Ascaris suum Survival and Removal Code and Complete Data Set

Code for this data is available at: https://github.com/claireanderson34/Ascaris_Cement

This data set contains survival and removal information for the soil-transmitted helminth Ascaris.

Soil-transmitted helminths, like Ascaris, are parasites that are major contributors to disease in children and women of childbearing age in low- and middle-income countries. Interventions, like replacing soil floors in households with cement-based flooring, may reduce exposure to Ascaris eggs which cause infections, but there is little information on how or why these interventions may be effective. This study investigates the effectiveness of simple cleaning methods, like mopping, in removing Ascaris eggs from cement-based surfaces and explores how long these eggs can survive on these surfaces under different environmental conditions. We tested two types of cement-based surfaces, a traditional cement-based mortar mix and a more sustainable cement-based mortar mix, and found that mopping removed over 92% of Ascaris eggs, with no differences between cement mixes. Experiments simulating wet and dry seasonal conditions showed that Ascaris eggs survive longer in cooler environments, again with no differences between cement mixes. These findings provide important insights into the role of cement-based flooring in interrupting disease transmission and suggest sustainable cement-based mortar mixes are a feasible alternative to traditional cement-based mortar mixes.