title: Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoans among Schoolchildren in Suburban Areas near Yangon, Myanmar.
abstract: Although intestinal protozoans are common etiologies of diarrhea, few studies have been conducted in Myanmar. This study planned to investigate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Endolimax nana among schoolchildren and their guardians in suburban areas near Yangon, Myanmar. We performed a cross-sectional survey among schoolchildren and their guardians from 7 primary schools in South Dagon and Hlaing Thar Yar districts, Yangon, Myanmar. Stool samples were observed with a microscope after concentration technique and iodine staining. Total 821 stool samples, including 556 from schoolchildren and 265 from guardians, were examined. The median age was 6 years old for schoolchildren and 36 years old for guardians. A 53.1% of the school children and 14.6 % of the guardians were males. The overall prevalence of each intestinal protozoan species was as follows: 3.4% (28/821) for G. lamblia; 3.5% (29/821) for E. coli; 1.2% (10/821) for E. histoytica, and 3.0% for E. nana. This study showed that intestinal protozoans are common in primary schoolchildren and their guardians in suburban areas near Yangon, Myanmar. Health interventions, such as hand washing education, improvement of sanitation, and establishment of water purification systems are urgently needed in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Jae
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Kwang
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeeun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.
authors.forename: Deok-Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Keon-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: National Health Laboratory, Yangon 11191, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Thi Thi
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Htoon
authors.affiliation: National Health Laboratory, Yangon 11191, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Htay Htay
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tin
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea.|Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004709:Endolimax / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D010274:Parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D013383:Suburban Population
keywords: Endolimax nana; Entamoeba coli; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Myanmar; prevalence; schoolchildren