Transmission of Opisthorchis viverrini, Schistosoma mekongi and soil-transmitted helminthes on the Mekong Islands, Southern Lao PDR

Youthanavanh Vonghachack,Somphou Sayasone,Souphanh Phounsavath,Kongsap Akkhavong,Keoka Taisayyavong,Peter Odermatt

doi:10.1186/s40249-017-0343-x

Abstract

BackgroundPrevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini, Schistosoma mekongi and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remains high in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), despite control efforts including mass-drug administration, education and communication campaigns. New approaches are required to advance helminth control.MethodsAn ecohealth study was conducted on two Mekong islands in Southern Laos. Demographic and behavioural data were collected by questionnaire. Human and animal reservoir stools were examined. Bithynia spp. and Neotricula aperta snails were examined using shedding. Fresh water fish were examined using digestion technique. Multivariate random-effects analysis was used to find risk factors associated with helminth infections.ResultsHuman infection rates with O. viverrini, hookworm, S. mekongi, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia spp. were 60.7%, 44.1%, 22.2%, 4.1%, 0.6% and 0.1%, respectively. Heavy intensity infections were 4.2%, 3.6% and 1.8% for O. viverrini, S. mekongi and hookworm, respectively. O. viverrini and S. mekongi infection rates among dogs and cats were 25.0% and 14.7%, respectively. Of the cats tested, 53.1% were infected with O. viverrini. Prevalence of O. viverrini and S. mekongi in snails was 0.3% and 0.01%, respectively. Overall prevalence of O. viverrini infection in fresh water fish was 26.9%, with the highest infection rates occurring in Hampala dispa (87.1%), Cyclocheilichthys apogon (85.7%) and Puntius brevis (40.0%). Illiteracy and lower socioeconomic status increased the risk of O. viverrini infection, while those aged 10–16 years and possessing latrines at home were less likely to be infected. Household dogs and cats that consumed raw fish were significantly and positively associated with O. viverrini infection of the household members. For S. mekongi, children under 9 years old were exposed significantly to this infection, compared to older age groups.ConclusionsThere is a pressing need to design and implement an integrated helminth control intervention on the Mekong Islands in southern Lao PDR. Given the highly dynamic transmission of O. viverrini, S. mekongi, STH and extended multiparasitism, annual mass-drug administration is warranted along with environmental modifications, health education and improved access to clean water and adequate sanitation to consolidate morbidity control and move towards elimination.Trail registration numberOur findings presented here are from a cross-sectional study, therefore, it has not been registered.

Highlights

Prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini, Schistosoma mekongi and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remains high in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), despite control efforts including mass-drug administration, education and communication campaigns
On two Mekong islands, highly endemic for multiple species of helminth infections, we studied the transmission of O. viverrini, S. mekongi and STH using an ecohealth approach [32, 37] to better assess the relation of human infection status to environmentally present reservoir and intermediate hosts
We conclude that human intestinal helminth infections, namely O. viverrini, S. mekongi and hookworms are still highly endemic on the Mekong islands in Khong District

Summary

Introduction

Prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini, Schistosoma mekongi and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remains high in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), despite control efforts including mass-drug administration, education and communication campaigns. Liver flukes (Opisthorchis viverrini), blood flukes (Schistosoma mekongi) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) such as round worm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and two-hookworm species (Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus) are among the most prevalent infections in Lao PDR. O. viverrini is endemic nationwide but is most prevalent in the central and southern parts of the country. It occurs in the lowlands, along the Mekong River, where fish are abundant and local inhabitants prefer to consume traditional dishes prepared with raw fish [1, 4,5,6]. STH are highly prevalent in the northern part of the country and in the mountainous areas along Lao-Vietnamese border [4, 11]

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