Epidemiological Survey on Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Helminthiasis among Village Residents of the Rural River Basin Area in White Nile State, Sudan

There have been some reports on schistosomiasis of school children in Sudan’s Nile River basin area; however, information about the infection status of Schistosoma species and intestinal helminths among village residents of this area is very limited. Urine and stool samples were collected from the 1,138 residents of the Al Hidaib and Khour Ajwal villages of White Nile State, Sudan in 2014. The prevalence of overall schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis was 36.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Egg positive rates were 35.6% for Schistosoma haematobium, 2.6% for S. mansoni, and 1.4% were mixed. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was significantly higher in men (45.6%) than in women (32.0%), in Khou Ajwal villagers (39.4%) than in Al Hidaib villagers (19.2%), and for age groups ≤15 years old (51.5%) than for age groups >15 years old (13.2%). The average number of eggs per 10 ml urine (EP10) of S. haematobium infections was 18.9, with 22.2 eggs in men vs 17.0 in women and 20.4 in Khou Ajwal villagers vs 8.1 in Al Hidaib villagers. In addition to S. mansoni eggs, 4 different species of intestinal helminths were found in the stool, including Hymenolepis nana (6.6%) and H. diminuta (1.0%). Collectively, urinary schistosomiasis is still prevalent among village residents in Sudan’s White Nile River basin and was especially high in men, children ≤15 years, and in the village without a clean water system. H. nana was the most frequently detected intestinal helminths in the 2 villages.

Infections of Intestinal Helminth at Two Species of Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius and A. Peninsulae, in Gangwondo and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea

Rodents are important reservoirs of diseases affecting people and livestock, and are major sources of parasite contamination of agricultural products. We surveyed the infection status of intestinal helminths in 2 species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius and A. peninsulae, captured in the agricultural fields of Gangwon-do and Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. Total 83 mice (57 A. agrarius and 26 A. peninsulae) were collected in 2 surveyed areas, and the intestines of each mouse were opened with scissors, and then intestinal contents were examined with microscope. Total 6 species of intestinal helminth were detected in 61 (73.5%) out of 83 mice examined. Four species of nematode, i.e., Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Heterakis spp. and ascarid, were found in 40 (48.2%), 14 (16.9%), 11 (13.3%) and 13 (15.7%) mice respectively. One species of cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta and 1 unidentified egg were also detected in the intestines of 14 (16.9%) and 1 (1.2%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, this study identified 5 helminth species in the gastrointestinal tracts of wild rodents captured in some areas in central and northern Korea, and N. brasiliensis was the most prevalent (dominant) species rather than zoonotic ones.

Interpretation of Detection of Intestinal Helminthes—The Kato-Katz Method (WS/T 570–2017) / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

The criteria for the Kato-Katz thick smear are compiled following the Management Measures for Health Criteria and GBT 1.1–2009 Standardization Working Guidelines. The criteria are composed of five chapters, including the range of application, terms and definitions, equipments, reagent materials, and testing procedures. Three informative appendices (identification of helminth eggs in human faeces, counting method of eggs in Kato-Katz thick smear, and other considerations) are appended. The criteria have been issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, it provides a technical reference for the detection of helminth eggs in human faeces in medical institutions and disease prevention and control institutions.

Interpretation of Detection of Intestinal Helminthes—The Kato-Katz Method (WS/T 570–2017) / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

The criteria for the Kato-Katz thick smear are compiled following the Management Measures for Health Criteria and GBT 1.1–2009 Standardization Working Guidelines. The criteria are composed of five chapters, including the range of application, terms and definitions, equipments, reagent materials, and testing procedures. Three informative appendices (identification of helminth eggs in human faeces, counting method of eggs in Kato-Katz thick smear, and other considerations) are appended. The criteria have been issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, it provides a technical reference for the detection of helminth eggs in human faeces in medical institutions and disease prevention and control institutions.

Analysis of human intestinal helminth infections in Yancheng City,Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2015 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological trend of human intestinal helminth infections in Yancheng City,Ji?angsu Province from 2006 to 2015,so as to provide the evidence for formulating further control strategies. Methods The sur?veillance data of human intestinal helminth infections were collected and analyzed in Yancheng City from 2006 to 2015. Re?sults From 2006 to 2015,110 746 person?times of residents in Yancheng City were surveyed in Yancheng City,and 1 732 samples were positive of human intestinal helminth infections. The infection rate of human intestinal helminthes was highest in 2006[4.59%(410/8 941)],and lowest in 2013[0.19%(23/12 165)]. The infection rate of human intestinal helminthes was significantly decreased over time(χ2=27.78,P<0.001). The human infection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides,hook worm and Trichuris trichura were all decreased over time(Z=-27.75,-22.23 and-16.17,all P<0.001)from 2006 to 2015,with the re?duction rates of 96.57%,92.31%and 96.47%,respectively. The average EPG of A. lumbricoides,hook worm and T. trichura were 2 534,360 and 154 respectively,and 1 694(97.81%)cases were light infections. Totally 1 174 cases of Enterobius vermic?ularis were found in children under 12 years old,and the cases were decreased over time(χ2 =12.46,P<0.001). Conclu?sions The infection rate of human intestinal helminthes in Yancheng City decreases over time from 2006 to 2015,and the con?trol work is effective. The control work of focus groups and environmental management and health education should be strength?ened in the future.

Surveillance of intestinal helminthiasis in Dafeng City from 2005 to 2010 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the current status of intestinal helminth infections in Dafeng City. Methods The resi?dents in 5 villages of Dafeng City were investigated and their stool samples were detected for the eggs of helminth with Kato?Katz technique and Enterobius vermicularis was detected by the cellophane anal swab method. Results The total infection rates of intestinal helminth were 5.77% 5.51% 4.60% 4.18% 3.41% and 1.38% from 2005 to 2010 respectively. The trend of total infection rates declined year by year. The infection rates in the 20?30 age?group and 60?80 age?group were higher than those in other age?groups. The infection rates of the male and female were 5.63 359/6 375 and 2.42 144/5 949 re?spectively and there was a significant difference χ2=74.81 P=0.00 . The infection rate 11.70% in the northern areas of Dafeng City was higher than that in other places and the trend of the infection rates decreased from the eastern and northern to the western and southern. The infection rate of E. vermicularis was 1.75%in children in 2010. Conclusions The infection rate of intestinal helminth is low but E. vermicularis infection is relatively general in the children in Dafeng City. Therefore the pre?vention and treatment still need to be strengthened.

Prevalence of Intestinal Helminths among Inhabitants of Cambodia (2006-2011)

In order to investigate the status of intestinal helminthic infections in Cambodia, epidemiological surveys were carried out on a national scale, including 19 provinces. A total of 32,201 fecal samples were collected from schoolchildren and adults between 2006 and 2011 and examined once by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The overall egg positive rate of intestinal helminths was 26.2%. The prevalence of hookworms was the highest (9.6%), followed by that of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes (Ov/MIF) (5.7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.6%), and Trichuris trichiura (4.1%). Other types of parasites detected were Enterobius vermicularis (1.1%), Taenia spp. (0.4%), and Hymenolepis spp. (0.2%). The northwestern regions such as the Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey Provinces showed higher prevalences (17.4-22.3%) of hookworms than the other localities. The southwestern areas, including Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk Provinces showed higher prevalences of A. lumbricoides (17.5-19.2%) and T. trichiura (6.1-21.0%). Meanwhile, the central and southern areas, in particular, Takeo and Kampong Cham Provinces, showed high prevalences of Ov/MIF (23.8-24.0%). The results indicate that a considerably high prevalence of intestinal helminths has been revealed in Cambodia, and thus sustained national parasite control projects are necessary to reduce morbidity due to parasitic infections in Cambodia.

Prevalence of Helminthic Infections among Inhabitants of Lao PDR

The prevalence of helminthic infections was surveyed on a total of 6,178 residents (males 2,549 and females 3,629) in 102 villages of 9 provinces in Lao PDR between 2007 and 2011 under the project of Korea-Laos Collaborative Project for Control of Foodborne Trematode Infections in Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz thick smear and Stoll's egg counting techniques. The overall liver/intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 71.9% with a single or mixed infections with Opisthorchis viverrini and minute intestinal flukes (Ov/MIF), Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Trichostrongylus sp., echinostomes, Taenia spp., and others. Ov/MIF revealed the highest prevalence (55.6%) followed by hookworms (27.8%) and T. trichiura (6.5%). The endemic regions with the highest prevalence of Ov/MIF were Savannakhet, Khammouane, Vientiane (Nam Ngum), Champasak (Khong Island), and Saravane Province. High prevalences of A. lumbricoides (33.8%), hookworms (47.8%), and T. trichiura (32.6%) were observed in Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane (Nam Ngum) areas, respectively. The results of this study highlight helminth parasites of current public health significance in different areas of Lao PDR.

Intestinal Helminthic Infections in Striped Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius, from Two Southern Regions of Korea

The present study was performed to know the infection status of intestinal helminths in a most common species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius, from 2 southern regions of Korea. Total 133 and 103 mice were collected by the mouse trap in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do and Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, respectively, from July 2005 to June 2006. The small intestine of each mouse was resected and longitudinally opened with a pair of scissors. The intestinal contents were washed with 0.85% saline until the supernatant became clear. Helminths were collected with naked eyes or under a stereomicroscope from the sediment of the intestinal content. More than 11 species of helminths (4 nematode spp., 5 trematode spp., and 2 cestode spp.) were recovered. Among these, heligmosomoid nematodes (97.5%) was the most highly and heavily infected species. As the members of trematodes, Plagiorchis muris, Brachylaima sp., Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma cinetorchis, and unidentified echinostome larvae were found in the small intestines of 35 (14.8%), 12 (5.1%), 6 (2.5%), 1 (0.4%), and 1 (0.4%) mice respectively. Two species of tapeworms, Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta were also detected in 79 (33.5%) and 21 (8.9%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, heligmosomoid nematodes were the most prevalent (dominant) species among more than 11 helminth species detected, and Brachylaima sp. fluke is newly added in the list of intestinal trematodes in Korea.

The correlation between contamination of soil with Ascaris sp. eggs in school yards and ascariasis among primary school children in Mai Trung Commune, Northern Vietnam

Four hundred and six soil samples collected from five schoolyards in Mai Trung Commune, Bac Giang Province, Northern Vietnam, from 2005 to 2007 were examined for helminth eggs using a sucrose centrifugal flotation method. The soils around latrines was found to be heavily contaminated with <I>Ascaris</I> sp. eggs. The contamination rate of Ascaris sp. eggs at each school and prevalence of ascariasis among the school children showed a positive correlation (P&It;0.05). This indicated that examination of soil from the area around latrines for <I>Ascaris</I> sp. eggs is a useful method to estimate the prevalence of ascariasis among school children.

Intestinal Helminth Infections in Feral Cats and a Raccoon Dog on Aphaedo Island, Shinan-gun, with a Special Note on Gymnophalloides seoi Infection in Cats

Four feral cats and a raccoon dog purchased from a local collector on Aphaedo Island, Shinan-gun, where human Gymnophalloides seoi infections are known to be prevalent, were examined for their intestinal helminth parasites. From 2 of 4 cats, a total of 310 adult G. seoi specimens were recovered. Other helminths detected in cats included Heterophyes nocens (1,527 specimens), Pygidiopsis summa (131), Stictodora fuscata (4), Acanthotrema felis (2), Spirometra erinacei (15), toxocarids (4), and a hookworm (1). A raccoon dog was found to be infected with a species of echinostome (55), hookworms (7), toxocarids (3), P. summa (3), and S. erinacei (1). No G. seoi was found in the raccoon dog. The results indicate that feral cats and raccoon dogs on Aphaedo are natural definitive hosts for intestinal trematodes and cestodes, including G. seoi, H. nocens, and S. erinacei. It has been first confirmed that cats, a mammalian species other than humans, play the role of a natural definitive host for G. seoi on Aphaedo Island.

The effects of the Helminth Control Project for primary school children in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien - Hue province during the years of 2002-2004

With the assistance of WHO and the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, the Helminth Control Project for primary school children has effectively been conducted during the years of 2002 -2004 in Phu Loc distric, Thua Thien - Hue province. The knowledge and awareness of children and their parents on the control and prevention of the disease were found much improved after the health education took place. The helminth prevalence and the intensity of infection were considerably reduced after the periodical mass deworming campains with 6 month intervals. Mebendazole appeared to be highly effective against such intestinal helminths as Ascaris, Trichuris and hook worms. It is recommended to maintain the results of the project in Phu Loc district, to expand and apply this project model in other districs. Integration of helminth control with other health programs of hygiene and enviroment should also be encouraged