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Soil transmitted helminths are causing significant morbidity worldwide and the most common infection is Ascaris lumbricoides in developing countries. The present study aimed to determine the immuno-epidemiological status of ascariasis among patients with gastrointestinal complaints and to identify the associated risk factors and eventual changes in serum biochemical parameters to reflect its pathogenicity. This study was conducted on 700 respondents aged between 5-45 years. A total of 356 patients participated in an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) study to determine anti-Ascaris IgG levels and biochemical parameters. The overall seroprevalence was 58.4%, with 100% sensitivity and 84.4% specificity of the assay. The infection was highest among the 21-28 year age group (14.0%), and ascariasis was found to be not significantly (P>0.05) different between the age groups. The results showed that the risk of ascariasis was significantly (P<0.05) increased in individuals who had no contact with soil (OR=4.6, 95% CI: 1.9-10.8), eating unwashed vegetables one month prior to the study (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2), eating mixed food (OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.7), drinking pressure pump water (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 1.9-6.1), and those who had no complain of vomiting (OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.6-5.8) and nausea (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.2). The results showed significantly (P<0.05) elevated level of serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum cholesterol, total protein and globulin in anti-Ascaris IgG positive cases than the control group. The study concluded that patients who visited health care centres with gastrointestinal complain were at higher risk of ascariasis as compared to other diseases. In conclusion epidemiological studies are needed to establish baseline data for public health authorities in order to plan and implement health education programs to reduce the impact of the disease.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major cause of morbidity worldwide and have been described as an important public health concern. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and identification of risk factors associated with IPIs among 3-15 years old school age children residing in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan from 2011- 2013. A cross sectional school-based study was conducted using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Anthropometric tools and stool tests were used to obtain epidemiological and disease data. The direct wet mount preperation in saline/iodine/haematoxylin stain and Kato-Katz methods were used for stool examination. Data were analysed using appropriate descriptive, univariate and multivariable logistic regression methods. Of the 1,434 children studied (mean age of 8.6±3.6 years) the overall prevalence rate for intestinal parasitic infections was found to be 33.3%. Children infected with single parasite accounted for 27.6% and 5.7% were detected with poly-parasitism. The study showed that helminths (21.4%) were more prevalent than protozoans (17.9%). Ascaris lumbricoides (17.5%), Giardia lamblia (9.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.2%), Hymenolepis nana (2.0%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%) and Taenia saginata (0.7%) were identified in children living in irrigated areas. The multiple logistic regression model indicated that age of the child, gender, family size, source of drinking water, type of milk used, house condition, feeding habit, personal hygiene and socioeconomic status were significantly (p<0.05) associated with the IPIs. Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren located in irrigated areas. We conclude that there is a need for mass scale campaigns to create awareness regarding health and hygiene in children, and the need for development of effective poverty control programmes because deworming alone is not adequate to control parasitic infections.

Artemisia plant genus, natural inhabitant of northern Punjab Pakistan, is well known for its anthelmintic properties; many Artemisia species have not been so far scientifically proved. The aim of this study was to assess in vitro anthelmintic activity of Artemisia indica and Artemisia roxburghiana against mixed infection of gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants. This study is first scientifically proven study on anthelmintic activity of A. indica and A. roxburghiana. Five different concentrations (50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.75 mg/mL) accompanied by negative control (PBS) and positive control (albendazole, 10%) were used to carry out the egg hatch inhibition assay, larval mortality assay and adult worm mortality assay. The Baermann technique was used first time in larval mortality assay and proved to be effective. The results revealed that methanolic extracts of both A. indica and A. roxburghiana, showed maximum anthelmintic activity at concentration of 50 mg/ml by egg hatch inhibition (85±21.2; 80±28.3), larvae mortality (18±2.8; 17±4.2) and adult worm mortality (8.5±2.1; 8±2.8) assays. However, at concentration of 50 mg/ml both plant extracts in comparison to albendazole showed statistically insignificant (p≤0.05) results. The A. indica showed higher anthelmintic activity at all concentrations as compared to A. roburghiana. It has been concluded both plants exhibit anthelmintic activity and further evaluation of these plants should be carried out to purify the active ingredients for anthelmintic activity. Moreover, the decoctions of these plants could be used to GINs after confirming anthelmintic properties through in vivo.