Microplastic pollution is becoming an increasingly severe environmental problem. As compared to the marine ecosystem, freshwater ecosystems at high-altitude, remote regions are less studied and lag far behind. Thus, the present study aims to highlight this issue and fill the gap in this regard. The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the surface water and the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Lake Mahodand, Kalam Swat, Pakistan, at a high altitude of 2865 m above sea level was investigated. For microplastic extraction, samples were digested with H₂O₂, NaCl solution was added for density separation, and then samples were filtered with a cellulose nitrate filter (pore size 0.45 µ). After this, visual observation and polymer detection with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, microplastics were characterized by their shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types. In the surface water sample, MP particles were found in the range of 0–5 MPs/L, where the mean concentration of MPs was 2.3 ± 1.52 MPs/L and 1.7 ± 1.05 MPs/gastrointestinal tract (GIT) isolated from the GIT of brown trout. Particles of relatively larger size (500–300 µm) were more abundant than other ranges of particles (300–150 and 150–50 µm) in the surface water and fish samples. The fiber was the most abundant shape of MP particles, followed by sheets and fragments in surface water and fish samples (fibers > sheets > fragments). Four types of polymer viz. low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (44.4%), polypropylene homopolymer (PPH) (19.4%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (30.5%), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (5.5%) were detected by FTIR spectroscopy. The findings of the present study showed that MPs reached into higher altitudes in remote areas due to tourism activities.

The present research was planned to assess the occurrence of intestinal parasites in small ruminants of Upper Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. For this purpose, the faecal material was collected randomly with gloved fingers directly from the rectum region of sheep and goats and the faecal materials were then put in hygienic plastic bottles with 10% formalin. The overall 315 (n=184 sheep and n= 131 goats) faecal samples were collected out of 315 samples, 281 were found positive for different parasites. Patterns-wise prevalence of GI parasites of the study area was found. Overall Single parasitism 89.20% (281/315) with 94.0% (173/184) in sheep and 82.43% (108/131) in goats. Double parasitic infection in small ruminant recorded in which Fasciola+ Haemonchus. contortus in sheep were found their prevalence was 25.54% (47/184). While in goats, the double parasitic infection in which Haemonchus contortus+Trichuris spp were found and their prevalence were 23.43% (30/131). The species found in the sample of sheep were includes, i.e., Strongyloides papillosus (41.30%), Heamonchus controtus (21.73%), Trichuris ovis (17.39%), and Fasciola hepatica (13.58%), the corresponding value for goat were Strongyloides spp 33.33% (36/108), Haemonchus spp 28.70%, (27/108), Trichuris spp 25.20% (27/184) and Fasciola spp 10.68% (14/184). The sheep of the study area are more infected as compared to goats. This study suggested that gastrointestinal parasites are major health problems of small ruminants in the study area. Therefore, a comprehensive study on species of gastrointestinal parasites circulating in the area, control options, cost-effective strategies and awareness about gastrointestinal parasites among the farmers in the study area should be instituted.

Intestinal parasitic infection is one of the public health problems in developing countries including Pakistan. Food handlers being major source, therefore effective prevention and control require the identification of local risk factors. Presently occupation based cross sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among food handlers of district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from January 2011 to December 2013. Study subjects were selected based on random sampling methods. A total of 267 food handlers were enrolled, socio-demographic data and possible factors for the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Approximately 10 grams of stool specimens were examined using wet mount and formal ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite was 83.1% (n=222/267). Multiple infections were identified in 28.4% (n=76/267) individuals. These infections were given in order of their frequency and percentage as: Ascaris lumbricoides 55.8% (n=149/267) Trichuris trichuira 14.9% (n=40/267), Entamoeba histolytica /dispar 14.2% (38/267), Enterobius vermicularis 9.73% (n=26/267), Hymenolepis nana 9.36% (n=25/267), Taenia saginata 8.98% (n=24/267), Hookworm 5.99% (16/267) and Giardia lamblia 5.61% (n=15/267). Hand washing before food handling, preparing food during suffering from infectious diseases and using common knife for cutting the flesh or vegetable were the most significantly associated factors for the occurrence of intestinal parasite infection. The results highlighted that food handlers with different pathogenic organisms may influence consumers to significant health risks. Routine screening and treatment of food handlers is a proper tool in preventing food-borne parasitic diseases.

Diseases caused by intestinal parasites impose a substantial burden on population of middle income countries including Pakistan. This research was aimed to assess the risk factors for intestinal parasites in school children of Malakand, Pakistan. Two hundred and eighty eight students were enrolled between February and June 2016. Out of the total enrolled 184 were agreed to collect stool specimens. A questionnaire was also used to collect the data on socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the participants. All the students were guided to collect at least 10gof their own stool specimens. Each of the stool specimens was diagnosed for the presence of any stage of helminth or protozoal parasites. Formal ether concentration method and wet mount techniques were applied. One way ANOVA was used for calculation of P value when it was less than 0.05 which was considered significant. Eighty two percent of the participants were found infected with one species of parasite while 69.9% of the participants were infected with more than one species of intestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasite was hook worm 33.4% (n = 99/296) followed by Taenia saginata 28.7% (n = 85/296), Ascaris lumbricoides 27.7% (n = 82/296), Hymenolepis nana 6.08% (n = 18/296), Entamoeba histolytica 3.37% (n = 10/296) and least for each Enterobius vermicularis and Fasciola hepatica 0.37% (n = 1/296). Previously used drugs, level in school, ages, weight and upper arm circumference were the most significantly (P < 0.05) related factors for the occurrence of intestinal parasite infection. Present research endorsed that risk factors play a key role in the transmission of parasitic diseases. Lack of safe water supply, using raw vegetables, animal keeping, which should be considered for sustainable strategies in the control of these infections preferably in remote parts of the world.

Present study was conducted among school children to recognize the prevalence of IPIs in rural communities of district Dir Lower, Pakistan. A sum of 324 samples of stool were collected (210 boys and 114 girls). Used direct smear method and formol ether sedimentation concentration technique for processing the samples. The result shows that 82% (n=266) were found infected comprised 64.8% male and 35.1% females. Children of the age group 10 to 12 years were found extremely infected 94.2% while 4-6 year age group were having minimum ratio of infection 72%. Current study shows mono parasitism in 50.6% of the students while 22.2% were infected with 2 species and 7.40% were infected with three species of parasites. Seven species of intestinal parasites were reported include Ascaris lumbricoid in male (n=122) 58.0% and in female (n=65) 57.0% followed by Hook worm (n=88) 41.9% and (n=44) 38.5%; Tania saginata (n=44) 20.9% and (n=24) 21.0%; Entrobius vermicularis (n=32) 15.2% and (n=16) 14.0%; Trichuris trichura (n=25) 11.9% and (n=22) 19.2%; Hymenolepis nana (n=24) 11.4% and (n=18) 15.7% and Entameoba histolytica (n=16) 7.61% and (n=14) 12.2% in male and females respectively. The study indicates that most occurring intestinal parasite in the current study were Ascaris lumbricoides 58.0% (n=122) followed by hookworms 41.9% (n=88). Male students were more infected than females in the present study.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Parasitic infection is a hot issue for cattle management. There is variation of GI parasites effects in sex, age of cattle, drinking water condition, nutrition, and severity of infection. Studies on prevalence of GI parasites among cattle population in Dir Lower are lacking. A total of 40 farms were selected randomly in six tehsil namely Tehsil Adenzai, Tehsil Timergara, Tehsil Balambat, Tehsil Munda ,Tehsil Lalqala, Tehsil Khall. Freshly cattle fecal samples were collected randomly from the selected farms during March 2018 till December 2018. Out of 314 buffaloes and cattle examined 58.59% (184/314) were positive for eggs, cyst/oocyst of one or more species of GI Parasites. The prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in Buffaloes 63.55% (75/118) as compared to Cow 55.61% (109/196) but the difference was not significant (p>0.05) Entamoeba,spp, Moniezia spp, Haemonchus spp and Coccidian spp were found in this study. The non-treated animals indicated the highest percentage of infection in cow 57.71% (101/175) and buffalo 68.13% (62/91).GI parasite prevalence in female animal were higher female cow 62.58% (87/139) and female buffalo 77.33% (58/75) as compared to male. But the difference is non-significant (p> 0.05) Yearling calves had the lower rate of GI parasitic infection than adults. Future investigations are necessary to evaluate the economic loss due to GI parasites in cattle’s.