• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.223-226
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• 2015

We report here a case of strongyloidiasis in a 72-year-old diabetic patient (woman) accompanied by gastrointestinal stromal tumor receiving imatinib therapy, first diagnosed as hypereosinophilic syndrome and treated with steroids for uncontrolled eosinophilia. She suffered from lower back pain and intermittent abdominal discomfort with nausea and diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. After post-operative imatinib treatment eosinophilia persisted, so that steroid therapy was started under an impression of hypereosinophilic syndrome. In spite of 6 months steroid therapy, eosinophilia persisted. Stool examination was performed to rule out intestinal helminth infections. Rhabditoid larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were detected and the patient was diagnosed as strongyloidiasis. This diagnosis was confirmed again by PCR. The patient was treated with albendazole for 14 days and her abdominal pain and diarrhea improved. This case highlights the need for thorough investigation, including molecular approaches, to test for strongyloidiasis before and during steroid therapies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis among school children were investigated in an urban and some rural communities of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Fecal samples of 1,059 subjects (524 males, 535 females) aged 3-18 years were examined using direct smear and brine concentration methods between June 2005 and November 2006. The pooled prevalence of infection was 66.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides showed the highest prevalence (53.4%) (P < 0.001) followed by hookworms (17.8%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%), Taenia sp. (9.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (0.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The prevalences of A. lumbricoides, hookworms, Taenia sp., S. mansoni, and S. stercoralis in the urban centre were similar (P > 0.05) to those in the rural communities. The fertile and infertile egg ratios of A. lumbricoides in the urban centre and the rural communities were 13: 1 and 3.7: 1, respectively. Each helminth had similar prevalences among both genders (P > 0.05). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The commonest double infections were Ascaris and hookworms, while the commonest triple infections were Ascaris, hookworms, and Trichuris. The study demonstrates the need for urgent intervention programmes against intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis in the study area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 1992

A total of 197 fecal specimens was prepared for quantitative examination of helminth eggs by modified Kato's cellophane thick smear (M.C.T.S.) and Stoll's dilution egg counting technique (D.E,C.T.). The comparative effectiveness of two techniques was evaluated and conversion function was deduced. The average time required for the microscopic examination on one slide by M.C.T.S. was 12.6 minutes and that of D.E.C.T. was 14.6 minutes. M.C.T.S. showed lower false negative rate than D.E.C.T in light worm burden cases. Functions to convert the counts obtained by M.C.T.S. to E.P.G. by Stoll's dilution egg counting technique were $47.86{\times}10^{0.87{\;}logM.C.T.S.},{\;}$ in A. lumbricoides, $41.69{\times}10^{0.82{\;}logM.C.T.S.}$ in T. trichiura and $63.10{\times}10^{0.85{\;}logM.C.T.S.}$ in C. sinensis. It was suggested M.C.T.S. be better than D.E.C.T. for the quantitative examination of intestinal helminthiases such as A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and C. sinensis infections even in the cases with low worm burden.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 1985

To evaluate the parasitic infection rates among inhabitants in urban area of Seoul, Korea, a total of 5,275 stool and anal swab specimens was obtained from 2,527 male and Z,748 female living in 24 Dongs of 17 Kus. Cases were sampled randomely to represent 1,000 inhabitants refereed to the census in 1980. The methods employed were formalin ether technique to detect helminth ova and protozoan cysts and scotch tape anal swab technique to detect eggs of Enterobius vermicularis. The results obtained are as follows ; 1) Total positive rate of helminthes was 23.5% among 5,275 (male 22.5% and female 24.5%) specimens. Nine kinds of the helminthes were detected and infection rates of each helminth were; Ascaris lumbricoides 4.1%, Hookworm 0.1%, Trichuris trichiura 11.1%, Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.1%. Clonorchis sinensis 1.2%, Metagonimus yokogawai 0.1%, Taenia spp. 0.2%, Hymenolepis nana 0.3 and Enterobius vermicularis 9.6%. 2) Total positive rate of intestinal protozoa was 1.4%. Four kinds of the protozoan cysts were detected and the infection rates of each protozoa were; Entamoeba histolytica 0.15%, E. coli 0.4%, Endolimax nana 0.04% and Giardia lamblia 0.89%. 3) No significant differences in the parasitic infection rate by sex was noticed although male group showed lower infection rate than female group. However the incidence of C. sinensis, M. yokogawai and Taenia spp. was twice as much in female group as in male group. 4) No difference in the infection rate by age was found although E. vermicularis positive rate was highest in "0~9 years group" by 2.1% and C. sinensis infection rate was higher in over "30~39 years group". The parasitic infection rate of the present study was significantly lower than those of previous reports in Seoul area and other provinces.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.607-613
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• 2021

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still a considerable challenge in Myanmar. We undertook a control program for STH infections (especially Trichuris trichiura) among schoolchildren in Myanmar using mass drug administration (MDA) and health education. Around 1,700 schoolchildren from 15 primary schools in 3 suburban districts (Shwe Pyi Thar, Twantay, and Kyauktan) of the Yangon Region were subjected in this study during 2017-2019. All of the schoolchildren in each school were orally administered albendazole (400 mg in a single dose) 2, 3, and 4 times a year in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The results revealed that the egg positive rate of any intestinal helminths (including STH) was reduced from 37.6% (649/1,724) in 2017 to 22.8% (352/1,542) in 2019. The egg positive rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was decreased remarkably from 23.3% (402/1,724) in 2017 to 3.6% (56/1,542) in 2019. However, that of T. trichiura was only slightly reduced from 26.9% (464/1,724) in 2017 to 20.2% (312/1,542) in 2019. The intensity of infection with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was both more or less reduced, and the proportion of light infection cases with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura increased from 35.6% in 2017 to 64.3% in 2019 and from 70.3% in 2017 to 81.7% in 2019, respectively. The results indicated that repeated MDAs (2-4 times a year for 3 years) using albendazole on schoolchildren in Myanmar failed to control T. trichiura infection. For a successful control of trichuriasis in Myanmar, new MDA strategies, using a modified albendazole regimen (multiple daily doses for 2 or 3 days) or an alternative anthelmintic drug, such as oxantel pamoate, is strongly recommended.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.1 s.141
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• pp.33-38
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• 2007

To know the prevalence of heterophyid trematodes among inhabitants of a southern coastal village, i.e., Sacho-ri, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do(Province), 82 stool samples were examined on helminth eggs and protozoan cysts using Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Total 33 people(40.2%) were positive for trematodes(Heterophyes nocens; 15 people, Pygidiopsis summa; 3, Metagonimus sp.; 4, Clonorchis sinensis; 7, Gymnophalloides seoi; 6) and/or protozoa(Entamoeba coli; 3). Among intestinal trematode egg positive cases, 17 were treated with praziquantel and their whole diarrheic stools were collected after purgation. Adult flukes of H. nocens(number of specimens=1,294), P. summa(386), Stellantchasmus falcatus(5), Stictodora lari(4), and Heterophyopsis continua(1) were collected using a stereomicroscope. To know the source of human H. nocens infections in this village, metacercarial infections in mullets(10) were examined and most H. nocens metacercariae(101/105, 96.2%) were found in the trunk portion. From above results, the surveyed coastal village has been newly known as an endemic focus of human H. nocens infection and consuming raw mullets was the presumable source of human heterophyid infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 1998

A small-scale epidemiological survey was undertaken on the residents along the Mekong River near Pakse, Laos, to know the status of helminthic infections. A total of 137 fecal samples were collected from the staffs of the provincial government, their family, and primary schoolchildren in Pakse City, Champassak Province, and examined by Kato- katz smear technique. The overall helminth positive rate was 75.9%, and the helminths detected were Opisthorchis viuerrini (43.8%), Asccris lumbricoines (26.3%), fichuris trichiurn (19.0%), hookworms (19.0%), Strongyle컸os stercoraLis (2.2%), Taenio sp. (0.7%), and Schistosoma mekongi (1.5%). To obtain the adult worm of the liver fluke, three infected persons were treated with praziquantel and purged with magnesium sulfate. Five, 10, and 395 adult flukes, respectively, were collected from their diarrheic stools, all of which were morphologically identified as 0. viueni,ni. The results represent that the liver fluke and soil-transmitted helminths are highly prevalent, and the life cycle of 5. mekowi is likely to be maintained in this area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 2019

Adult specimens of Echinochasmus caninus n. comb. (Verma, 1935) (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) (syn. Episthmium caninum Yamaguti, 1958) were recovered from 11 riparian people who resided along the Mekong River in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. In fecal examinations done by the Kato-Katz technique, the cases revealed eggs of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes, hookworms, and in 2 cases echinostome eggs. To recover the adult helminths, praziquantel 30-40 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate 10-15 mg/kg in a single dose were given and purged with magnesium salts. Various species of trematodes (including O. viverrini and Haplorchis spp.), cestodes, and nematodes were recovered from their diarrheic stools. Among the trematodes, small echinostome flukes (n=42; av. 3.8 specimens per case) of 0.7-1.2 mm in length are subjected in this study. They are morphologically characterized by having 24 collar spines interrupted dorsally and anterior extension of vitellaria from the cirrus sac or genital pore level to the posterior end of the body. Particularly based on this extensive distribution of vitellaria, the specific diagnosis was made as Echinochasmus caninus. The cases were co-infected with various other helminth parasites; thus, clinical manifestations specific for this echinostome infection were difficult to determine. The present paper describes for the first time human E. caninus infections in Lao PDR. Our cases marked the 4-14th human infections with this echinostome around the world following the 3 previous cases reported from Thailand.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.305-311
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• 2013

In this study, we found that Haplorchis taichui, a heterophyid intestinal fluke, is highly prevalent, with heavy worm loads, among riparian people in Saravane and Champasak province, Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected from 1,460 people (717 men and 743 women) in 12 riparian (Mekong river) districts and were examined by the Kato-Katz fecal smear technique. The overall helminth egg positive rate was 78.8% and 66.4% in Saravane and Champasak province, respectively. The positive rate for small trematode eggs (STE), which included H. taichui and other heterophyids, Opisthorchis viverrini, and lecithodendriids, was 69.9% and 46.3% in Saravane and Champasak province, respectively. To obtain adult flukes, 30 STE-positive people were treated with 40 mg/kg praziquantel and then purged. Whole diarrheic stools were collected 4-5 times for each person and searched for fluke specimens using a stereomicroscope. Mixed infections with various species of trematodes (H. taichui, Haplorchis pumilio, O. viverrini, Prosthodendrium molenkampi, Centrocestus formosanus, and Echinochasmus japonicus) and a species of cestode (Taenia saginata) were found. However, the worm load was exceptionally high for H. taichui compared with other trematode species, with an average of 21,565 and 12,079 specimens per infected person in Saravane and Champasak province, respectively, followed by H. pumilio (41.9 and 22.5, respectively) and O. viverrini (9.4 and 1.5, respectively). These results show that diverse species of intestinal and liver flukes are prevalent among riparian people in Saravane and Champasak province, Lao PDR, with H. taichui being the exceptionally dominant species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2020

Human infection with Echinostoma aegyptica Khalil and Abaza, 1924 (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) is extremely rare. In this study, we confirmed E. aegyptica infection in 5 riparian residents living along the Mekong River in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR. The patients revealed eggs of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes, echinostomes, and other parasites in fecal examinations using the Kato-Katz technique. Following treatment with praziquantel 30-40 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate 10-15 mg/kg in a single dose and purging with magnesium salts, adult specimens of various helminth species were collected. Among the trematodes, echinostome flukes of 4.5-7.6 mm in length (n = 134; av. 22.3 specimens per case) were of taxonomic interest and subjected in this study. The flukes were morphologically characterized by having total 43-45 collar spines arranged in 2 alternating rows (corner spines usually 5 on each side) and compatible with previous descriptions of E. aegyptica. The patients were mixed-infected with other helminths, so specific clinical manifestations due to this echinostome fluke were difficult to determine. The present paper describes for the first time human E. aegyptica infections in Lao PDR. This is the second report of human infection (2nd-6th cases) with E. aegyptica in the world following the first one from China.