Helminths Infection clinical trials

Human Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) Resistance to Benzimidazole in School Aged Children Living in Gabon

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections are common in subtropics and mostly affect the poorest communities, with an impact on human health in many parts of the world. In 2017, World Health organization (WHO) reports more than 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths worldwide, including 568 million school-age children who need treatment and preventive interventions. Preventive chemotherapy and periodic mass administration with benzimidazoles (BZ) [albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole (MBZ)] are used to control these parasites. However, rapid reinfection with Ascaris lumbricoides within six months after a completed treatment has been reported, while the reinfection with hookworms is slow. Similarly, the efficacy of these drugs on Trichuris trichiura cure rate is poor. After many years of use of this drug class, there is an increase possibility that BZ resistance could develop. This resistance may occur due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the β-tubulin gene at positions 167, 198 or 200, as has been reported in animals. Little data exist to show whether any of these polymorphisms do influence the BZ efficacy against STH in humans. The present study will develop methods to look for molecular evidence of BZ drug resistance in human population in order to support the investigation of the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in our communities.