Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology

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    Investigating the prevalence and risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in humans and slaughtered cattle in peri-urban dogowning smallholder farms in Mekelle zone, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-10-28) MESSELE GEBREMICAEL
    Background: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, poses significant public health and economic challenges in Ethiopia. Despite its impact, data on its prevalence in humans, slaughtered cattle, and dogs particularly in the Tigray Regional State, remain limited. Objective: Investigating the prevalence and risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in humans and slaughtered cattle in peri-urban dog- owning smallholder farms in Mekelle zone, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2024 to March 2025 involving 832 human participants, 212 cattle, and 384 dogs. Human participants were selected using a stratified sampling technique, while the peri-urban smallholder farms owning dogs were purposively selected in the Mekelle Zone. Hydatidosis screening was performed using abdominal ultrasound, and laboratory analysis was conducted on specimens from slaughtered cattle and fecal samples from their dogs. Microscopic examination (40×) was used to detect hydatid cysts in cattle and taeniid eggs in dog feces. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, applying descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with CE at a significance level of p < 0.05. Result: The overall prevalence of CE from six purposively selected sub-districts of Mekelle zone was found to be 0.24% (2/832) in humans, 22.64% (48/212) in cattle, and 17.45% (67/384) in dogs. The two human cases involved a 45-year-old male, and 50-yearold women. In cattle, distribution of cysts was primarily found (68.75%) in the lungs and (25.0%) in liver and (2.08%) each in the kidneys, heart, and spleen. Fertility and viability in cattle (68.8%) in lungs and (25.0%) in liver. CE prevalence was higher in male cattle (24.52%) than in females (16.0%), and poor body condition (40.0%) compared to those with medium (22.45%), and good (17.07%). Backyard-slaughtered cattle had a higher infection rate (34.69%) than those slaughtered in abattoirs (19.01%). Factors significantly associated with CE in cattle included age, sex, body condition, and slaughter location (p < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis adult cattle (AOR = 2.57; 95% CI:1.501,4.400; P = 0. 001), cattle with poor body condition score (AOR = 4.07; 95% CI: 2.177,7.618; P = 0.000), and cattle slaughtered at backyard slabs (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.300,3.940; P = 0.004) were more likely to acquire hydatid cysts than the others. After adjusting for potential confounders, dogs with stray roaming behavior (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.11–7.71; p = 0.029) and feed raw offal (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.38–5.93; p = 0.005) had significantly higher odds of CE infection. Conclusion: The present study showed that CE is a considerably prevalent disease in human, cattle and dogs in the study area. This emphasizes the need to avoid backyard slaughter practice, unsafe offal feeding of dogs, and proper waste disposal which requires public awareness on the use of abattoirs.
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    SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTH INFECTIONS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, IN MEKHONI TOWN, TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA, 2025: SCHOOL BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-01) ABEL DERES TEKA
    Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are public health challenges among school-age children in developing countries like Ethiopia. Approximately 2 billion individuals worldwide carry at least one type of soil-transmitted helminth infection. Malnutrition and soil-transmitted helminths frequently occur together in the same area, affecting the same individuals simultaneously and perpetuating each other. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths, associated factors, and nutritional status of school-age children in Mekhoni town, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2025. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 277 schoolchildren in Mekhoni town, Tigray, Ethiopia, from June 2024 to July 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics of study participants, and stool samples were collected and processed using direct wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and anthropometric indices were generated using the WHO AnthroPlus software to determine the nutritional status of schoolchildren. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 software. Descriptive statistics were applied to present the data using frequency, tables, figures, and bar graphs. Bivariate logistic regression was employed to show the correlation of the dependent variable with individual independent variables, and multivariate logistic regression was computed to identify the independent effect of the main explanatory variables on the outcomes of interest. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections was 16.2%, with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most identified parasite (10.1%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (6.1%) and hookworms (2.9%). Among the infected children, 31 (18.7%) were males and 14 (12.6%) were females. The number of infections was also higher among schoolchildren in the age group of 5-10 years (22, 18.4%) than 11-14 years (23, 14.65%). Statistically significant associations were observed between soil-transmitted helminth infections and family size (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.18-5.55, P = 0.017), fingernail cleanliness (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.14-6.03, P = 0.022), trimmed fingernails (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.006-5.03, P = 0.002), and hand washing practice after using the toilet (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.13-0.63, P = 0.002). The overall prevalence of undernutrition was 37.5%, with 22.2% being underweight (N = 117), 27.8% stunted, and 11.19% wasted. There was no statistically significant association between soil-transmitted helminth infection and nutritional status among study subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections was 16.2%, with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most common species identified. The study also revealed a high prevalence of undernutrition among school-age children. Ensuring access to clean toilets and hand washing facilities in schools, emphasizing hand washing and nail care, may help reduce the burden of soil-transmitted helminths. Furthermore, introducing a school health and nutrition program may enhance the nutritional status of schoolchildren in the study area.
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    Parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and associated risk factors at production sites, markets, and street food vendors in urban and peri-urban areas of Mekelle and South Eastern Zone of Tigray
    (Mekelle University, 2025-03-25) Mulaw Weldeslassie
    For a healthy diet, people have been encouraged to eat lots of raw (fresh) vegetables and these can serve as vehicles of transmitting enteric parasitic pathogens throughout the process of planting to consumption. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and associated risk factors at production sites, markets and street food vendors in urban and peri-urban areas of Mekelle and South Eastern Zone of Tigray. To determine the prevalence of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and associated risk factors at production sites, markets and street food vendors in urban and periurban areas of Mekelle and South Eastern Zone of Tigray. The study was conducted from July/2024-October30/2024 at the urban and peri urban areas of Mekelle and adjacent villages of South Eastern Zone of Tigray. The samples were collected from three different sites. These sites are the farm (production sites), markets (including street vendors) where these vegetables are sold and street food vendors where these vegetables are sold as a food where they are co nsumed at that point. A total of 13 sites were visited to collect vegetables. The samples was transported to the laboratory for parasitological analysis. Besides, samples of sludge and refreshing water was collected and analyzed for the presence of parasites. Moreover, information on socio-demographic and other risk factors was collected from the owners/sellers and the immediate environment. Data was coded, cleaned before and entered using SPSS 27.0 version for statistical analysis. This study found a 62.6% prevalence of parasitic contamination in raw vegetables, with B. coli (35%) and S. stercoralis (25%) being the most common. Lettuce had the highest contamination rate (95.8%), followed by beetroot (76.6%) and cabbage (56.5%).and the study identified several factors contributing to contamination, including poor hygiene practices, unhygienic environments, and inadequate washing of vegetables The level of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables in Mekelle city and its suburb is of public health importance. Hence, the public health sector should create public awareness in order to reduce parasitic transmission via consumption of raw vegetables. The project was accomplished within a period of 4 months starting from July/2024 to October 2024
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    Assessment of Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Associated Risk Factors Among Elementary School Children in Gembella and Feleg-Daero, Mekelle City, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-04-25) Abeba Teklu
    Schistosomiasis is a widespread parasitic infection transmitted through contact with contaminated water, posing a major global public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. It affects individuals of all ages, with children being among the most vulnerable. Identifying the prevalence, associated risk factors, and high-risk populations is crucial for designing and implementing effective prevention and control strategies. This study aimed to assess Schistosoma mansoni infection and the associated risk factors among elementary school children in Gembella and Feleg-Daero (Adis Alem) elementary schools, in Mekelle City, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2024, employing a purposive sampling technique to select schoolchildren. A total of 308 stool samples collected from elementary school children aged 7 to 20 years were examined using the wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. A pre-tested questionnaire was utilized to gather socio-demographic information and associated risk factors. The data was coded, entered, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and the significance level was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 51.0% (157/308), with a median infection intensity of 192 eggs per gram of stool (EPG) among infected individuals. Among the infected children, 26.1%, 49.7% and 24.2% had light, moderate and heavy infections respectively. Significant risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection included swimming (AOR: 4.89; 95% CI:1.35, 17.75, P<0.001), washing clothes in rivers or streams (AOR:3.72; 95% CI: 1.12,12.37, P<0.001), engaging in irrigation activities (AOR:1.03;95%CI: 0.28,3.77, P<0.022), and bathing in river (AOR: 2.19,95% CI, 0.17-28.76, P< 0.001) and water contacts with flowing river (AOR:1.41; 95%CI: 0.23, 8.50, P<0.001). Schistosoma mansoni infection among children in this study was alarmingly high, with nearly half of the infected cases classified as having moderate intensity. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including health education, improved access to safe water, and regular deworming programs, to effectively reduce the disease burden and its associated risks.