Ixodid ticks on domestic animals in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand.

The prevalence of tick-harboring domestic animals, tick density, and the species of ticks were studied throughout the year 2000, in Muang Samut Prakan, Bang Phli and Phra Pradaeng districts of Samut Prakan Province. The animals examined were Canis lupus familiaris (450), Bos indicus (cross-bred) (189), Bos taurus (30), Bubalus bubalis (171) and Sus scrofa domestica (450). The total number of collected ticks was 1,491. The pigs did not harbor ticks. The stages of ticks collected were larvae, nymphs and adults. The prevalence rates of tick-harboring were 46% (Canis lupus familiaris), 42.86% (Bos indicus, cross-bred), 33.33% (Bos taurus) and 9.35% (Bubalus bubalis). The tick densities were 2.22 (Bos indicus, cross-bred), 2.16 (Canis lupus familiaris), 1.16 (Bos taurus) and 0.36 (Bubalus bubalis). Only 2 species of ixodid ticks, Boophilus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, were found. R. sanguineus was the dominant species of tick. The percentage of R. sanguineus was 65.2% and B. microplus was 34.8%. In Muang district, R. sanguineus was the dominant species in C. lupus familiaris; in Bang Phli district, B. microplus was the dominant species in Bos indicus (cross-bred). The density of B. microplus was high in the summer season; the density of R. sanguineus was high in the winter season. The number of ticks depended on the geographic location, animal host and season.

Enterobiasis in primary schools in Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok, Thailand.

A study of enterobiasis and its correlation with various factors that could potentially influence the rate of infection was conducted among 3,621 primary school children (five to ten years old), drawn from sixteen schools in Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok. Diagnosis was by the transparent tape swab technique, which was used to recover Enterobius vermicularis eggs from the perianal region. The transparent tape swabs were then placed on slides for examination by light microscopy. The average rate of infection for the group was 21.57%. No statistically significant differences were found between the male and female children. The younger children had a higher rate of infection. Subjects from schools located in industrial and metropolitan areas showed slightly higher rates of infection than those from agricultural areas. Data from the questionnaires in the study indicated that factors such as parental socio-economic status (occupational, income and education) and the children's personal hygiene contributed to the varying rates of infection.

The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis among primary school students in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand.

A prevalence survey of Enterobius vermicularis in primary school students aged 6-10 years in Bang Plee district, Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand was undertaken from January to March 2000. There were 783 subjects, 395 males and 388 females. Diagnosis was done by transparent tape swab technique. It revealed that 1) worms were found in 38.82% of the students, 2) there was a correlation between prevalence of parasite infection and student sex and age and 3) family socio-economic background (income and occupation) had no relationship with the prevalence of the enterobiasis (p < 0.05).

The prevalence of enterobiasis in children attending mobile health clinic of Huachiew Chalermprakiet University.

A cross sectional survey of Enterobius vermicularis was carried out in 808 children in the Bangkok metropolis and nearby provinces. This was accomplished in a mobile health clinic from Huachiew Chalermprakiet University provided for communities in the areas during April 1999 to May 2000. Children 5-10 years of age were investigated for infestation of Enterobius vermicularis. Diagnosis was done by means of the transparent tape swab technique to recover eggs in the perianal region for examination under a light microscope. The average infection rate in children was 21.91%. The highest infection rate (38.59%) was found in Ang Thong Province, while the lowest one (11.66%) was found in Chonburi Province. The rate of infection seemed to relate to household environmental factors. The infection rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in agricultural areas and areas farthest from urban Bangkok. Industrial and urban areas had the lower rates of infection. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the incidence of infection between males and females.