Intestinal parasitic infections in suburban government schools,Lak Hok subdistrict,Muang Pathum Thani,Thailand

Objective:To provide baseline information of parasitic infections in 3 suburban government schools,Lakhok subdistrict of Muang Pathum Thani,Thailand.Methods:This study was conducted between May-June 2010 using simple direct smear and modified formalin ether and from a population of 1253 in 3 suburban government schools.Results:Total samples of 202registered and participated.The average of prevalence of infection from 3 schools was 13.9%,there were 13.7%,14.3%and 13.9%in N,S and R school,respectively with no significant difference between schools(P>0.05).The infection rates did not show significant difference between gender(P>0.05).The highest rate of infection was 20.4%in Pathom 2(8 years)students and the lowest was4%in Pathom 1(7 years)with statistically difference between age groups(P<0.05).The highest prevalence of pathogenic protozoa was Giardia lamblin(G.lamblia)which was found in 50%of infected cases,followed by 25%of Entamoeba Inictolytica(E.histolytica)and Blastocystis hominis(B.hominis).The highest prevalence of non-pathogenic protozoa was Endnhmat nano(E.nana)which was found in 88.9%,followed by 11.1%of Entamoeba coli(E.coli).Mixed infections between Blastocwstis hominis(B.hominis)and Endolimax nana(E.nana)were reported at 7.1%.The only helminthic infection found in this study area was hookworm,found in 1 student(3.8%).The formalin ether concentration technique showed a higher efficacy of detection(78%-100%)than the simple direct smear method(0%-50%).Conclusions:Surveillance of protozoan infections may need to be focused on suburban areas.