Molecular Testing of Environmental Samples as a Potential Source to Estimate Parasite Infection
We discuss the potential usefulness of molecular testing of soil, dust, and water samples to detect medically important parasites, and where such testing could be used to supplement stool sampling in humans. A wide variety of parasites including protozoa and helminths, many of which are zoonotic, have an important infection reservoir in the environment. In some cases, this environmental period is essential for further parasite development. We describe the progress in implementing methods for the molecular detection of these parasites in soil across eight collaborating centers in Latin America and represent a variety of potential applications in improving our understanding of parasite epidemiology and mapping, surveillance, and control of these parasites. This methodology offers new opportunities for improving our understanding of a wide variety of parasites of public health importance and novel tools for their control.
Authors
- Stefan Michael Geiger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9741-2727)
- Juan David Ramírez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1344-9312)
- María Cristina Almazán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8956-5600)
- Rojelio Mejía (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4134-4558)
- Paola A. Vargas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1588-5265)
- Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-575X)
- Luz Marina Llangarí (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9387-545X)
- Chiara Cássia Oliveira Amorim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6490-9430)
- Liliana Villanueva‐Lizama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1848-2584)
- María Leticia Ojeda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5354-4456)
- Irene Guadalupe
- Alejandro Krolewiecki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9054-1211)
- Eric J. Wetzel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2336-2744)
- Natalia Montellano Duran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2094-8694)
- Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4931-146X)
- Barton E. Slatko
- Eva Fabiana Mereles Aranda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7886-3154)
- Philip J. Cooper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6770-6871)
- Sandra Ocampos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1763-2245)
- Rubén O. Cimino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-9077)
- Eddyson Montalvo-Sabino
- Carlos Pineda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0723-083X)
- Maritza Dalí Camones Rivera
- Jacob Edwin Valera Aspetty
Institutions
- National University of Salta (AR)
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- Autonomous University of Yucatán (MX)
- Wabash College (US)
- National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza (PE)
- Universidad Nacional del Este (PY)
- Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (EC)
- Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán (PE)
- Universidad del Rosario (CO)
- Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo (BO)
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
- Published
- 2024-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9100226
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.38
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities