title: Prevalence of helminthic infections among inhabitants of Lao PDR.
abstract: The prevalence of helminthic infections was surveyed on a total of 6,178 residents (males 2,549 and females 3,629) in 102 villages of 9 provinces in Lao PDR between 2007 and 2011 under the project of Korea-Laos Collaborative Project for Control of Foodborne Trematode Infections in Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz thick smear and Stoll's egg counting techniques. The overall liver/intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 71.9% with a single or mixed infections with Opisthorchis viverrini and minute intestinal flukes (Ov/MIF), Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Trichostrongylus sp., echinostomes, Taenia spp., and others. Ov/MIF revealed the highest prevalence (55.6%) followed by hookworms (27.8%) and T. trichiura (6.5%). The endemic regions with the highest prevalence of Ov/MIF were Savannakhet, Khammouane, Vientiane (Nam Ngum), Champasak (Khong Island), and Saravane Province. High prevalences of A. lumbricoides (33.8%), hookworms (47.8%), and T. trichiura (32.6%) were observed in Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane (Nam Ngum) areas, respectively. The results of this study highlight helminth parasites of current public health significance in different areas of Lao PDR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
authors.forename: Keeseon S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medical Biology and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Tai-Soon
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Chinju 660-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Woon-Mok
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon 301-746, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 130-705, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rim
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Malaria Center, Provincial Health Department, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Virasack
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Banouvong
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Bounnaloth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Insisiengmay
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Bounlay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phommasack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Lao PDR; Opisthorchis viverrini; foodborne trematode; intestinal helminth; liver fluke; minute intestinal fluke