Intestinal parasitic infections in suburban government schools, Lak Hok subdistrict, Muang Pathum Thani, Thailand

OBJECTIVE@#To provide baseline information of parasitic infections in 3 suburban government schools, Lakhok subdistrict of Muang Pathum Thani, Thailand.@*METHODS@#This study was conducted between May-June 2010 using simple direct smear and modified formalin ether and from a population of 1 253 in 3 suburban government schools.@*RESULTS@#Total samples of 202 registered and participated. The average of prevalence of infection from 3 schools was 13.9%, there were 13.7%, 14.3% and 13.9% in N, S and R school, respectively with no significant difference between schools (P>0.05). The infection rates did not show significant difference between genders (P>0.05). The highest rate of infection was 20.4% in Pathom 2 (8 years) students and the lowest was 4% in Pathom 1 (7 years) with statistically difference between age groups (P<0.05). The highest prevalence of pathogenic protozoa was Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) which was found in 50% of infected cases, followed by 25% of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) and Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis). The highest prevalence of non-pathogenic protozoa was Endolimax nana (E. nana) which was found in 88.9%, followed by 11.1% of Entamoeba coli (E. coli). Mixed infections between Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) and Endolimax nana (E. nana) were reported at 7.1%. The only helminthic infection found in this study area was hookworm, found in 1 student (3.8%). The formalin ether concentration technique showed a higher efficacy of detection (78%-100%) than the simple direct smear method (0%-50%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Surveillance of Protozoan infections may need to be focused on suburban areas.

Albendazole in the treatment of uncomplicated strongyloidiasis by using the agar late method

The  agar  plate  method  is  a  new  and  highly  sensitive  technique  for  diagnosis  strongyloidiasis.  We  detected  strongyloidiasis  from 331  villagers  in  Khon  Kaen  province  by  using  this  technique.  There  were  82 cases  (24.77%)  positive  for  Strongyloides  stercoralis.  They  were  administered  albendazole  400  mg  orally  once  a  day  for  3 consecutive  days.  Only   51  cases  submitted  stools  for re -  examination  two  weeks  after  treatment.  There  were  38  cases  cured  (74.51%)  This  study  showed  that  strongyloidiasis  is  still  a  high  cause  of  infection  in Khon  Kaen  and  the  dosage  of  400  mg  orally  once  a  day  for  3  consecutive  days  of  albendazole  showed  effective  treatment.

Intestinal parasitic infections in Srimum suburban area of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

A survey on intestinal parasitic infections and some risk factors of infection (social, economic and behavioral) was conducted in suburban area at Simum subdistrict, Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima Province during the period of April 3rd to April 11th, 2007. A total of 214 stool samples, from 85 males and 129 females were examined using simple direct smear, Kato's thick smear and modified Harada-Mori Filter Paper Strip culture technique. The results showed that the prevalence rate of protozoa infections by simple direct smear method was 17.3% (37 infected samples) in 11 males and 26 females and were from all age groups. Mixed infections (56.8%), showed higher results than single infection. The highest number of intestinal protozoan infections was Entamoeba histolytica (11.7%), followed by Blastocystis hominis (5.6%). Fifty four percent of protozoan infection was at a moderate to high level. Ninety five percent of infected cases consumed unboiled water. The prevalence rate of helminthic infections was 7% total by Kato's thick smear and Modified Harada-Mori Filter Paper Strip culture technique. Kato's Thick smear Technique showed the highest rate of Strongyloides stercolaris (2.8%), followed by hookworm infection (1.4%) Taenia spp. (0.9%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%), respectively. All infections showed a light intensity, (< 200 epg), using Kato-Katz thick smear. Although Modified Harada-Mori's culture Technique showed higher S. stercolaris (3.3%) and hookworm infection (2.3%) than Kato's thick smear in the area where there is low Soil transmitted helminthes, we recommend using Simple or Kato's thick smear to determine the prevalence of parasitic infection due to these techniques being able to detect various groups of parasites, and being inexpensive and less time consuming.