Distribution and abundance of intestinal helminths in man in western Papua New Guinea with special reference to Strongyloides.

Abstract

A faecal parasite survey was conducted in 32 isolated villages in six regions of western Papua New Guinea. Of 1023 samples, only 155 were without helminth eggs. Strongyloides cf. fuelleborni, the causative agent of an acute fatal infection in infants in a localized area, was found to be widely distributed in western Papua New Guinea, but has not, as yet, been found north of the dividing range. The infection is largely restricted to forested areas within the 4000 mm isohyet, but ranges in altitude from near sea level to 1500 m. Hookworm infection is almost universal but infections are rarely heavy. Ascaris and Trickuris have anomalous distributions, being inexplicably extremely rare or absent in many isolated areas. There is a marked scarcity of occasional infections of zoonotic origin.