Parasitic Infection

Enhancing the control of intestinal parasites in low-income countries

Intestinal parasites are a common cause of illness in many low‑income countries, particularly in tropical regions. Some of the most frequently found parasites are made up of several very similar species, which are hard to tell apart using routine laboratory tests that rely on looking at parasites under a microscope. For example, the species Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar appear identical, but the former causes serious disease whereas the latter is harmless. As a result, infections are often misidentified, especially in places where infection levels are low, making it difficult to understand the true scale of the problem and how best to control it.

This challenge is made more serious by the fact that some dangerous parasites that mainly affect people with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, often go undetected. These parasites may still be present in the environment, but the specialised diagnostic tools needed to identify them are often unavailable in resource‑limited settings.

Dr Gaoussou Coulibaly, Researcher-Assistant Professor at Université Félix‑Houphouët‑Boigny in Côte d’Ivoire, will be using Foundation funding to address these gaps through his research. His work focuses on affordable and sustainable ways to prevent and control intestinal parasites by improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, alongside the use of preventive medicines.

Collaborating with Professor Poppy Lamberton at the University of Glasgow, Gaoussou will be combining new laboratory methods that can accurately identify parasites. With advanced statistical approaches to compare diagnostic tests, their study aims to improve how infections are detected in areas with different levels of disease. This work will help ensure that the right tools are used in the right settings, leading to more effective and efficient parasite control programmes.