Background: The negative impact of synthetic molluscicides on the environment and their high cost necessitated search for an alternative approach of using plant extracts for the control of schistosomiasis. The objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate aqueous and ethyl acetate crude extracts of Glinus lotoides fruits for their cercariacidal activity and molluscicidal effect against schistosome snail intermediate hosts. Methods: Assessment of the molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria pfeifferi was made by immersion method in accordance with WHO guideline. The results of mortality were statistically analyzed using probit analysis. The attenuating effect of the plant on Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was determined using establishment of adult worms as a parasitological parameter post exposure. Results: The 24 and 48 hour-LC₅₀ values for the aqueous extract of G. lotoides fruits were 47.1 and 44.1 mg/L, respectively, whereas that of ethyl acetate were 66.1 and 59.6 mg/L, respectively. The 24 and 48 hour LC₉₀ values for the aqueous extract of G. lotoides fruits were 56.96 and 51.0 mg/L, respectively, while that of ethyl acetate were 77.2 and 70.0 mg/L, respectively. The in vitro cercariacidal activity was determined after 2 hrs of exposure to the aqueous plant extract. It was found out that the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were 18.7 and 41.7 mg/L, respectively. Besides, infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae to mice was determined by exposing mice to cercariae pre-treated with the sub-lethal concentrations (3.7, 11.6 and 18.7 mg/L) of the aqueous extract. A significant reduction in worm burden in mice was obtained at 11.6 mg/L (p < 0.05). Moreover, the reduction in number of worms recovered was highly significant at 18.7 mg/L (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results showed that G. lotoides has molluscicidal activity against B. pfeifferi snails and cercariacidal activity against S. mansoni. Yet, further comprehensive evaluation is recommended for the possible use of G. lotoides against B. pfeifferi and the schistosome parasite.

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections in grade school children in Maksegnit, Northwest Ethiopia. Five species of intestinal parasites were identified with an overall prevalence of 155 (40.4%). Among these, Ascaris lumbricoides 122 (31.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica 18 (4.7%) were predominant. Of the total 155 (40.4%) positive individuals, 149 (39%) had a single infection and the rest 6 (1.6%) had double parasitic infections. Of the different variables assessed, age, gender, shoe wearing, and eating raw or undercooked vegetables were not significantly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites ( ). However, a statistically significant association ( ) was observed between infected children and variables including defecation habit (AOR = 0.216), cleanliness of fingernails (AOR = 0.146), drinking river water (AOR = 0.124), and hand washing habit after defecation (AOR = 0.236) ( ). Regular deworming, education on personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation to both students and their parents shall be implemented to reduce the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections in the study area.

Background. Malaria is a major health concern in the world in general and developing countries in particular. Nowadays, the control of malaria has ended up steadily more complex due to the spread of drug-resistant parasites. Medicinal plants are the verifiable source of compelling antimalarial drugs. The present study was aimed to assess the in vivo antimalarial activity of leaf latex of A. melanacantha against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Methods. Acute oral toxicity study of the leaf latex was assessed in mice up to a dose of 2,000 mg/kg. A four-day suppressive model was utilized to investigate the antimalarial activity of the plant. Three extract doses, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day, doses of the plant leaf latex, chloroquine, 10 mg/kg (positive control) and distilled water, and 10 mL/kg (negative control) were administered to mice. Percent parasitemia suppression, packed cell volume, mean survival time, body weight, and rectal body temperature were used to determine antimalarial activity. Results. Test groups treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the latex showed a significant parasitemia suppression in dose dependent manner compared to the negative control with an IC₅₀ of 22.63 mg/ml. Mice treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg have shown parasitemia suppression of 14.86%, 29%, and 43.2%, respectively. The chemosuppression was significant ( ) at all doses compared to the negative control. Similarly, mice treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg have shown a significant survival time compared to the negative control. At the same time, weight loss reduction was observed within the test groups treated with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of the latex while the test groups treated with 400 mg/kg had showed almost no weight loss reduction. The latex also reversed the PCV reduction significantly ( ) at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses and prevented rectal temperature dropping significantly ( ) at all doses. Conclusion. The leaf latex of A. melanacantha has shown significant antimalarial activity against P. berghei in mice supporting the genuine traditional antimalarial usage of the plant.

Background: Intestinal parasitic diseases are the foremost causes of illness in humans, responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, there have been so many reports related to a foodborne illness linked to consuming fresh vegetables, especially in developing countries. The study was aimed to assess the parasitic contamination level of fresh vegetables collected from open air markets in Aksum town, Tigray region, Ethiopia.Method: A total of 384 samples belonging to six vegetable types were collected randomly from local markets in Aksum town. Samples were washed in saline solution followed by sedimentation for 24 hours.After that the supernatant was decanted leaving the sediment. The sediment was then transferred to a centrifuge tube and centrifuged at 3000 revolution per minute for 5minutes. Finally, the supernatant was decanted and the sediment was examined under light microscope for protozoan cyst, helminthes ova, and larvaeResults: The overall prevalence of parasitic contamination was 57.3%. The Cabbage was the most frequently contaminated (79.7%) vegetable succeeded by Spinach (75%), Lettuce (73.4%), Potato (46.9%), Green pepper (37.5%), and tomato (31.2%). Among the parasites detected, Taenia spp. proglottides/egg was the most frequent contaminant with 41.1% prevalence rate followed by Enetrobius vermicularis egg (20.3%), Hookworm spp.(19.5%), Fasciola spp. egg (17.2%), Giardia lamblia cyst (18.5%), Entamoeba spp. cyst(15.9%), Strongyloides stercoralis larva (12.5%),Ascarislumbricoidese gg (9.4%), and Cryptosporidium spp.Chai-square analysis showed that the type of fertilizer used, educational status of the vendors, status of wash before display, and type of vegetable they produce was statistically and significantly associated with the prevalent parasite forms detected (P < 0.001).Conclusion: This study identified a high prevalence of fresh vegetables contaminated with medically important parasites, thus effective prevention measures such as standard washing before consuming fresh vegetables, and avoiding raw manure as a fertilizer should be implemented to avoid infection from contaminated vegetables.