Sunday, July 29, 2018
Articles Call for Tribhuvan University Journal of Microbiology (TUJM)-Volume 5
Labels:
2018 (Date of Publication),
November
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Thursday, July 19, 2018
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM OF INTESTINAL PARASITES IN NEPAL
Research Completed entitled "Public Health Problem of Intestinal Parasites in Nepal"
funded by
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND:
Consumption of raw vegetables is a common
practice in Nepal. However, the contamination of such raw vegetables with
intestinal parasites possess potential threat to the health of the population
especially to immunocompromised groups such as children. Hence the study was
conducted with objectives to determine the contamination rate of intestinal
parasites on raw vegetables sold in Kathmandu valley and to know the level of
contamination of farming sites and water sources used for irrigation. The study
also aimed to determine the parasitic infections among the school children.
METHODS:
The study was conducted from January to May 2018 at
Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University. A total
of 212 stool samples were collected from different public and private schools
at Kathmandu valley. Similarly, 190 vegetable samples (90 from field and 100
from markets), 100 water samples from irrigation sites and 100 soil samples
from farming site were collected and processed following standard protocol. Each
sample was processed for concentration of parasites by sedimentation and
floatation techniques. Each the concentrated samples were observed under
microscope by wet mount and iodine preparation. Additionally, modified acid-fast staining
technique was done for the detection of coccidian oocysts.
RESULTS:
The overall intestinal parasitosis among
school children was found to be 16.0% with significantly higher among the those
using untreated water for drinking. The infection rate was slightly higher in
male children and comparatively higher in the age group of 9-12 years however
the results were not statistically significant. Altogether 8 different
parasites were reported among which the protozoa Entamoeba histolytica
top the list followed by Giardia lamblia, Trichuria trichiura, Taenia spp.
Ascaris lumbriciodes, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Hookworm and Blastocystis
hominis.
The intestinal parasitic contamination was
found in 44.2% of the vegetable samples. The maximum contamination was found in
coriander followed by leafy vegetables such as mustard leaves, onion leaves
etc. The lowest contamination rate was observed in cucumber. Since cucumber was
not found in field, the contamination in that vegetable might be during
transportation. The contamination rate was found higher in the vegetable
samples collected from field than that of collected from markets. E.
histolytica was the most common protozoa and A. lumbricoides was the
most predominant helminths isolated from raw vegetables. Likewise, 43%
of the soil samples and 61% of water samples were found to be contaminated with
different intestinal parasites. The predominant parasites in soil and water
samples were A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia respectively.
CONCLUSION:
Although parasitic infection among the
human population was found to be in decreasing trend, the contamination rate of
vegetable samples was found to be still high. These raw vegetables could be the
sources of parasitic outbreaks in the community. The use of untreated sewage
water for the irrigation and washings, use of night soils as fertilizers and unproperly
transportation and storage were observed during the study which might be the
main factors for the contamination of vegetables by intestinal parasites.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Similar
parasites were identified in both from human and environmental samples which
clearly showed the possibility of parasitic infection to human from the
environment via different routes, hence we should identify those routes,
sanitize our surrounding and manage good hygiene practice (handwashing, safe
drinking water, good food hygiene) to control all possible parasitic
infections.
Labels:
Antiparasitic infection