Prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini and its Associated Risk Fac-tors in the Phon Sawan District of Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand

Chaiwat  Srithai; Sriwipa  Chuangchaiya; Siriluk  Jaichuang; Zulkarnain Md  Idris

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v16i3.7101

Chaiwat Srithai Department of Community Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, Sakon Nakhon Province, 47000, Thailand
Sriwipa Chuangchaiya Department of Community Health, Faculty of Public Health, Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, Sakon Nakhon Province, 47000, Thailand
Siriluk Jaichuang Nakhon Phanom Provincial Public Health Office, Muang District, Nakhon Phanom Province, 48000, Thailand
Zulkarnain Md Idris Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000 Che-ras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v16i3.7101

Keywords: Opisthorchis viverrini; Foodborne trematode; Epidemiology; Thailand

Abstract

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini is one of the endemic helminths in Thailand. Nonetheless, O. viverrini still exist and raise concerns regarding public health. This study aimed to evaluate the current prevalence of O. viverrini infections and underlying risk factors among rural communities in Northeast Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between Sep and Dec 2019 in Phon Sawan district in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. The participants were selected using a voluntary sampling method after the proportional allocation of the total sample size. Demographic data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. One stool sample was collected from each participant and the presence of O. viverrini and other intestinal parasite infections were determined using the modified Kato-Katz technique.

Results: Overall, 250 participants aged 21 yr or older were enrolled. Overall, the prevalence of O. viverrini and Strongyloides stercoralis was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.8-29.8) and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.2-3.5), respectively. Of the positive O. viverrini cases, the parasite rate significantly differed between gender, age group and in those who had a history of eating raw fish and taking the anti-helminthic drug (all P<0.05). Nevertheless, multivariate regression analysis among O. viverrini cases revealed that only being male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9 [95% CI: 1.1 – 3.6], P = 0.033) and aged ≥61 yr (aOR 6.7 [95% CI: 1.4 – 32.5], P=0.018) were positively associated with a higher risk of O. viverrini infection.

Conclusion: Opisthorchiasis and strongyloidiasis are still endemic in this area and there is a need for projects to eliminate these parasites.