@article{fdi:010091337,
  title = {{S}oil surveillance for monitoring soil-transmitted helminths : method development and field testing in three countries},
  author = {{M}anuel, {M}. and {A}mato, {H}. {K}. and {P}ilotte, {N}. and {C}hieng, {B}. and {A}raka, {S}. {B}. and {S}iko, {J}. {E}. {E}. and {H}arris, {M}. and {N}adimpalli, {M}. {L}. and {J}anagaraj, {V}. and {H}oungbegnon, {P}. and {R}ajendiran, {R}. and {T}hamburaj, {J}. and {K}aliappan, {S}. {P}. and {S}irois, {A}. {R}. and {W}alch, {G}. and {O}swald, {W}. {E}. and {A}sbjornsdottir, {K}. {H}. and {G}alagan, {S}. {R}. and {W}alson, {J}. {L}. and {W}illiams, {S}. {A}. and {L}uty, {A}drian and {N}jenga, {S}. {M}. and {I}bikounl{\'e}, {M}. and {A}jjampur, {S}. {S}. {R}. and {P}ickering, {A}. {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {O}ne-fifth of the global population is infected with soil-transmitted helminths ({STH}). {M}ass drug administration ({MDA}) with deworming medication is widely implemented to control morbidity associated with {STH} infections. {H}owever, surveillance of human infection prevalence by collecting individual stool samples is time-consuming, costly, often stigmatized, and logistically challenging. {C}urrent methods of {STH} detection are poorly sensitive, particularly in low-intensity and low-prevalence populations. {M}ethodology/{P}rincipal findings {W}e aimed to develop a sensitive and specific molecular method for detecting {STH} {DNA} in large volumes of soil (20 g) by conducting laboratory and proof of concept studies across field sites in {K}enya, {B}enin, and {I}ndia. {W}e collected human stool (n = 669) and soil (n = 478) from 322 households across the three study sites. {W}e developed protocols for {DNA} extraction from 20 g of soil and q{PCR} to detect {A}scaris lumbricoides, {T}richuris trichiura, {N}ecator americanus, and {A}ncylostoma duodenale. {A}greement between detection of {STH} via q{PCR}, digital droplet {PCR} (dd{PCR}), and microscopy-based methods was assessed using the {C}ohen's {K}appa statistic. {F}inally, we estimated associations between soil characteristics and detection of {STH} in soil by q{PCR}, as well as between {STH} detected in soil and {STH} detected in stool from matched households, adjusting for soil characteristics. {T}he overall prevalence of {STH} in soil by q{PCR} was 31% for {A}. lumbricoides, 3% for {T}. trichiura, and 13% for any hookworm species. dd{PCR} and q{PCR} performed similarly. {H}owever, there was poor agreement between {STH} detected in soil by q{PCR} versus light microscopy. {M}icroscopy underestimated the prevalence of {A}. lumbricoides and {N}. americanus and overestimated {T}. trichiura. {D}etection of an {STH} species in household soil was strongly associated with increased odds of a household member being infected with that same species.{C}onclusions/{S}ignificance {S}oil surveillance for {STH} has several benefits over stool-based surveillance, including lower cost and higher success rates for sample collection. {C}onsidering that delivery of {MDA} occurs at the community level, environmental surveillance using molecular methods could be a cost-effective alternate strategy for monitoring {STH} in these populations. {S}oil surveillance to determine soil-transmitted helminth ({STH}) prevalence in communities with {MDA} programs could be cost-effective. {T}hough microscopic methods for the detection of {STH} in soil exist, they are laborious. {W}ith recent increased availability of {DNA} extraction kits and polymerase chain reaction ({PCR}) reagents, using molecular assays are promising and provide the ability to discriminate between closely related helminth species. {I}n this study, we developed a sensitive and specific molecular method for the detection of {STH} in large quantities of soil and field-tested it in three countries.},
  keywords = {{KENYA} ; {BENIN} ; {INDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {18},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {e0012416 [ p.]},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0012416},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091337},
}