Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T00:47:56.240Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Distribution patterns of Opisthorchis viverrini within a human community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

M. R. Haswell-Elkins ,
D. B. Elkins ,
Paiboon Sithithaworn ,
Phattara Treesarawat  and
Sasithorn Kaewkes
M. R. Haswell-Elkins
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Tropical Health Program, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Bramston Terrace, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
D. B. Elkins
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Tropical Health Program, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Bramston Terrace, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
Paiboon Sithithaworn
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Phattara Treesarawat
Affiliation:
Tropical Health Program, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Bramston Terrace, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
Sasithorn Kaewkes
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

This paper describes patterns of infection with Opisthorchis viverrini within a human community assessed by egg count, parasite-specific antibody levels and worm burden determined by expulsion chemotherapy. All three measurements increased significantly with age, reaching a plateau in young adults. There were no significant sex-associated differences in the prevalence or intensity of infection, antibody levels, or in the frequency of heavy worm burdens. A striking 81·5% of the total Opisthorchis population and 74% of the total egg output were expelled by the most heavily infected 10% of the humans sampled. This extreme over-dispersion, together with recent findings that hepatobiliary disease frequently accompanies heavy infections, argues that the priority for community-based parasite control programmes should be to maximize treatment and health promotion efforts toward heavily infected individuals.

Keywords

Opisthorchis viverriniworm burdenover-dispersionantibody levelsepidemiology
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 103 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 97 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bunnag, D. & Harinasuta, T. (1981). Studies on the chemotherapy of human opisthorchiasis – III. Minimum effective dose of praziquantel. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 12, 413–17.Google ScholarPubMed
Changbumrung, S., Tungtrongchitr, R., Hongtong, K., Supawan, V., Kwanbunjan, K., Prayurahong, B., Sitabutra, P., Srithip, U., Theerachai, A., Vudhivai, N., Migasena, P., Sornmani, S. (1989). Food patterns and habits of people in an endemic area for liver fluke infection. Journal of Nutrition Association of Thailand 23, 133–46.Google Scholar
Elkins, D. B., Haswell-Elkins, M. R., Mairiang, E., Mairiang, P., Sithithaworn, P., Kaewkes, S., Bhudhisawasdi, V. & Uttaravichien, T. (1990). A high frequency of hepatobiliary disease and suspected cholangiocarcinoma associated with heavy Opisthorchis viverrini infection in a small community in Northeast Thailand. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 84, 715–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elkins, D. B., Sithithaworn, P., Haswell-Elkins, M. R., Kaewkes, S., Awacharagan, P. & Wongratanacheewin, S. (1991). Opisthorchis viverrini: relationships between egg counts, worms recovered and antibody levels within an endemic community in Northeast Thailand. Parasitology 102, 283–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flavell, D. J., Pattanapanyasat, K., Flavell, S. U. (1980). Opisthorchis viverrini: partial success in adoptively transferring immunity with spleen cells and serum in the hamster. Journal of Helminthology 54, 191–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, A., Uttaravichien, T., Bhudisawasdi, V., Chartbanchachai, W., Elkins, D. B., Marieng, E., Pairojkul, C., Dhiensiri, T., Kanteekaew, N. & Haswell-Elkins, M. R. (1991). Incidence and presentation of cholangiocarcinoma in northeast Thailand: a hospital-based study. Tropical and Geographic Medicine (in the Press).Google ScholarPubMed
Harinasuta, T., Riganit, M. & Bunnag, D. (1984). Opisthorchis viverrini infection: pathogenesis and clinical features. Drug Research 34, 1167–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Kurathong, S., Lerdverasirikul, P., Wongpaitoon, V., Pramoolsinsap, C. & Upatham, E. S. (1987). Opisthorchis viverrini infection in rural and urban communities in northeast Thailand. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 81, 411–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Preuksaraj, S. (1984). Public health aspects of opisthorchiasis in Thailand. Drug Research 34, 1119–20.Google ScholarPubMed
Radomyos, P., Bunnag, D. & Harinasuta, T. (1984). Worms recovered in stools following praziquantel treatment. Drug Research 34, 1215–17.Google Scholar
Sadun, E. H. (1955). Studies on Opisthorchis viverrini in Thailand. American Journal of Hygiene 62, 81–115.Google ScholarPubMed
Sithithaworn, P., Tesana, S., Pipitgool, V., Kaewkes, S., Pairojkul, C., Sripa, B., Paupairoj, A. & Thaiklar, K. (1991). Relationship between faecal egg count and worm burden of Opisthorchis viverrini in humans. Parasitology 102, 277–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Upatham, E. S., Viyanant, V., Kurathong, S., Rojborwonwitaya, J., Brockelman, W. Y., Ardsungnoen, S., Lee, P. & Vajrasthira, S. (1984). Relationship between prevalence and intensity of Opisthorchis viverrini infection, and clinical symptoms and signs in a rural community in northeast Thailand. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 62, 451–61.Google Scholar
Upatham, E. S., Viyanant, V., Brockelman, W. Y., Kurathong, S., Lee, P., Kraengraeng, R. (1988). Rate of re-infection by Opisthorchis viverrini in an endemic northeast Thai community after chemotherapy. International Journal for Parasitology 18, 643–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vatanasapt, V., Tangvoraphonkchai, V., Titapant, V., Pipitgool, V., Viriyapap, D. & Sriamporn, S. (1990 a). A high incidence of liver cancer in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 21, 382–7.Google Scholar
Vatanasapt, V., Uttaravichien, T., Mairiang, E., Pairojkul, C., Chartbanchachai, V. & Haswell-Elkins, M. R. (1990 b). Northeast Thailand: A region with a high incidence of cholangiocarcinoma. Lancet 335 (1), 116–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vichasri, S., Viyanant, V. & Upatham, E. S. (1982). Opisthorchis viverrini: intensity and rates of infection in cyprinoid fish from an endemic focus in northeast Thailand. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 13, 138–41.Google ScholarPubMed