Publication Date
9-26-2024
Journal
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
DOI
10.3390/tropicalmed9100226
PMID
39453253
PMCID
PMC11511502
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
9-26-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
parasites, soil, molecular testing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Latin America
Abstract
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.
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Diseases Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Medical Molecular Biology Commons, Tropical Medicine Commons