Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Ascaris lumbricoides Infection and Its Relation to Environmental Factors in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania, a Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study
PLoS ONE, Volume 9, No. 3, Article e92032, Year 2014
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background: With one quarter of the world population infected, the intestinal nematode Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most common infectious agents, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. Infection is caused by oral intake of eggs and can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. To identify high risk areas for intervention, it is necessary to understand the effects of climatic, environmental and socio-demographic conditions on A. lumbricoides infection. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey data of 6,366 study participants in the Mbeya region of South-Western Tanzania were used to analyze associations between remotely sensed environmental data and A. lumbricoides infection. Non-linear associations were accounted for by using fractional polynomial regression, and socio-demographic and sanitary data were included as potential confounders. Principal Findings: The overall prevalence of A. lumbricoides infection was 6.8%. Our final multivariable model revealed a significant non-linear association between rainfall and A. lumbricoides infection with peak prevalences at 1740 mm of mean annual rainfall. Mean annual land surface temperature during the day was linearly modeled and negatively associated with A. lumbricoides infection (odds ratio (OR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78-0.97). Furthermore, age, which also showed a significant non-linear association (infection maximum at 7.7 years), socio-economic status (OR = 0.82, CI = 0.68- 0.97), and latrine coverage around the house (OR = 0.80, CI = 0.67-0.96) remained in the final model. Conclusions: A. lumbricoides infection was associated with environmental, socio-demographic and sanitary factors both in uni- and multivariable analysis. Non-linear analysis with fractional polynomials can improve model fit, resulting in a better understanding of the relationship between environmental conditions and helminth infection, and more precise predictions of high prevalence areas. However, socio-demographic determinants nd sanitary conditions should also be considered, especially when planning public health interventions on a smaller scale, such as the community level. © 2014 Schule et al.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3958400/bin/pone.0092032.s001.doc
Authors & Co-Authors
Schüle, Steffen Andreas
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Germany, Munich
Ludwig-maximilians-universität München
Germany, Bremen
Universität Bremen
Clowes, Petra
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Kroidl, Inge
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Kowuor, Dickens O.
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Nsojo, Anthony Ambikile
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Mangu, Chacha D.
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Riess, Helene
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Germany, Munich
Ludwig-maximilians-universität München
Geldmacher, Christof
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Germany, Munich
German Center for Infection Research Dzif
Laubender, Rũdiger Paul
Germany, Munich
Ludwig-maximilians-universität München
Mhina, Seif
Tanzania
Mbeya Regional Medical Office
Maboko, Leonard L.
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Los̈cher, Thomas
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Höelscher, Michael
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Tanzania
Nimr-mbeya Medical Research Center Mmrc
Germany, Munich
German Center for Infection Research Dzif
Saathoff, Elmar
Germany, Munich
Klinikum Der Universität München
Germany, Munich
German Center for Infection Research Dzif
Statistics
Citations: 48
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0092032
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Environmental
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Case-Control Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Tanzania