Co-occurrence of swine cysticercosis due to Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena in ethnic minority villages at the Thai-Myanmar border.

As part of the international joint projects working towards the control of taeniosis/cysticercosis in Asia Pacific, epidemiological studies on Taenia solium cysticercosis have been carried out in high-incidence populations, such as minority groups in Thailand. To assess the epidemiology of cysticercotic infections in pigs in the hill-tribe minority villages (Karen) in Tak province, Thailand, we conducted serological screening and necropsies. The patterns of antibody response to T. solium antigens were then investigated using immunoblot assays. Of the 188 pig serum samples tested for antibody responses to partially purified low-molecular-weight antigens of T. solium cyst fluid, positive responses were detected in 37 samples (19.7%). Based on these results, 16 pigs (10 seropositive and 6 seronegative) were necropsied for investigation of cysticerci and intestinal parasites. All seropositive pigs were coinfected with both T. solium and Taenia hydatigena cysticerci, except one, which was infected with T. hydatigena alone. Three of the six seronegative pigs were confirmed to be infected with T. hydatigena. Pigs infected with T. solium showed much stronger antibody responses than those infected with T. hydatigena. Our results demonstrate the co-occurrence of two swine cysticercoses due to T. solium and T. hydatigena in the studied areas. This study also reveals the importance of direct confirmation of the presence of cysticerci by necropsy after serological screening. In addition to the prevalence of swine cysticercosis in these endemic areas, our findings also reveal potential implications for the development of serological diagnostic assays for swine cysticercosis.

Gastrointestinal helminths and Taenia spp. in parenteral tissues of free-roaming pigs (Sus scrofa indicus) from hilltribe village at the western border of Thailand.

A serological survey of pig cysticercosis was conducted in a hill-tribe village at Thai-Myanmar border, Tak province of Thailand in 2012. Sixteen backyard pigs were examined for pig cysticercosis and gastrointestinal helminth infection. In addition to cysticerci of Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena found outside the gut, nine other helminth species were found in guts: Echinostoma malayanum, Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi, Ascarops dentata, Physocephalus sexalatus, Gnathostoma doloresi, Ascaris suum, Globocephalus sp., Oesophagostomum dentatum and Bourgelatia diducta. The study presents a report for the first time of adult tapeworm, P. crawfordi infection in pigs from Thailand. For medical importance, E. malayanum, P. crawfordi, G. doloresi and A. suum have been confirmed as potentially zoonotic helminths and pigs may act as one of the reservoir hosts for human helminthiases. Pigs of both gender and all ages appeared to be exposed to the parasites equally and did not show any significant difference to these helminth species in richness and total intensity.

Gastrointestinal helminth fauna of rodents from Cambodia: emphasizing the community ecology of host-parasite associations.

Extensive field surveys of rodents were conducted in Cambodia from 2008 to 2014 to study the diversity and ecology of helminth infection in wild rodent populations. Gastrointestinal helminths were isolated from 14 species of rodents (569 individuals) trapped from different habitats (forest, dry land, rain-fed land and human settlements) in four provinces of Cambodia (Krong Preah Sihanouk, Mondolkiri, Pursat and Steung Treng). The average prevalence of parasitic infection was 58.5% (range, 16.0-64.7%), and 19 helminth taxa were identified in total. Trichostrongylid nematodes were the most prevalent (25.8%), followed by Raillietina sp. (14.1%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (10.7%), Syphacia muris (9.8%) and Hymenolepis diminuta (9.6%). Potential rodent-borne zoonotic helminths were also identified, and the risks of helminthiasis were discussed. The status of helminth infection and species diversity in rodents from settlements were significantly lower than in rodents from forest and peri-domesticated habitats, which indicates that habitat alteration might affect helminth infection and diversity in rodent hosts. Generalized linear models revealed that host attributes (host species and maturity) and environmental factors (habitat and geographical location) were explanatory variables for helminth infection in these rodents. Using network analyses, we showed that the oriental house rat, Rattus tanezumi, was the most central host in the rodent-helminth assemblage, based on the number of helminth taxa it shared with other rodent species. Therefore, R. tanezumi could play an important role in rodent-helminth interactions and helminth transmission to other rodent hosts.

Promotion of the health of rural women towards safe motherhood--an intervention project in northeast Thailand.

An intervention project focusing on the health of women in the reproductive age was conducted in three districts of Khon Kaen Province, northeast Thailand between 1991 and 1996. Main emphasis was placed on improving reproductive health, the nutritional status including the iron deficiency anemia (IDA) as well as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), and the parasitic diseases liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) and hookworm. For implementation a community based Primary Health Care approach was used including the training of health officials in health matters, primary health care workers and villagers as well as enhancing health education and the dissemination of health information. The health delivery system was encouraged to take appropriate actions such as in the treatment of parasitic diseases and the control of IDA and IDD. Monitoring was done on a regular basis. The outcome of the project was assessed by comparing baseline data compiled from a random sample of the target population with the results of the final evaluation. An attempt to compare results obtained from villages within and outside of the project area failed most probably because of spill over effects. A number of important indicators on family planning and mother and child health care improved during the time the project was implemented; this included practising family planning, and participation in antenatal care. Also the proportion of females becoming pregnant for the first time when 20 years or older increased. Child-raising also improved in that almost all females gave colostrum to their babies by this time. Almost 75% of the women breast-fed their children. Improvements occurred in the nutritional status as far as the micronutrients iron and iodine were concerned, however the overall nutritional status of females did not change, but a rather high proportion of females were found to be overnourished. The project failed in reducing abortion and the proportion of females becoming pregnant when they are 18 years old or younger. It was also not possible to improve the usage of postnatal care. As anticipated, the results achieved so far are most suitable in serving as a training ground and providing a favorable example to improve family planning, mother- and child health care, and also the general health of females in the region, particularly in neighboring countries such as Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in Khon Kaen Province and validity of urine stick and fasting blood sugar as screening tools.

Three hundred and fifty-five individuals, 152 males and 203 females, aged between 30 and 74 years, were randomly selected in a two stage selection process from rural communities in three districts of Khon Kaen Province, Northeast Thailand. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in the rural area of Northeast Thailand were measured. In addition, the validity of the urine stick and fasting blood sugar as screening tools against the two hours glucose loading test as golden standard were determined. The survey was conducted in July 1995. The glucose loading test was performed on 277 individuals. IGT and NIDDM were classified according to current World Health Organization suggestions. Prevalence rates for IGT were 18.1 per cent and for NIDDM 11.9 per cent. No difference was found between males and females, also when controlled for age. NIDDM prevalence increased with age but IGT rates already were high in the younger age groups. This finding suggests that IGT precedes NIDDM in Thailand. The validity of the urine stick as a screening tool in communities was insufficient, with a sensitivity of less than 20 per cent. When using fasting blood sugar as a screening test, the sensitivity was close to 44 per cent and the specificity 90 per cent. It is concluded that the urine stick is not a useful screening tool and the method of using blood sugar concentrations for screening have to be improved before it can be applied within communities.