Prevalence of taeniasis and enterobiasis among aboriginal children in mountainous areas of Taiwan.

Abstract

Children numbering 6,197 were tested for taeniasis. Those children were examined from May, 1981 to July, 1989. Sixty one primary schools, in eight mountainous districts provided the test group of children. The method used in these tests was the Scotch tape perianal swab. The overall infection rate of taeniasis was 1%. A total of 6,667 children were also examined for enterobiasis and the infection rate was 10%. There was no significant difference in the rate of taeniasis and enterobiasis by sex. The infection of taeniasis was highest in Tatung District (3%), Ilan County. However, there was no significant difference among the rates by district. The prevalence of enterobiasis was highest in Jenai District (17%), Nantou County and lowest in Lanyu District (2%), Taitung County. Taeniasis was not found among non-aboriginal school children, while 3% of aboriginal school children were infected with Taenia. However, the infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis among non-aborigines (39%) was much higher than that among aboriginal children (5%). These findings indicate that aboriginal children still eat raw meat and viscera of wild animals and acquire Taenia infection.