title: A cross-sectional study on intestinal parasitic infections in rural communities, northeast Thailand.
abstract: Despite the existence of effective anthelmintics, parasitic infections remain a major public health problem in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. In rural communities, continuing infection is often reinforced by dietary habits that have a strong cultural basis and by poor personal hygiene and sanitation. This study presents a survey of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the people in rural Thailand. The community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in villages in Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand, from March to August 2013. A total of 253 stool samples from 102 males and 140 females, aged 2-80 years, were prepared using formalin-ethyl acetate concentration methods and examined using light microscopy. Ninety-four individuals (37.2%) were infected with 1 or more parasite species. Presence of parasitic infection was significantly correlated with gender (P=0.001); nearly half of males in this survey (49.0%) were infected. Older people had a higher prevalence than younger members of the population. The most common parasite found was Opisthorchis viverrini (26.9%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (9.5%), Taenia spp. (1.6%), echinostomes (0.4%), and hookworms (0.4%). The prevalence of intestinal protozoa was Blastocystis hominis 1.6%, Entamoeba histolytica 0.8%, Entamoeba coli 0.8%, Balantidium coli 0.4%, Iodamoeba bütschlii 0.4%, and Sarcocystis hominis 0.4%. Co-infections of various helminths and protozoa were present in 15.9% of the people. The present results show that the prevalence of parasitic infections in this region is still high. Proactive education about dietary habits, personal hygiene, and sanitation should be provided to the people in this community to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections. Moreover, development of policies and programs to control parasites is needed.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand.
authors: Sirintip
authors: S
authors: Boonjaraspinyo
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. ; Northeast Animal Laboratory Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Thidarut
authors: T
authors: Boonmars
authors: Northeast Animal Laboratory Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Butsara
authors: B
authors: Kaewsamut
authors: Namphong Hospital, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Nuttapon
authors: N
authors: Ekobol
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Porntip
authors: P
authors: Laummaunwai
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Ratchadawan
authors: R
authors: Aukkanimart
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Nadchanan
authors: N
authors: Wonkchalee
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mahasarakram University, Mahasarakram, Thailand.
authors: Amornrat
authors: A
authors: Juasook
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002; Thailand. ; Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors: Pranee
authors: P
authors: Sriraj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blastocystis hominis; Opisthorchis viverrini; Strongyloides stercoralis; Taenia sp.; Thailand; echinostome; hookworm; intestinal parasite; parasitosis; prevalence