Intestinal sarcocystosis in Thai laborers

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Public Health
• Foodborne Zoonoses

Background:

• Intestinal parasites pose a significant health concern, particularly in populations with specific dietary habits and living conditions.
• Thai laborers migrating for work represent a demographic potentially exposed to various parasitic infections.
• Understanding parasite prevalence is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis and other intestinal parasites among asymptomatic Thai laborers preparing for overseas work.
• To identify specific parasite species and risk factors associated with infection in this population.

Main Methods:

• Stool examinations were conducted on 362 asymptomatic Thai laborers.
• Parasite identification and prevalence rates were calculated for all detected species.
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess associations between Sarcocystis prevalence and demographic factors like gender and region of origin.

Main Results:

• The most prevalent parasites were Opisthorchis viverini (40.3%), Sarcocystis sp. (23.2%), hookworm (21.5%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (14.1%).
• Sarcocystis infection was significantly higher in male laborers (83.3%) and those from northeastern Thailand (26.6%).
• Several other parasites were found at lower rates, including Giardia intestinalis and Trichuris trichiura.

Conclusions:

• Thai laborers, especially from northeastern Thailand, exhibit a high prevalence of intestinal parasites.
• Dietary practices (raw meat consumption) and poor hygiene likely contribute to the observed infection rates.
• Sarcocystosis represents a potential significant food-borne zoonotic infection in Thailand requiring attention.