The implementation of serology in soil-transmitted helminthiases control programs: from lab to field

Korte beschrijving

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are a group of parasitic worms, including Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworms, that primarily affect the world’s most vulnerable communities in (sub)tropical regions. To combat STHs, endemic countries implement mass drug administration (MDA) programs focused on deworming school-aged children. The number of deworming rounds each year is based on STH prevalence and follows World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The WHO also underscores the importance of follow-up surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of MDA efforts. These surveys typically use stool sample microscopy as the diagnostic method, but this technique has technical limitations, and diagnosing STHs is particularly challenging due to their biological characteristics. Recently, serology (diagnosis based on anti-STH antibodies in blood) has emerged as a promising alternative, though it is not yet included in WHO guidelines. This PhD thesis explores the potential of serology to support MDA programs aimed at controlling STHs in humans.