 BackResearch Article ScienceAsia 21 (1995): 001-009 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1995.21.001
PARAGONIMUS HETEROTREMUS INFECTION IN A COMMUNITY IN SARABURI PROVINCE, CENTRAL THAILAND
E.S. UPATHAM,a V. VIYANANT,a S. KURATHONG,b S. VICHASRI,a W.Y. BROCKELMANa AND P. ARDSUENGNOENaABSTRACT: Intensive surveys for Paragonimus heterotremus were carried out in a small upland village community in Saraburi Province, Central Thailand, in order to measure prevalence and intensity of infection among inhabitants, and to determine seasonal infection rates and intensity of infection of P. heterotremus in freshwater crabs. Both sputa and faeces of villagers were examined. P. heterotremus eggs were detected in 7.6% and 2.8% of individuals who provided sputa and faeces, respectively, for examinations. For both sexes combined, the prevalence was highest in the 25-29 year age-group (28.0%). The mean rate of infection in males was slightly lower than that in females (6.0% vs. 9.1%). Sputa were negative in all people above 60 years of age. The intensity of infection in males peaked at the 50-59 year age-group (> 7,400 eggs per day), and in females at the 25-29 year age-group (>2,400 epd). The crabs Larnaudia larnaudii were found infected with P. heterotremus metacercariae every month, with an overall rate of infection as 25.0%. High rates and intensities of infection occurred during the dry season (in December and January). The P. heterotremus metacercariae were found more abundantly in the muscles of infected crabs. a Centre for Applied Malacology and Entomology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,
Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Received November 7, 1994
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