[Study on time, spatial and population distribution of intestinal nematode infections in Jiangsu Province in recent...

To analyze the epidemical distribution of intestinal nematode infections in Jiangsu Province in recent 30 years, so as to provide the evidence for improving prevention and control of intestinal nematodiasis in the future.

The literature related to intestinal nematode infections in Jiangsu Province from 1984 to 2012 was searched and the infection data in them were sorted and analyzed.

A total of 26 papers were obtained. In the recent 30 years, the infection rates of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm in Jiangsu Province decreased gradually, but the infection levels in northern Jiangsu were higher than those in central and southern Jiangsu. In northern and central of Jiangsu Province, the descent speed of the intestinal nematode infection levels was faster before 2000, and then it slowed down after 2000. In southern Jiangsu, the descent speed of the infection level of A. lumbricoides was the fastest, but the infection level of T. trichiura with slight fluctuation kept relatively steady. From 1984 to 1989, the infection rates of the 3 intestinal nematodes above-mentioned in all age groups were high, and those of T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides were above 20% and 30%, respectively, and the infection rates of hookworm in middle aged and elderly populations were relatively high. From 1990 to 2000, the infection rates of A. lumbricoides in children and teenager as well as that of hookworm in the people aged from 40 to 70 years were high, but those of T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides in the people above 70 years old were low. During the period of 2001 to 2012, the middle aged and elderly population and children were still the high-risk groups of hookworm and A. lumbricoides infections, respectively. Conclusions In the recent 30 years, the infection rates of intestinal nematodes in Jiangsu Province have decreased year by year, but the infection levels in northern Jiangsu are still higher than those in central and southern Jiangsu, which means that the northern Jiangsu is the key area of intestinal nematodiasis control. Meanwhile, the A. lumbricoides infection rate of children and T. trichiura infection rate of the middle aged and elderly population are high, which suggests that the control should put emphasis on the key population.