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A One Health Approach to Defining Animal and Human Helminth Exposure Risks in a Tribal Village in Southern India.
- Source :
-
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene [Am J Trop Med Hyg] 2021 May 24; Vol. 105 (1), pp. 196-203. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 May 24. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The high burden of soil-transmitted helminth infections has been studied in India; however, little data exist on zoonotic helminths, and on animal-associated exposure to soil-transmitted helminths. Our study took place in the Jawadhu Hills, which is a tribal region in Tamil Nadu, India. Using a One Health approach, we included animal and environmental samples and human risk factors to answer questions about the associations among infected household soil, domestic animals, and human risk factors. Helminth eggs were identified by microscopy in animal and soil samples, and a survey about risk factors was administered to the head of the household. Contact with animals was reported in 71% of households. High levels of helminth infections were found across domestic animal species, especially in goats, chickens, and dogs. Helminth eggs were recorded in 44% of household soil (n = 43/97) and separately in 88% of soil near a water source (n = 28/32). Animal contact was associated with 4.05 higher odds of having helminth eggs in the household soil (P = 0.01), and also having a water source at the household was associated with a 0.33 lower odds of having helminth eggs in the household soil (P = 0.04). Soil moisture was a mediator of this association with a significant indirect effect (P < 0.001). The proportion mediated was 0.50. While our work does not examine transmission, these results support consideration of animal-associated exposure to STH and potentially zoonotic helminths in future interventions to reduce helminth burden. Our study provides support for further investigation of the effects of animals and animal fecal matter on human health.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Epidemiological Monitoring
Female
Helminthiasis epidemiology
Humans
India
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
One Health statistics & numerical data
Parasite Egg Count
Population Surveillance
Risk Factors
Young Adult
Cestoda isolation & purification
Feces parasitology
Indigenous Peoples statistics & numerical data
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic epidemiology
Soil parasitology
Water parasitology
Zoonoses epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-1645
- Volume :
- 105
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34029209
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1476