Predicting the risk and speed of drug resistance emerging in soil-transmitted helminths during preventive chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Control of soil-transmitted helminths relies heavily on regular large-scale deworming of high-risk groups (e.g., children) with benzimidazole derivatives. Although drug resistance has not yet been documented in human soil-transmitted helminths, regular deworming of cattle and sheep has led to widespread benzimidazole resistance in veterinary helminths. Here we predict the population dynamics of human soil-transmitted helminth infections and drug resistance during 20 years of regular preventive chemotherapy, using an individual-based model. With the current preventive chemotherapy strategy of mainly targeting children in schools, drug resistance may evolve in soil-transmitted helminths within a decade. More intense preventive chemotherapy strategies increase the prospects of soil-transmitte

SUBMITTER: Coffeng LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10847116 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature