HOOKWORM INFECTIONS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN SOUTHERN THAILAND

Abstract. A study of hookworm infections of schoolchildren was conducted in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. Of the 2,940 hookworms that were recovered from the children, almost all (99.9%), were Necator americanus, only three (0.1%) were identified as Ancylostoma duodenale, and all were female worms. An estimation of the worm burden of and the worm expulsion from the schoolchildren indicated there were 17 cases of light intensity hookworm infection. Fifteen cases (88.2%) expelled worms in numbers that corresponded with the worm burden that was estimated from the number of eggs per gram of feces. Two cases (11.8%) expelled more worms than predicted. In 16 moderate intensity cases, five (31.3%) expelled worms in a quantity that corresponding with the estimated worm burden. Eleven cases (68.7%) expelled fewer worms than predicted. All cases of heavy intensity infection expelled fewer worms than predicted

Taeniasis and Other Helminthic Infections in the Northern and Northeastern Border Provinces of Thailand

Abstract icroscopic stool examinations to diagnose taeniasis and other helminthic infections were performed in three provinces: Nan in the north, and Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen in the northeast. In Nan, lowland communities and hill-tribe communities were treated separately. By Kato thick-smear technique, the results indicated similar prevalence (13-15%) of helminthic infections in all three provinces. In Nan, higher infection rates were found among lowland (34.9%) than hilltribe inhabitants (13.0%). The most significant contributors to the high infection rate were minute intestinal flukes (29.4%) in lowland Nan, whereas in the hill-tribe community, prevalence was very low (0.5%). Infections in the two northeastern provinces were mainly caused by Opisthorchis liver flukes (6-7%). Hookworm infection rates were 4-6% in all study areas. Taenia eggs were found in 2% of both Nan groups, 3.7% in Ubon Ratchathani and 0.9% in Khon Kaen. Other helminths found included Ascaris lumbricoides (4%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%) in Nan hill-tribe communities, Strongyloides stercoralis (about 1-2%), Trichuris trichiura in both northeastern provinces (< 1%), and A. lumbricoides in Ubon Ratchathani (< 1%). Thirteen cases positive for Taenia eggs were treated with 2 g niclosamide, and five bowel movements were observed immediately following cathartic administration. Eleven of these 13 cases had Taenia segments in their stool. Long-chain strobilae were commonly expelled in the first two bowel movements. The head portion, or scolex, was released in five cases during any of the five bowel movements. One case expelled two separate long-chain strobilae with two scolices. All Taenia worms found were identified morphologically as T. saginata, either by scolex or gravid proglottids

Sympatric Occurrence of Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica, Thailand

We confirmed sympatric occurrence of Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica in western Thailand. DNA analysis of morphologically identified T. saginata, in a dual infection with T. solium, indicated it was T. asiatica. To our knowledge, this report is the first of T. asiatica and a dual Taenia infection from Thailand

Intestinal parasitoses among hilltribe people and soil contamination in Nan province, northern Thailand

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Haplorchis taichui as a Possible Etiologic Agent of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Like Symptoms

The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical features of Haplorchis taichui infection in humans in Nan Province, Thailand, and to correlate the clinical features with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms. In this study area, only H. taichui, but neither other minute intestinal flukes nor small liver flukes were endemic. The degree of infection was determined by fecal egg counts and also by collecting adult worms after deworming. The signs and symptoms of individual patients together with their hematological and biochemical laboratory data were gathered to evaluate the relationship between the clinical features and the severity of infection. Special emphasis was made to elucidate the possible similarities of the clinical features of H. taichui infection and IBS-like symptoms. The results showed useful clinical information and the significant (> 50%) proportion of haplorchiasis patients complained of abdominal pain, lassitude, and flatulence, which were the important diagnostic symptoms of IBS. This study has reported a possible link between H. taichui and IBS, and H. taichui might probably play a role in the etiology of these IBS-like symptoms

Anchitrema sanguineum (Digenea: Anchitrematidae) Accidentally Found during Colonoscopy of a Patient with Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Case Report

In November 2007, a 46-year-old male Thai patient presented with chronic abdominal pain for over 3 years. Colonoscopy revealed a small parasite of about 2 × 1 mm in size attached to the cecum mucosa. The worm was removed endoscopically, fixed, and stained for morphological observations. The specimen was identified as Anchitrema sanguineum (Digenea: Anchitrematidae), a trematode first reported in a reptile, Chamaeleo vulgaris, from Egypt, and then sporadically found in the intestines of insectivorous bats and other mammals. The patient was treated with praziquantel but no more worms were found in his stool. His symptoms improved slightly but not cured completely. It remains unclear whether the chronic abdominal pain of the patient was caused by this trematode infection. Whatever is the pathogenicity of this trematode, this is the first human case of A. sanguineum infection in the literature