title: Opisthorchis viverrini infections and associated risk factors in a lowland area of Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam.
abstract: Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health problem in the Mekong Basin in South East Asia. It is associated with cholangiocarcinoma, a fatal cancer of the bile duct, which is very common in some areas of Thailand and Lao PDR. Although there is evidence of opisthorchiasis in the central and Southern provinces of Vietnam, data are scarce and Vietnam is often not considered an opisthorchiasis endemic area in the international literature. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in June 2015 in a lowland rural area of Binh Dinh Province in Central Vietnam to investigate the apparent prevalence of O. viverrini infection in the population and the associated risk factors. A total of 254 stool samples were collected and examined by the Kato Katz method. Consenting people shedding Opisthorchis-like eggs with their stools were treated with praziquantel and MgSO4 and adult worms were collected from stools for morphological and molecular identifications. Risk factors were studied with a structured questionnaire and the association with infection was evaluated by univariate and multivariate Firth's logistic regression analysis. The apparent prevalence in the investigated population determined by stool examination was 11.4% (CI: 8-16%). Infection with O. viverrini was confirmed in all 11 individuals consenting to receive praziquantel treatment and subsequent worm recovery from stools. The mean number of worms recovered after treatment/purgation was 14.5 (range 2-44). Male gender and the consumption of dishes prepared from raw small wild-caught freshwater fish (Carassius auratus) were found to be significant risk factors associated with opisthorchiasis in the area. These findings confirm the presence of O. viverrini infection in Central Vietnam related to the consumption of raw fish dishes. Awareness campaigns and control programs should be implemented in the region to combat this potentially fatal fluke infection.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Veterinary Research-No 86, Truong Chinh Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam; Ghent University-Salisburylaan 133, B- 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp-Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thanh Thi Ha
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entolomogy Quy Nhon-No 611, Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Tuan Van
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp-Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Nji
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Abatih
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp-Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriël
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health-No 138A, Giang Vo street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Thanh Thi Giang
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entolomogy Quy Nhon-No 611, Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Quang Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entolomogy Quy Nhon-No 611, Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Chuong Van
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Ghent University-Salisburylaan 133, B- 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp-Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium. Electronic address: pdorny@itg.be.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorny
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Human; Opisthorchis viverrini; Prevalence; Risk factors; Vietnam