with the above parasites decreases the hemoglobin level of children. However, information regarding the current status of helminthic infections and anemia is limited. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of helminthic infections and anemia among children. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 schoolchildren at Sekelet primary school in northwest Ethiopia, from February to March 2017. Study participants were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were collected and processed via the modified Ritchie’s concentration technique to detect parasites in stool. A HemoCue Hb 201 analyzer was used to determine the hemoglobin level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 statistical software. Association of helminthic infection...
Background Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5... more Background Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5 billion people are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura or hookworm. Endemic countries carry out periodic mass treatment of at-risk populations with albendazole or mebendazole as a control measure. Most prevalence studies have focused on school aged children and therefore control programs are implemented at school level, not at community level. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal helminths, including Strongyloides stercoralis, was examined using a comprehensive laboratory approach in a community in north-western Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 792 individuals ≥5 years old in randomly selected houses in a rural district. Stools were examined using three techniques: a formol-ether concentration, the Baermann technique and a real time polymerase chain reaction test (these last two specific for S. stercoralis). Statistical analyses were performed between two large age groups, children (≤14 years old) and adults (≥15 years old). Results The prevalence of helminths was 91.3%; (95% CI: 89.3–93.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent, 78.7% (95% CI 75.6–81.4%), followed by S. stercoralis 55.7% (95% CI 52.2–59.1%). Co-infection with both was detected in 45.4% (95% CI 42.0–49.0%) of the participants. The mean age of hookworm-infected individuals was significantly higher than non-infected ones (p = 0.003). Also, S. stercoralis infection was significantly associated with age, being more prevalent in adults (p = 0.002). Conclusions This is the highest prevalence of S. stercoralis detected in Ethiopia so far. Our results highlight the need of searching specifically for infection by this parasite since it usually goes unnoticed if helminth studies rely only on conventional diagnostic techniques, i.e. Kato-Katz. Moreover, the focus of these programs on children undermines the actual prevalence of hookworm. The adult population acts as a reservoir for both hookworm and S. stercoralis and this fact may negatively impact the current control programs in Ethiopia which only target treatment of school aged children. This reservoir, together with a lack of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, increases the probability of re-infection in children. Finally, the high prevalence of S. stercoralis found calls for a comprehensive diagnostic approach in endemic areas in addition to a revision of control measures that is, adding ivermectin to current albendazole/mebendazole, since it is the drug of choice for S. stercoralis.
Background Malaria is the leading vector borne parasitic disease causing enormously high morbidit... more Background Malaria is the leading vector borne parasitic disease causing enormously high morbidity and mortality worldwide. There have been huge efforts so far to control and eliminate malaria in the world. However, high prevalence of asymptomatic carriage poses a threat on malaria control and elimination programs. Since asymptomatic infections present no overt sign and symptoms, they do not get clinical attention. Moreover, asymptomatic cases are a potential source of infection in high and low transmission settings. Despite the presence of some pocket data, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage has not yet been known nationally and the current study area as well. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria cases and associated factors in households and neighbors of laboratory confirmed cases in Raya Kobo district, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2019 among 270 study participants se...
Introduction: Even if the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high in Ethiopia, we still use on... more Introduction: Even if the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high in Ethiopia, we still use only direct wet mount method for laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections, having low sensitivity, and this significantly increases false-negative results. Therefore, the performance evaluation of three laboratory diagnostic methods is mandatory. Methods: Single stool sample was collected from March 2018 to June 2018, among 211 school children, and processed using a wet mount, modified Baermann (MB), and Ritchie’s methods. The sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPVs) at 95% confidence interval and Kappa values were calculated in terms of the gold standard method (the combined result of altogether). Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 60.2%. The sensitivity and NPVs of the wet mount, MB, and Ritchie’s methods against the “Gold standard” test were 49.6% and 56.8%, 80.3% and 77.1%, and 67.7% and 68.8%, respectively. Conclusions: MB showed the...
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan that affects animals and... more Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan that affects animals and human. Transmission is zoonotic and/or anthroponotic through the bite of an infected female sandfly. Control and elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) require proper case detection, identification of reservoir hosts, and launching of effective vector control strategies in endemic areas. The aim of this review was to highlight the challenges in VL control in developing countries. Literatures pertaining to VL burden, diagnosis, prevention and control from the year 1969 to 2014 were systematically reviewed from PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Google scholar sources during July 2015. Poor vector control strategies, limited diagnostic services, drugs, treatments and lack of community awareness are the most important challenges in VL control and elimination especially in endemic areas. Absence of highly sensitive and specific tests, lack of trained man power, and community awareness are the ...
Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria inciden... more Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria incidence in the last two decades in Ethiopia. However, lack of local data on the disease transmission and community knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria are thought to reverse the trend of malaria in certain areas. Therefore, assessment of the prevalence and community awareness towards malaria plays pivotal role for the success of malaria control and prevention. Objective. To assess malaria prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria among febrile patients in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility based crosssectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among 149 febrile patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Data about knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria were collected using semistructured questionnaire. Blood sample from each participant was tested for Plasmodium species through m...
Introduction: The peak incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection occurs among you... more Introduction: The peak incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection occurs among young people aged 15-24 years. University students are vulnerable to HIV because of their age, living arrangement and lack of family supervision. However, there is scarcity of data on prevalence of HIV infection among university students in different parts of Ethiopia. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HIV infection among regular undergraduate students at Bahir Dar University. Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted on 817 students in Bahir Dar University from January to March 2013. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic variables and behavioral factors. Whole blood samples were tested for the presence of antibody to HIV infection using National HIV rapid diagnostic tests algorithm. Regression analysis was computed to identify the independent risk factors. Results: Overall, the sero-prevalence o...
Elephantiasis is a symptom of a variety of diseases that is characterized by the thickening of th... more Elephantiasis is a symptom of a variety of diseases that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. Some conditions having this symptom include: Elephantiasis nostras, due to longstanding chronic lymphangitis; Elephantiasis tropica or lymphatic filariasis, caused by a number of parasitic worms, particularly Wuchereria bancrofti; non-filarial elephantiasis or podoconiosis, an immune disease caused by heavy metals affecting the lymph vessels; proteus syndrome, the genetic disorder of the so-called Elephant Man, etc. Podoconiosis is a type of lower limb tropical elephantiasis distinct from lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects all population at risk, whereas podoconiosis predominantly affects barefoot subsistence farmers in areas with red volcanic soil. Ethiopia is one of the countries with the highest number of podoconiosis patients since many people are at risk to red-clay soil exposure...
BACKGROUND Multidrug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) is becoming a major threat to tuberculosis co... more BACKGROUND Multidrug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) is becoming a major threat to tuberculosis control programs in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES To determine risk factors of MDR-TB patients in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. METHODS Case-control study was conducted from May 2013 to January 2014. Resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid were done molecularly using line probe assay. TB patients infected with MDR-M.tuberculosis and non MDR-M.tuberculosis strain were considered as cases and controls, respectively. Data was collected using structured questionnaire with face to face interview. Patients' clinical record review was also done.Multivariate analysis was computed to determine the risk factors of MDR-TB. RESULTS A total of 153 MDR-TB and equal number of non MDR-TB patients' participated in the study. Patients who had TB treatment failure (AOR=13.5,CI=2.69-70), cavitations on chest x-ray (AOR=1.9,CI=1.1-3.38) and contact with MDR-TB patients (AOR=1.4,CI=0.19-0.39) were mor...
Background In Ethiopia, anti-malaria treatment is initiated after parasitological confirmation us... more Background In Ethiopia, anti-malaria treatment is initiated after parasitological confirmation using blood film microscopy at health centers and hospitals, or serological rapid diagnostic tests at health posts. At health posts, the diagnosis is performed by health extension workers using rapid diagnostic tests after little training. However, there is paucity of data about the health extension workers’ performance on rapid diagnostic tests. Hence, periodic monitoring of the performances of health extension workers on malaria rapid diagnostic tests and predicted factors plays a pivotal role for the control of malaria. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in May 2020, among 75 health extension workers working at health posts in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Their performance on malaria rapid diagnostic tests was assessed by distributing known positive and negative samples as confirmed by investigators using both rapid diagnostic test and blood film microscopy. ...
BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the two most importa... more BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the two most important agents of infectious diseases. Both HBV and HIV share common modes of transmission and have serious effects on both pregnant women and infants. In Bahir Dar city administration, there is a scarcity of information on sero-prevalence of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women. The main objective of this study was to assess sero-prevalence and risk factors of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2013 to April 2013. Socio-demographic and explanatory variables were collected using a structured questionnaire by face to face interview. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIV infection was also detected using the national HIV test algorithms. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and bin...
Background. While rapid diagnostic tests are an alternative diagnostic tests for microscopy in th... more Background. While rapid diagnostic tests are an alternative diagnostic tests for microscopy in the diagnosis of malaria in rural settings, their performance has been inconsistent. Performance of rapid diagnostic tests might be affected by manufacturing process, transportation and storage, parasitemia level, and skill of personnel who perform the tests. Therefore, periodic evaluation of the local field performance of rapid diagnostic tests is mandatory in order to make early corrections in case of decreased performance. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2020 among 257 malaria-suspected patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Capillary blood was collected from each participant and tested for Plasmodium infection by CareStart™ rapid diagnostic test kit and thin and thick blood film microscopy. Data were analyzed using statistical software for social sciences version 20 and MedCalc software version 19.3. Sen...
Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria inciden... more Background. Control and prevention activities have brought substantial decline of malaria incidence in the last two decades in Ethiopia. However, lack of local data on the disease transmission and community knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria are thought to reverse the trend of malaria in certain areas. Therefore, assessment of the prevalence and community awareness towards malaria plays pivotal role for the success of malaria control and prevention. Objective. To assess malaria prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria among febrile patients in Bahir Dar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility based crosssectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among 149 febrile patients attending selected health centers in Bahir Dar Zuria district. Data about knowledge, attitude, and practice about malaria were collected using semistructured questionnaire. Blood sample from each participant was tested for Plasmodium species through m...
Plasmodium coinfection with hookworm and/or Schistosoma mansoni has detrimental effects on human’... more Plasmodium coinfection with hookworm and/or Schistosoma mansoni has detrimental effects on human’s hemoglobin level. This study aimed to determine the effects of plasmodium, hookworm, and S. mansoni infections on hemoglobin level among febrile school age children in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to August 2016. Plasmodium and helminths infections were detected using Giemsa stain and formol-ether concentration techniques, respectively. Hemoglobin level was determined using Hemocue method. Among 333 children, 143 (42.9%), 49 (14.75%), and 22 (6.6%) had Plasmodium, hookworm, and Schistosoma mansoni infections, respectively. The prevalence of Plasmodium-hookworm and Plasmodium-Schistosoma mansoni coinfections was 18 (12.6%) and 4 (2.8%) in children, respectively. The overall prevalence of anaemia in children was 41.4%. Effect of Plasmodium, hookworm, and Schistosoma mansoni on hemoglobin level was high. Therefore, febrile children should be sc...
Background. Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni are the major helminthic parasites... more Background. Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni are the major helminthic parasites that cause major public health problems among schoolchildren in developing countries. Infection with the above parasites decreases the hemoglobin level of children. However, information regarding the current status of helminthic infections and anemia is limited. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of helminthic infections and anemia among children. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 schoolchildren at Sekelet primary school in northwest Ethiopia, from February to March 2017. Study participants were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were collected and processed via the modified Ritchie’s concentration technique to detect parasites in stool. A HemoCue Hb 201 analyzer was used to determine the hemoglobin level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 statistical software. Association of helminthic infection...
Background Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5... more Background Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5 billion people are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura or hookworm. Endemic countries carry out periodic mass treatment of at-risk populations with albendazole or mebendazole as a control measure. Most prevalence studies have focused on school aged children and therefore control programs are implemented at school level, not at community level. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal helminths, including Strongyloides stercoralis, was examined using a comprehensive laboratory approach in a community in north-western Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 792 individuals ≥5 years old in randomly selected houses in a rural district. Stools were examined using three techniques: a formol-ether concentration, the Baermann technique and a real time polymerase chain reaction test (these last two specific for S. stercoralis). Statistical analyses were performed between two large age groups, children (≤14 years old) and adults (≥15 years old). Results The prevalence of helminths was 91.3%; (95% CI: 89.3–93.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent, 78.7% (95% CI 75.6–81.4%), followed by S. stercoralis 55.7% (95% CI 52.2–59.1%). Co-infection with both was detected in 45.4% (95% CI 42.0–49.0%) of the participants. The mean age of hookworm-infected individuals was significantly higher than non-infected ones (p = 0.003). Also, S. stercoralis infection was significantly associated with age, being more prevalent in adults (p = 0.002). Conclusions This is the highest prevalence of S. stercoralis detected in Ethiopia so far. Our results highlight the need of searching specifically for infection by this parasite since it usually goes unnoticed if helminth studies rely only on conventional diagnostic techniques, i.e. Kato-Katz. Moreover, the focus of these programs on children undermines the actual prevalence of hookworm. The adult population acts as a reservoir for both hookworm and S. stercoralis and this fact may negatively impact the current control programs in Ethiopia which only target treatment of school aged children. This reservoir, together with a lack of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, increases the probability of re-infection in children. Finally, the high prevalence of S. stercoralis found calls for a comprehensive diagnostic approach in endemic areas in addition to a revision of control measures that is, adding ivermectin to current albendazole/mebendazole, since it is the drug of choice for S. stercoralis.
Background Malaria is the leading vector borne parasitic disease causing enormously high morbidit... more Background Malaria is the leading vector borne parasitic disease causing enormously high morbidity and mortality worldwide. There have been huge efforts so far to control and eliminate malaria in the world. However, high prevalence of asymptomatic carriage poses a threat on malaria control and elimination programs. Since asymptomatic infections present no overt sign and symptoms, they do not get clinical attention. Moreover, asymptomatic cases are a potential source of infection in high and low transmission settings. Despite the presence of some pocket data, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage has not yet been known nationally and the current study area as well. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria cases and associated factors in households and neighbors of laboratory confirmed cases in Raya Kobo district, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2019 among 270 study participants se...
Introduction: Even if the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high in Ethiopia, we still use on... more Introduction: Even if the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high in Ethiopia, we still use only direct wet mount method for laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections, having low sensitivity, and this significantly increases false-negative results. Therefore, the performance evaluation of three laboratory diagnostic methods is mandatory. Methods: Single stool sample was collected from March 2018 to June 2018, among 211 school children, and processed using a wet mount, modified Baermann (MB), and Ritchie’s methods. The sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPVs) at 95% confidence interval and Kappa values were calculated in terms of the gold standard method (the combined result of altogether). Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 60.2%. The sensitivity and NPVs of the wet mount, MB, and Ritchie’s methods against the “Gold standard” test were 49.6% and 56.8%, 80.3% and 77.1%, and 67.7% and 68.8%, respectively. Conclusions: MB showed the...
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan that affects animals and... more Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan that affects animals and human. Transmission is zoonotic and/or anthroponotic through the bite of an infected female sandfly. Control and elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) require proper case detection, identification of reservoir hosts, and launching of effective vector control strategies in endemic areas. The aim of this review was to highlight the challenges in VL control in developing countries. Literatures pertaining to VL burden, diagnosis, prevention and control from the year 1969 to 2014 were systematically reviewed from PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Google scholar sources during July 2015. Poor vector control strategies, limited diagnostic services, drugs, treatments and lack of community awareness are the most important challenges in VL control and elimination especially in endemic areas. Absence of highly sensitive and specific tests, lack of trained man power, and community awareness are the ...
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