The prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasitic infections in humans and domestic animals in a rural Cambodian village.
In Cambodia, intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent in humans and particularly in children. Yet, information on potentially zoonotic parasites in animal reservoir hosts is lacking. In May 2012, faecal samples from 218 humans, 94 dogs and 76 pigs were collected from 67 households in Dong village, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. Faecal samples were examined microscopically using sodium nitrate and zinc sulphate flotation methods, the Baermann method, Koga Agar plate culture, formalin-ether concentration technique and Kato Katz technique. PCR was used to confirm hookworm, Ascaris spp., Giardia spp. and Blastocystis spp. Major gastrointestinal parasitic infections found in humans included hookworms (63.3%), Entamoeba spp. (27.1%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (24.3%). In dogs, hookworm (80.8%), Spirometra spp. (21.3%) and Strongyloides spp. (14.9%) were most commonly detected and in pigs Isospora suis (75.0%), Oesophagostomum spp. (73.7%) and Entamoeba spp. (31.6%) were found. Eleven parasite species were detected in dogs (eight helminths and three protozoa), seven of which have zoonotic potential, including hookworm, Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp., Toxocara canis, Echinostoma spp., Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba spp. Five of the parasite species detected in pigs also have zoonotic potential, including Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., Balantidium coli and Entamoeba spp. Further molecular epidemiological studies will aid characterisation of parasite species and genotypes and allow further insight into the potential for zoonotic cross transmission of parasites in this community.
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Fabian
F
Schär
Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Tawin
T
Inpankaew
School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Rebecca J
RJ
Traub
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Virak
V
Khieu
Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anders
A
Dalsgaard
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wissanuwat
W
Chimnoi
Department of Fisheries Post-Harvest Technologies and Quality Control (DFPTQ), Fisheries Administration, Cambodia.
Chamnan
C
Chhoun
Department of Fisheries Post-Harvest Technologies and Quality Control (DFPTQ), Fisheries Administration, Cambodia.
Daream
D
Sok
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Medical Services and Diagnostics, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
Hanspeter
H
Marti
National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sinuon
S
Muth
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: peter.odermatt@unibas.ch.
Peter
P
Odermatt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016841:Amoebida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
Cambodia; Dogs; Gastrointestinal parasites; Pigs; Zoonosis