Abstract
Taeniasis remains a prevalent public health problem in Thailand. National helminthiasis surveys report only the incidence of Taenia spp. eggs. The ability to differentiate Taenia species using morphological and molecular techniques is vital for epidemiological surveys. This study detected taeniasis carriers and other helminthic infections by Kato’s thick smear technique and identified the Taenia species by multiplex PCR. The study subjects were the ethnic Karen people in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand, bordering Myanmar. In total, 983 faecal samples from villagers were examined for helminthiases. Interview-based questionnaires were used to gather information on possible risk factors for infection. The prevalence of helminth infections was 42.7% (420/983), including single (37.3%, 367/983) and mixed infections (5.4%, 53/983). The most common infection (19.23%, 189/983) was Ascaris lumbricoides, whereas taeniasis carriers comprised 2.8% (28/983). Multiplex PCR of Cox1 was used for species identification of Taenia tapeworms, eggs, or both in 22 taeniasis carriers. Most of the parasites (20 cases) were Taenia solium, with two cases of Taenia saginata. Taenia saginata asiatica was not found in the villagers examined. The analysis of 314 completed questionnaires showed that a statistically significant (p < 0.05) risk of taeniasis was correlated with being male, a history of being allowed to forage during childhood, a history of seeing tapeworm proglottids, and a history of raw or undercooked pork consumption. Health education programmes must seek to reduce and prevent reinfection in these communities.
Highlights
Human taeniasis is caused by ingesting undercooked pork carrying the tapeworm Taenia solium
This study used faecal examinations for the primary screening of taeniasis carriers and molecular identification of the Taenia species to identify the risks associated with taeniasis among the Karen people in Nong Bua, Klur Klor and Tala Okar villages, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand
Among 983 villagers (588 females and 395 males) who submitted faecal samples, helminthic infection was identified in 41.3% of females and 44.8% of males
Summary
Human taeniasis is caused by ingesting undercooked pork carrying the tapeworm Taenia solium. It is a significant zoonotic disease because it may cause cysticercosis in the tapeworm carriers, family members, and other close contacts [26]. Humans and pigs acquire cysticercosis by the faecal-oral route by ingesting T. solium eggs [5]. In 2005, two studies in Nan Province, northern Thailand, showed that 1.9% and 2.4% of people in Nan Province were taeniasis carriers [19, 21]. This study used faecal examinations for the primary screening of taeniasis carriers and molecular identification of the Taenia species to identify the risks associated with taeniasis among the Karen people in Nong Bua, Klur Klor and Tala Okar villages, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand
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