Ascaris lumbricoides aggregation in relation to child growth status, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, and plant anthelmintic use in Madagascar

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology 1996-02, Vol.82 (1), p.25-33
• Main Authors: Kightlinger, L.K. (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.), Seed, J.R, Kightlinger, M.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; ANCYLOSTOMATIDAE; Animals; ANTHELMINTHIQUE; ANTHELMINTICS; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Anthropometry; Antigens; ANTIHELMINTICOS; Ascariasis - epidemiology; Ascariasis - immunology; Ascariasis - therapy; ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES; Ascaris lumbricoides - growth & development; Ascaris lumbricoides - immunology; BODY MEASUREMENTS; Child; Child Development; Child growth; Child nutrition disorders; Child, Preschool; CHILDREN; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; Cross-Sectional Studies; DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY; DELAYED TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY; DELGADEZ; Ecology-Epidemiology; Eggs; ENFANT; Feces - parasitology; Female; GROWTH; HIPERSENSIBILIDAD RETARDADA; HOOKWORMS; Humans; HYPERSENSIBILITE RETARDEE; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; IMMUNE RESPONSE; Infections; MADAGASCAR; Madagascar - epidemiology; MAIGREUR; Male; MALNUTRICION; MALNUTRITION; MEDICION DEL CUERPO; MENSURATION CORPORELLE; NINOS; Nutrition Disorders - complications; Parasite Egg Count; Phytotherapy; Plants; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; REPONSE IMMUNITAIRE; RESPUESTA INMUNOLOGICA; Skin Tests; THINNESS; TRICHURIS; TRICHURIS TRICHIURA; Worms
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.2307/3284110

The relationships between Ascaris lumbricoides worm burden, growth status, general delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) response, and plant anthelmintic use were investigated in a 12-mo prospective survey of 663 children, 4-10 yr old, living in the Ranomafana rainforest, Madagascar. Initial fecal examinations revealed prevalences of 93% for A lumbricoides, 55% for Trichuris trichuria, and 27% for hookworm. After anthelmintic treatment and a 12-mo reinfection period, 428 of the children participated in worm expulsion studies using pyrantel pamoate, revealing an overdispersed A. lumbricoides worm population, mean = 19.2 (SD = 20.4). Malnutrition was common with 72% of the children growth stunted, 61% underweight, and 6% wasted. The children were also skin tested to recall antigens for DCH, with 94% reacting. The DCH immune response was significantly decreased in the malnourished children; however, DCH was not reduced in relation to increasing worm intensity. Growth status, growth velocity, and triceps skinfold did not vary significantly in relation to A. lumbricoides worm burden. Traditional plant anthelmintic treatment was effective in significantly reducing worm intensity. This study indicates that, in human communities where the children are predominately stunted, A. lumbricoides does not aggregate in the most malnourished or immunodepressed children.