Investigation on soil - transmitted nematode infections in national surveillance sites in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2015

Abstract

To understand the status of soil-transmitted nematode infections in rural residents so as to provide the evidence for formulating the guidance for prevention and control of the diseases. The national surveillance sites of soil-transmitted nematode infections were established in Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2015. At least 1 000 fecal samples of residents aged 3 years or above were collected in every autumn, and the intestinal helminth eggs were detected with the Kato-Katz technique and the Enterubius vermicularis eggs were detected by the cellophane tape method for children aged 3-12 years. The soil samples were collected from vegetable fields, lavatories, courtyards and kitchens to examine Ascaris lumbricoides eggs and larvae of hookworm. The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in residents and E. vermicularis in children reduced from 1.81% (19/1 049) and 4.72% (5/106) in 2006 to 0.25% (3/1 180) and 0 (0/263) in 2015, respectively, in the surveillance sites. The infection intensity was mild in all the infected cases. The soil samples were negative for detecting A. lumbricoides eggs and hookworm larvae. The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in the residents and E. vermicularis in the children show a decreasing trend and keep at a low level of prevalence in Shuyang County.