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

Abstract 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 1 253 in 3 suburban government schools. Results Total samples of 202 registered 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 genders ( P >0.05). The highest rate of infection was 20.4% in Pathom 2 (8 years) students and the lowest was 4% in Pathom 1 (7 years) with statistically difference between age groups ( P Giardia lamblia ( G. lamblia ) which was found in 50% of infected cases, followed by 25% of Entamoeba histolytica ( E. histolytica ) and Blastocystis hominis ( B. hominis ). The highest prevalence of non-pathogenic protozoa was Endolimax nana ( E. nana ) which was found in 88.9%, followed by 11.1% of Entamoeba coli ( E. coli ). Mixed infections between Blastocystis 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.