A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform

Sung Hye Kim; Russell Stothard; Milika Rinamalo; Meleresita Rainima-Qaniuci; Nemani Talemaitoga; Mike Kama; Eric Rafai; Seoyun Jang; Ji Young Kim; Yoo Min Oh; Eun Min Kim; Sung Tae Hong; John H. Lowry; Jaco J. Verweij; Louise Kelly-Hope; Min Ho Choi

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511

A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform

Sung Hye Kim
, Russell Stothard
, Milika Rinamalo
, Meleresita Rainima-Qaniuci
, Nemani Talemaitoga
, Mike Kama
, Eric Rafai
, Seoyun Jang
, Ji Young Kim
, Yoo Min Oh
, Eun Min Kim
, Sung Tae Hong
, John H. Lowry
, Jaco J. Verweij
, Louise Kelly-Hope
, Min Ho Choi

Tropical Disease Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is endemic in Fiji but its prevalence is not known and likely to have changed after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF). By linking with LF transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools, as well as an analysis of factors associated with STH infections.

Methodology/Principal findings

A cross-sectional assessment for STH was conducted in all four Divisions of Fiji from 2014 to 2015. In the Western, Central, and Northern Divisions, schools were sub-sampled after LF-TAS, while, in the Eastern Division, schools were selected via simple random sampling.

For the diagnosis of STH, stool samples were examined by coproscopy with a single Kato-Katz thick smear (KK) and the formol-ether-acetate concentration technique, except for the samples from the Eastern Division where only KK was used. Mean prevalence of any STH

among class 1–2 students at the national level was 10.5% (95% CI: 6.9–15.5). Across the three Divisions via LF-TAS, the prevalence levels for ascariasis were 8.7% (95% CI: 4.3– 16.6), hookworm 3.9% (95% CI: 2.3–6.6) and trichuriasis 0%. In the Eastern Division, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3% (95% CI: 6.4–25.6), and hookworm 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2–2.5),

with one case of trichuriasis. Among class 3–8 students, ascariasis prevalence was lower. Lower risk of any STH was associated with wearing shoes (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90) and having piped water from the Fiji Water Authority at home (adjusted OR 0.48,95% CI: 0.25–0.92).

Conclusions

After a decade of community-based LF-MDA, STH in school-age children in Fiji is now close to 10%, but localities of endemicity remain. Preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in areas with elevated STH prevalence alongside targeted delivery of integrated WASH

interventions. LF-TAS has provided an opportunity to develop future public health surveillance platforms.

Original language	English
Article number	e0008511
Pages (from-to)	1-20
Number of pages	20
Journal	PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume	14
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511
Publication status	Published - 25 Sept 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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Kim, S. H., Stothard, R., Rinamalo, M., Rainima-Qaniuci, M., Talemaitoga, N., Kama, M., Rafai, E., Jang, S., Kim, J. Y., Oh, Y. M., Kim, E. M., Hong, S. T., Lowry, J. H., Verweij, J. J., Kelly-Hope, L., & Choi, M. H. (2020). A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14(9), 1-20. Article e0008511. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511

@article{faebc14a754c4578b61e738b466c7fa1,

title = "A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform",

abstract = "BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is endemic in Fiji but its prevalence is not known and likely to have changed after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF). By linking with LF transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools, as well as an analysis of factors associated with STH infections.Methodology/Principal findingsA cross-sectional assessment for STH was conducted in all four Divisions of Fiji from 2014 to 2015. In the Western, Central, and Northern Divisions, schools were sub-sampled after LF-TAS, while, in the Eastern Division, schools were selected via simple random sampling.For the diagnosis of STH, stool samples were examined by coproscopy with a single Kato-Katz thick smear (KK) and the formol-ether-acetate concentration technique, except for the samples from the Eastern Division where only KK was used. Mean prevalence of any STHamong class 1–2 students at the national level was 10.5\% (95\% CI: 6.9–15.5). Across the three Divisions via LF-TAS, the prevalence levels for ascariasis were 8.7\% (95\% CI: 4.3– 16.6), hookworm 3.9\% (95\% CI: 2.3–6.6) and trichuriasis 0\%. In the Eastern Division, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3\% (95\% CI: 6.4–25.6), and hookworm 0.7\% (95\% CI: 0.2–2.5),with one case of trichuriasis. Among class 3–8 students, ascariasis prevalence was lower. Lower risk of any STH was associated with wearing shoes (adjusted OR 0.54, 95\% CI: 0.32–0.90) and having piped water from the Fiji Water Authority at home (adjusted OR 0.48,95\% CI: 0.25–0.92).ConclusionsAfter a decade of community-based LF-MDA, STH in school-age children in Fiji is now close to 10\%, but localities of endemicity remain. Preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in areas with elevated STH prevalence alongside targeted delivery of integrated WASHinterventions. LF-TAS has provided an opportunity to develop future public health surveillance platforms.",

author = "Kim, \{Sung Hye\} and Russell Stothard and Milika Rinamalo and Meleresita Rainima-Qaniuci and Nemani Talemaitoga and Mike Kama and Eric Rafai and Seoyun Jang and Kim, \{Ji Young\} and Oh, \{Yoo Min\} and Kim, \{Eun Min\} and Hong, \{Sung Tae\} and Lowry, \{John H.\} and Verweij, \{Jaco J.\} and Louise Kelly-Hope and Choi, \{Min Ho\}",

year = "2020",

month = sep,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "1--20",

journal = "PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases",

issn = "1935-2727",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "9",

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Kim, SH, Stothard, R, Rinamalo, M, Rainima-Qaniuci, M, Talemaitoga, N, Kama, M, Rafai, E, Jang, S, Kim, JY, Oh, YM, Kim, EM, Hong, ST, Lowry, JH, Verweij, JJ, Kelly-Hope, L & Choi, MH 2020, 'A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 14, no. 9, e0008511, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511

A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform. / Kim, Sung Hye; Stothard, Russell; Rinamalo, Milika et al.
In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol. 14, No. 9, e0008511, 25.09.2020, p. 1-20.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform

AU - Kim, Sung Hye

AU - Stothard, Russell

AU - Rinamalo, Milika

AU - Rainima-Qaniuci, Meleresita

AU - Talemaitoga, Nemani

AU - Kama, Mike

AU - Rafai, Eric

AU - Jang, Seoyun

AU - Kim, Ji Young

AU - Oh, Yoo Min

AU - Kim, Eun Min

AU - Hong, Sung Tae

AU - Lowry, John H.

AU - Verweij, Jaco J.

AU - Kelly-Hope, Louise

AU - Choi, Min Ho

PY - 2020/9/25

Y1 - 2020/9/25

N2 - BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is endemic in Fiji but its prevalence is not known and likely to have changed after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF). By linking with LF transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools, as well as an analysis of factors associated with STH infections.Methodology/Principal findingsA cross-sectional assessment for STH was conducted in all four Divisions of Fiji from 2014 to 2015. In the Western, Central, and Northern Divisions, schools were sub-sampled after LF-TAS, while, in the Eastern Division, schools were selected via simple random sampling.For the diagnosis of STH, stool samples were examined by coproscopy with a single Kato-Katz thick smear (KK) and the formol-ether-acetate concentration technique, except for the samples from the Eastern Division where only KK was used. Mean prevalence of any STHamong class 1–2 students at the national level was 10.5% (95% CI: 6.9–15.5). Across the three Divisions via LF-TAS, the prevalence levels for ascariasis were 8.7% (95% CI: 4.3– 16.6), hookworm 3.9% (95% CI: 2.3–6.6) and trichuriasis 0%. In the Eastern Division, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3% (95% CI: 6.4–25.6), and hookworm 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2–2.5),with one case of trichuriasis. Among class 3–8 students, ascariasis prevalence was lower. Lower risk of any STH was associated with wearing shoes (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90) and having piped water from the Fiji Water Authority at home (adjusted OR 0.48,95% CI: 0.25–0.92).ConclusionsAfter a decade of community-based LF-MDA, STH in school-age children in Fiji is now close to 10%, but localities of endemicity remain. Preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in areas with elevated STH prevalence alongside targeted delivery of integrated WASHinterventions. LF-TAS has provided an opportunity to develop future public health surveillance platforms.

AB - BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is endemic in Fiji but its prevalence is not known and likely to have changed after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF). By linking with LF transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools, as well as an analysis of factors associated with STH infections.Methodology/Principal findingsA cross-sectional assessment for STH was conducted in all four Divisions of Fiji from 2014 to 2015. In the Western, Central, and Northern Divisions, schools were sub-sampled after LF-TAS, while, in the Eastern Division, schools were selected via simple random sampling.For the diagnosis of STH, stool samples were examined by coproscopy with a single Kato-Katz thick smear (KK) and the formol-ether-acetate concentration technique, except for the samples from the Eastern Division where only KK was used. Mean prevalence of any STHamong class 1–2 students at the national level was 10.5% (95% CI: 6.9–15.5). Across the three Divisions via LF-TAS, the prevalence levels for ascariasis were 8.7% (95% CI: 4.3– 16.6), hookworm 3.9% (95% CI: 2.3–6.6) and trichuriasis 0%. In the Eastern Division, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3% (95% CI: 6.4–25.6), and hookworm 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2–2.5),with one case of trichuriasis. Among class 3–8 students, ascariasis prevalence was lower. Lower risk of any STH was associated with wearing shoes (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90) and having piped water from the Fiji Water Authority at home (adjusted OR 0.48,95% CI: 0.25–0.92).ConclusionsAfter a decade of community-based LF-MDA, STH in school-age children in Fiji is now close to 10%, but localities of endemicity remain. Preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in areas with elevated STH prevalence alongside targeted delivery of integrated WASHinterventions. LF-TAS has provided an opportunity to develop future public health surveillance platforms.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511

DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511

M3 - Article

SN - 1935-2727

VL - 14

SP - 1

EP - 20

JO - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

JF - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

IS - 9

M1 - e0008511

ER -

Kim SH, Stothard R, Rinamalo M, Rainima-Qaniuci M, Talemaitoga N, Kama M et al. A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2020 Sept 25;14(9):1-20. e0008511. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008511