Mapping the human helminthiases: advances and gaps in neglected disease surveillance

Abstract

AbstractInfections with parasitic worms, or helminthiases, are a class of neglected tropical diseases that affect at least one billion people worldwide. While some infections are asymptomatic, others can cause severe health conditions such as blindness, epilepsy, and cancer. The burden of these conditions disproportionately affects people in resource-poor areas, making many helminthiases chronically understudied. Mapping helminth outbreaks, prevalence, and habitats in affected regions can offer valuable insights into the spatial scope and burden of these infections. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review of 232 helminth species that have been recorded infecting humans. Selected out of 6,829 abstracts, we analyzed 485 mapping studies documenting, inferring, or predicting the spatial scope of 45 helminth species. We use these studies to identify hotspots and coldspots of research effort, to highlight gaps in spatial data for particularly harmful or prevalent species, and to collect information about co-occurrence and syndemics among helminthiases and with other diseases. We finally suggest ways these findings could help direct future mapping studies, and ultimately inform public health interventions in understudied and underfunded regions.