Diagnosis and prevalence of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections among schoolchildren in rural southern Thailand

Abstract

Diagnosis and prevalence of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections among schoolchildren in rural southern Thailand Blego SEDIONOTO1,2,*, SueptrakoolWASESSOMBAT2 , Chuchard PUNSAWAD3 and Witthaya ANAMNART4 1 Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda 75123, Indonesia 2 Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand 3 Division of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand 4 Division of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand (* Corresponding author’s email: blego_kesling@yahoo.com) Abstract The prevalence of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections is serious public health concern globally. In rural southern Thailand, the prevalence of hookworm infection and strongyloidiasis was high and endemic area. In this study would show the infection rates, compared two diagnostic methods and analysis of climate change that has potential impact for reducing of prevalence of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections among school children in southern Thailand. We performed a cross-sectional study among 75 schoolchildren from one primary school at a rural village of Mokhalan sub district, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand. In this study used two diagnostic methods: Kato Katz and Koga agar plate culture/KAP culture for diagnosing of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections.Hookworm, Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis infections were found in this study; 10.8, 5.3, and 2.7% respectively. The prevalence Strongyloides stercoralis in the study decreased when was compared with data prevalence in 2009 (28.5%) and 2014 (28%). The prevalence of hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections was reduced among schoolchildren even the facilitate sanitation and personal hygiene unchanged. This study showed potential impact of dry season reduced of Strongyloides stercoralis infection. The sensitivity of Koga agar plate culture/KAP culture (100%) is higher than Kato Katz technique (0%) on diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Keywords: Diagnosis, prevalence, hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections, schoolchildren, rural southern Thailand