Contrasting patterns in the small-scale heterogeneity of human helminth infections in urban and rural environments in Brazil

Simon Brooker*, Neal Alexander, Stefan Geiger, Rana A. Moyeed, Julian Stander, Fiona Fleming, Peter J. Hotez, Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira, Jeffrey Bethony

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Marked heterogeneity exists in the patterns of parasitic infection between individuals, households and communities. Analysis of parasite distributions within populations is complicated by the fact that parasite distributions are highly aggregated and few studies have explicitly incorporated this distribution when investigating small-scale spatial heterogeneities. This study aimed to quantify the small-scale (within- and between-household) heterogeneity of helminth infection in an area of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with rural and urban sectors. Parasitological data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,249 individuals aged 0-86 years from 242 households were analysed. Within-household clustering of infection was assessed using random effect logistic regression models and between-household spatial heterogeneity was assessed using a Bayesian negative binomial spatial model. The overall prevalence of hookworm (Necator americanus) was 66.9%, the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni was 44.9% and the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 48.8%. Statistical analysis indicated significant (within) household and (between household) spatial clustering of hookworm in both rural and urban areas and of S. mansoni in rural areas. There was no evidence of either household or spatial clustering of S. mansoni in urban areas. The spatial correlation of S. mansoni was estimated to reduce by half over a distance of 700 m in the rural area. Rural hookworm had a much smaller half-distance (28 m) and urban hookworm showed an even smaller half-distance (12 m). We suggest that such species-specific differences in patterns of infection by environment are primarily due to variation in exposure and parasite life cycle, although host genetic factors cannot be ruled out.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1143-1151
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal for Parasitology
Volume36
Issue number10-11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

Keywords

  • Ancylostoma duodenale
  • Brazil
  • Hookworm
  • Household clustering
  • Necator americanus
  • Negative binomial distribution
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosomiasis
  • Spatial analysis
  • Spatial clustering

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