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A Research Agenda for Helminth Diseases of Humans: The Problem of Helminthiases

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  • Sara Lustigman
  • Roger K Prichard
  • Andrea Gazzinelli
  • Warwick N Grant
  • Boakye A Boatin
  • James S McCarthy
  • María-Gloria Basáñez

Abstract

A disproportionate burden of helminthiases in human populations occurs in marginalised, low-income, and resource-constrained regions of the world, with over 1 billion people in developing areas of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas infected with one or more helminth species. The morbidity caused by such infections imposes a substantial burden of disease, contributing to a vicious circle of infection, poverty, decreased productivity, and inadequate socioeconomic development. Furthermore, helminth infection accentuates the morbidity of malaria and HIV/AIDS, and impairs vaccine efficacy. Polyparasitism is the norm in these populations, and infections tend to be persistent. Hence, there is a great need to reduce morbidity caused by helminth infections. However, major deficiencies exist in diagnostics and interventions, including vector control, drugs, and vaccines. Overcoming these deficiencies is hampered by major gaps in knowledge of helminth biology and transmission dynamics, platforms from which to help develop such tools. The Disease Reference Group on Helminths Infections (DRG4), established in 2009 by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), was given the mandate to review helminthiases research and identify research priorities and gaps. In this review, we provide an overview of the forces driving the persistence of helminthiases as a public health problem despite the many control initiatives that have been put in place; identify the main obstacles that impede progress towards their control and elimination; and discuss recent advances, opportunities, and challenges for the understanding of the biology, epidemiology, and control of these infections. The helminth infections that will be discussed include: onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, schistosomiasis, food-borne trematodiases, and taeniasis/cysticercosis.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Lustigman & Roger K Prichard & Andrea Gazzinelli & Warwick N Grant & Boakye A Boatin & James S McCarthy & María-Gloria Basáñez, 2012. "A Research Agenda for Helminth Diseases of Humans: The Problem of Helminthiases," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(4), pages 1-13, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pntd00:0001582
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001582
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    Cited by:

    1. Ali Taghipour & Mehrdad Mosadegh & Fatemeh Kheirollahzadeh & Meysam Olfatifar & Hossein Safari & Mohammad Javad Nasiri & Atefeh Fathi & Milad Badri & Hadi Piri Dogaheh & Taher Azimi, 2019. "Are intestinal helminths playing a positive role in tuberculosis risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Fabrizio Tediosi & Peter Steinmann & Don de Savigny & Marcel Tanner, 2013. "Developing Eradication Investment Cases for Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, and Human African Trypanosomiasis: Rationale and Main Challenges," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(11), pages 1-7, November.
    3. Mike Y Osei-Atweneboana & Sara Lustigman & Roger K Prichard & Boakye A Boatin & María-Gloria Basáñez, 2012. "A Research Agenda for Helminth Diseases of Humans: Health Research and Capacity Building in Disease-Endemic Countries for Helminthiases Control," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(4), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Andréa Gazzinelli & Roberta Oliveira-Prado & Leonardo Ferreira Matoso & Bráulio M Veloso & Gisele Andrade & Helmut Kloos & Jeffrey M Bethony & Renato M Assunção & Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira, 2017. "Schistosoma mansoni reinfection: Analysis of risk factors by classification and regression tree (CART) modeling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Xueyuan Ong & Yi-Chen Wang & Paiboon Sithithaworn & Jutamas Namsanor & David Taylor & Luxana Laithavewat, 2016. "Uncovering the Pathogenic Landscape of Helminth (Opisthorchis viverrini) Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study on Contributions of Physical and Social Environment and Healthcare Interventions," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Robert J Hardwick & James E Truscott & William E Oswald & Marleen Werkman & Katherine E Halliday & Rachel L Pullan & Roy M Anderson, 2021. "Individual adherence to mass drug administration in neglected tropical disease control: A probability model conditional on past behaviour," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, January.

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