SummaryBaseline epidemiological survey for parasite infections was conducted with 155 villagers in a rural commune in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. The prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm infection was 13.5%, 45.2% and 58.1%, respectively. 72.3% of the samples detected at least one of the parasites. We found no association between the infection with A. lumbricoides or T. trichiura and engagement in agriculture, while hookworm infection was more prevalent in population having a frequent contact with soil. Agricultural use of nightsoil was not correlated with any of the infections. We suggest that the consumption of vegetables fertilized with human nightsoil, rather than direct reuse of nightsoil, led to contamination of crops and the subsequent high infection rates with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. This also explains the high infection prevalence despite high latrine coverage (98.1%) in the study population: presence of latrines alone is not sufficient to reduce the prevalence in a rural agricultural community if fresh nightsoil is used as fertilizer.

SummaryIn Vietnam, a high prevalence of liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini, has been reported in a number of provinces. Essential knowledge about C. sinensis infection gained from Thailand over the past decade suggests a habit of eating raw freshwater fish as a major risk factor of the infection. However, further information to confirm such relationship is needed. In the present study 1,155 villagers in 2 communes in northern Vietnam were interviewed and their stools were examined for presence of liver flukes. The prevalence of the infection was 26% and was 3.6 times higher in males than in females. The habit of eating raw fish increased a risk of C. sinensis infection by 53-fold. This article provides evidence of a strong correlation between the intensity of C. sinensis infection and the cumulative quantity of freshwater fish consumed in lifetime and suggests that simple questionnaires could be used in endemic areas to quickly identify and treat populations at risk.

Abstractobjectives To describe the occurrence of cysticercosis in patients living in rural areas of Northern Vietnam presenting clinical signs of neurocysticercosis.methods Serological antigen detection, reflecting current infection with viable larval stages of Taenia solium, was used to estimate the prevalence of active cysticercosis in this patient population.results The seroprevalence in epileptic patient population was <10%. However, antigen detection cannot detect dead cysticerci, which may also cause clinical signs. Therefore, the seroprevalence figures shown here may underestimate the role of neurocysticercosis as a causal agent of epilepsy and headaches in this population.conclusions Human and porcine cysticercosis remain public and veterinary public health problems in Northern Vietnam and probably in other parts of the country.

SummaryClonorchiasis is an emerging food-borne trematode infection in Vietnam. Due to the absence of cost-effective preventive measures its control largely relies on morbidity reduction by chemotherapy with praziquantel. We performed a comparative cost estimation of three different diagnostic and intervention approaches in areas of high and low prevalence of clonorchiasis in northern Vietnam in order to select more cost-effective chemotherapy. Our study confirmed that a questionnaire investigating the habit of eating raw, freshwater fish was a rapid, cost-effective and operationally feasible tool for identifying individuals at risk of clonorchiasis in both highprevalence and low-prevalence areas. The cost of diagnosis and intervention per person and per true positive case was 20-fold higher in low-prevalence areas, regardless of the type of approach. Geographical mapping of high-risk areas prior to screening is, therefore, recommended to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the intervention activities.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to be the epidemic of the century and has a major impact on mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The systemic inflammatory pathway provides the common pathogenetic link in this comorbidity. We examined serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, as a marker of systemic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related them to CVD. The study consisted of 118 subjects with type 2 diabetes. Anthropometric characteristics were measured, and blood was collected for the evaluation of fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbAlc, and hs-CRP levels. Several clinical and biochemical characteristics were significantly different in the study group: triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), compared to control levels. Mean age, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference of subjects were 60.80 years, 35,2 kg/m 2 , and 109.8 cm, respectively. Increased Hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with increased BMI and HDL-C. No relationship was seen between Hs-CRP levels and systolic blood pressure, FBS level, HbAlc, Cholesterol, TG and LDL-C. Some cardiovascular risk factors (including gender, age, smoking, obesity, ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 20 (1): gmr18730 T.D. Cam et al. 2dyslipidemia, and hypertension) did not show correlation with serum hs-CRP levels, while proteinuria did. Participants with cholesterol target levels had significantly lower hs-CRP. An association between hs-CRP and high cardiovascular risk is unlikely to be causal; however, hs-CRP could be a predictor for incidence of CVD in diabetic patients with comorbid obesity.