Reduction in Hookworm Infection after Praziquantel Treatment among Children and Young Adults in Leyte, the Philippines

Julia G. Shaw Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Nitin Aggarwal Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Luz P. Acosta Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Mario A. Jiz Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Hai-Wei Wu Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Tjalling Leenstra Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Hannah M. Coutinho Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Remigio M. Olveda Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Jonathan D. Kurtis Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Stephen T. McGarvey Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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Jennifer F. Friedman Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island; Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines

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One small previous study found that praziquantel reduced hookworm infection. In this study, 607 subjects were enrolled in a longitudinal study. At enrollment and every 3 months for 18 months, three stool samples were collected, and the intensity of infection with Schistosoma japonicum and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) was quantified. All subjects were treated with 60 mg/kg praziquantel at baseline. Three months post-treatment, the percent of subjects who were hookworm-infected decreased to 46.5% from 61% at baseline. The putative cure rate was 23.7%. The 95% confidence interval around the change in hookworm egg counts from baseline to 6 and 12 months post-treatment was negative and did not include zero. The percent reduction in hookworm egg counts from baseline to 3 months post-treatment was 40.8%. Praziquantel treatment did not decrease the infection intensity of STHs. Control programs using praziquantel may have the added benefit of reducing hookworm infection and anemia in areas of coendemnicity.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Jennifer F. Friedman, Center for International Health Research, Lifespan Hospital, Providence, RI 02903. E-mail: jennifer_friedman@brown.edu
†These authors contributed equally.

Authors' addresses: Julia G. Shaw, Master of Public Health Program, Department of Community Health and Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, E-mail: Julia_G_Shaw@brown.edu. Nitin Aggarwal, Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, E-mail: Nitin_Aggarwal@brown.edu. Luz P. Acosta, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, the Philippines, E-mail: LPAcosta@yahoo.com. Mario A. Jiz, Center for International Health Research and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, the Philippines, E-mail: Mario.a.jiz@gmail.com. Hai-Wei Wu, Tjalling Leenstra, and Jennifer F. Friedman, Center for International Health Research and Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, E-mails: Haiwei_Wu@brown.edu, T.leenstra@hotnet.nl, and jennifer_friedman@brown.edu. Hannah M. Coutinho, Center for International Health Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, E-mail: H.m.coutinho@hotmail.com. Remigio M. Olveda, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, the Philippines, E-mail: Remi_olveda@yahoo.com.ph. Jonathan D. Kurtis, Center for International Health Research and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, E-mail: Jonathan_Kurtis@brown.edu. Stephen T. McGarvey, Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health and International Health Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI, E-mail: Stephen_McGarvey@brown.edu.

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