The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Maha Sarakham and Kalasin Provinces

Abstract

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections continue to represent a serious public health problem in Thailand.Most infections result from fecal-oral transmission, with the ingestion of contaminated water orfood being the major vehicles of infection. We studied the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infectionsin 331 stool samples (Ban Wang Bua, Tambon Kham Thao Phatthana, Amphoe Kantharawichai, MahaSarakham Province = 227; Tambon Nong Bua, Amphoe Nong Kung Si, Kalasin Province = 104) byformalin-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was29.30% (97/331). The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in Tambon Nong Bua in KalasinProvince was higher than Ban Wang Bua, Tambon Kham Thao Phattana, in Maha Sarakham Province(33.65% vs 27.31%). Opisthorchis viverrini infection (13.90%) was the most common pathogenicintestinal parasitic infection, followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (11.47%) and Taenia sp (1.81%).In conclusion, instruction in personnel hygiene and appropriate health education about theprevention of parasite infections should be provided to the population in the study areas, to reducethe incidence of infection.

Keywords: prevalence; intestinal parasitic infection; Maha Sarakham; Kalasin