Intestinal parasitoses among the workers and their families at three electricity generating dams in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

During September 17, 1980 - May 29, 1981 a total of 986 single stool specimens were collected from workers and their families at three electricity generating dams under the administration of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Parasitological surveys were carried out at the dam sites, namely the Khoa Laem Project, the Srinakarin Dam and the Ubolratana Dam. The overall prevalence at all three sites are moderately high (62.50%, 45.33% and 54.05% respectively). The Khoa Laem project had the highest prevalence of E. histolytica infection (16.16%) which may be the result of poorer sanitary standards for workers of the project under construction. The occurrence of opisthorchiasis at the first two sites situated in central Thailand (12.19% and 7.01%) is the result of influx of migrant northeastern workers. The prevalence of other parasites are not remarkable. However, because of the proximity of the people living close to the large bodies of fresh water, urgent measures should be taken to eradicate the parasitic infections among them in order to prevent the spread through the water.