Biomedical survey in Irian Jaya (West Irian), Indonesia

A biomedical survey was conducted in several areas of Irian Jaya, Indonesia in July 1972 in association with an investigation of reports of a cholera outbreak. Stool specimens, blood smears and sera were collected and examined for evidence of parasitic as well as other infectious diseases. A total of 114 stools were examined and the most commonly found intestinal parasites were Trichuris trichiura (94%), Ascaris lumbricoides (74%), hookworm (58%), Entamoeba coli (15%), Endolimax nana (8%), Entamoeba histolytica (7), Entamoeba hartmanni (4%), Giardia lamblia (3%) and Chilomastix mesnili (3%). A total of 513 blood smears were examined and Wucheria bancrofti microfilariae were detected in 4% and malaria in 4% (Plasmodium falciparum 3%, Plasmodium vivax 2%). The malaria and filarial positive individuals lived in Beeuw, Waigeo and Arar, Sorong. These parasitic infections were not detected in people from Biak City and Sburia, Biak. Sera were collected from 357 persons and significant antibody titers were found for Entamoeba histolytica (4%) Toxoplasma gondii (7%), Influenza A2 Hong Kong 68 (65%), Influenza B Taiwan 68 (78%), Japanese encephalitis virus (87%) and Dengue 1 virus (79%).