Parasites and NTDs– Things that shouldn't be a problem 101

Rather than a single illness, NTDs cover a wide range of possible diseases and ailments; a major one of which are parasitic infections.

 Parasites are organisms that infect and live off other organisms, called hosts, in order to survive and can often cause their hosts to become sick or even die as a result. Parasites are issues in mainly tropical and subtropical regions such as Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Africa; however, a number of parasites are endemic right here in Australia and neglected.

 Before going into the neglected parasites in Australia, let’s talk about the main ways people can contract these unwelcome guests. Many parasites dwell in water or animal meat, and the most common ways people contract parasites are through ingesting these contaminated food or drinks. In tropical and sub tropical areas, mosquitoes also play a large role in spreading parasites, the most infamous of which is malaria. Contact with fecal matter is another route of parasitic infection in some rural areas. Parasites can be transmitted in any number of ways, but all require the person coming into physical contact with the actual parasite., whether through ingestion or open wounds.

 Now that we have a basic understanding of parasite transmission, let’s look at the main parasite-related NTDs in Australia: amebiasis, balantidiasis, and cryptosporidiosis. All three of these parasites can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fevers in patients. And in the dry desert of the Northern Territory where the above parasites are most common, these symptoms can quickly prove to be deadly if left untreated. In addition, balantidiasis can potentially cause stomach ulcers in patients, which can then allow the parasite to infect the patient’s blood, an incredibly deadly condition.

 Unfortunately, these parasites have received very little attention, and no large-scale studies have been done to assess their effects and distribution. However, the good news is that these infections are very treatable provided that patients receive prompt and proper medication. These infections can also be largely prevented by providing clean water for everyday use and education on the dangers of uncooked meat. Parasitic infections are very treatable and preventable issues if the proper resources have been allocated to combat them, we hope that by raising awareness for these NTDs that the burden of these diseases will be lowered.

References

Barwell, J, Yu, Y. Amebiasis [Internet]. Healthline; 2015. Available from: http://www.healthline.com/health/amebiasis

Chijide, V 2015. Balantidiasis [Internet]. Medscape; 2015. Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213077-overview

Davis, C. Cryptosporidiosis [Internet]. Medicinenet; 2015. Available from: http://www.medicinenet.com/cryptosporidiosis/article.htm

Hotez PJ, Kamath A. Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Their Prevalence, Distribution, and Disease Burden. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2009;3(8):e412.Available from: http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0000412 

Sriskantharajah. Neglected Tropical Diseases - not just a danger for the tropics [Internet]. BioMed Central; 2014. Available from: https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-medicine/2014/08/04/neglected-tropical-diseases-not-just-a-danger-for-the-tropics/