Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors for Infection among Rural Communities of Chachoengsao Province, Thailand

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections remain a major public health problem in many parts of Thailand, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among the people living in Huai Sai sub-district, Bang Khla district, Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June 2017 to August 2017 which included a total of 224 participants. Stool samples were examined using a simple direct smear and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 16.1%. Soil-transmitted helminth infections (14.3%) were more common than protozoan infections (1.8%). The most common intestinal parasites were hookworms (6.7%) followed by Strongyloides stercoralis, (5.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.3%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.0%), Giardia intestinalis (0.4%), and Blastocystis hominis (0.4%) were the protozoans identified. A high prevalence of infections was found in male participants of ≥40 years who raised dogs in the households and did not wear boots while working fields. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association of intestinal parasitic infections with gender with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.1–5.2 (P=0.020). The results showed a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections among adults in rural communities which were particularly apparent regarding the skin-penetrating species of nematodes. A greater focus on intervention is required by improving sanitation and personal hygiene to prevent the spread of intestinal parasitic infections.

Clinical helminthiases in Thailand border regions show elevated prevalence levels using qPCR diagnostics combined with traditional microscopic methods

“…The use of molecular diagnostics to obtain a more complete picture of helminthiases in Southeast Asia has proven highly effective in the Philippines where much higher levels of polyparasitism are evident and where the overall prevalence of S. japonicum (~91%), A. lumbricoides (58.17%), T. saginata (42.57%) and A. duodenale (48.07%) determined by qPCR [10]. Another study in Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand, using a simple direct smear and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique with parasite identification in positive samples confirmed using microscopy, reported an overall prevalence of 16.1% intestinal parasitic infections; STH (14.3%) were more common than protozoan infections (1.8%), and the most common intestinal parasites were hookworms (6.7%), then S. stercoralis, (5.0%), A. lumbricoides (1.3%) and T. trichiura (1.3%) [9]. The findings we present here suggest that both of these studies are likely to have underestimated the prevalence of helminthiases in these two areas by not using KK…”

“…The previous national surveillance on intestinal helminthiases in Thailand, conducted by the Thai Ministry of Public Health in 2009, revealed an overall prevalence (among 15,555 Thai people) of 18.1% with the highest prevalence in the North-eastern region of Thailand [7]. Recently, only limited spatial and temporal surveillance has been conducted, which may be insufficient to adequately guide the national public health initiatives [8][9][10]. Moreover, helminth prevalence surveillance studies carried out to date [7,9,11] have been undertaken primarily using microscopy-based faecal examination (KK) without combining with molecular detection, which may underestimate the actual extent of helminth infection.…”

Prevalence and intensity of helminths among inhabitants of the Chi River and Lahanna water reservoir areas of Northeastern Thailand

“…This result was slightly lower or comparable to the findings of a current national survey of HIs in Thailand. These results were compared to those of other studies, and the recent infection rates reported in these studies were lower than those previously reported among gardeners who were studied in Nakhon Ratchasima (Kaewpitoon et al, 2015;, Khon Kaen (Kaewpitoon et al, 2015;Kaewpitoon et al, 2019), and Chachoengsao provinces (Suntaravitun and Dokmaikaw, 2018). Prevention and control campaigns by health personnel, health volunteers, community leaders, and local university staff for HIs, especially O. viverrini, in these areas were launched five years ago.…”

“…Laoraksawong et al (2019) reported that the prevalence rate of S. stercoralis was 23.0% among 526 rural villagers. Suntaravitun and Dokmaikaw (2018) reported that the prevalence rate of S. stercoralis was 5.0% among 224 inhabitants from rural communities. The national prevalence of S. stercoralis was 1.7%, and a national crosssectional survey was conducted in 75 provinces (Wongsaroj et al, 2014).…”

Estimation of Malaria Parasite Densities by Different Formulas in Thailand

“…In this study, parasite density by assumed RBC count of 5.0 x10 6 /µL (for males) and 4.5 x10 6 /µL (for females) showed overestimation, possibly people living in Thailand including Thai and other ethnicities from Myanmar had underlying anemia due to hemoglobinopathy (which is commonly found) [13,14] and intestinal parasitic infection [15][16][17][18][19] causing lower exactly assumed RBC counts in these population in Thailand.…”