Abstract
The impact of intestinal parasitic infections on public health has been neglected. Millions of Myanmar natives have migrated to work in Thailand. We performed a study of intestinal parasitic infections in Myanmar-migrants working in the Thai food industry. A total of 338 Myanmar migrant workers in a food plant at Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand, were recruited for this study. 284 (84%) returned requested stool samples. Samples were examined for intestinal parasites by means of simple smear, formalin-ether concentration, Locke-Egg-Serum medium, and Harada-Mori culture methods. We found parasites in 177 (62.3%) migrants (29 of 46 males; 148 of 238 females). The majority (89.3%) were infected with parasites transmitted by fecal-oral route, including Blastocystis hominis (41.5%), Trichuris trichiura (22.2%), Giardia lamblia (14.1%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (1.8%). Mixed infections were common (40.7%). The highest prevalence (73.3%) was found among migrants from Kohsong city, Myanmar. This high parasite infection rate in Myanmar migrant workers is an obvious public health hazard.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Northayati M, Fatmah MS, Yusof S, Edariah AB. Intestinal parasitic infections in man: a review. Med J Malaysia. 2003;58:296–305.
Jongsuksantigul P, Chaeychomsri W, Techamontrikul P, Jeradit P, Suratanavanit P. Study of prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminthiasis and opisthorchiasis in Thailand. J Trop Med Parasitol. 1997;15:80–95.
Taamasri P, Leelayoova S, Rangsin R, Naaglor T, Ketupanya A, Mungthin M. Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis carriage in Thai army personnel based in Chonburi, Thailand. Mil Med. 2002;167:643–6.
Nuchprayoon S, Siriyasatien P, Kraivichian K, Porksakorn C, Nuchprayoon I. Prevalence of parasitic infections among Thai patients at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. J Med Assoc Thai. 2002;85(Suppl 1):415–23.
Triteeraprapab S, Jongwutiwes S, Chanthachum N. The prevalence rates of human intestinal parasites in Mae-la-moong, Umphang District, Tak Province, a rural area of Thailand. Chula Med J. 1997;41:649–58.
Triteeraprapab S, Nuchprayoon I. Eosinophilia, anemia and parasitism in a rural region of northwest Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1998;29:584–90.
Triteeraprapab S, Akrabovorn P, Promtorng J, Chuenta K. High prevalence of hookworm infection in a population of Northeastern Thailand after an opisthorchiasis control program. Chula Med J. 1999;43:99–108.
Triteeraprapab S, Thamapanyawat B, Nuchprayoon I, Thanamun B. Eosinophilia with low prevalence of parasitism in a rural area of Maha Sarakham Province after annual mass treatment with mebendazole and albendazole. Chula Med J. 2000;44:423–31.
Saksirisampant W, Wiwanitkit V, Akrabovorn P, Nuchprayoon S. Parasitic infections in Thai workers that pursue overseas employment: the need for a screening program. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2002;33(Suppl 3):110–2.
Saksirisampant W, Nuchprayoon S, Wiwanitkit V, Yenthakam S, Ampavasiri A. Intestinal parasitic infestations among children in an orphanage in Pathum Thani province. J Med Assoc Thai. 2003;86(Suppl 2):263–70.
Montresor A, Zin T, Padmasiri E, Allen H, Savioli L. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Myanmar and approximate costs for countrywide control. Trop Med Int Health. 2004;9:1012–5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01297.x.
Soriano SV, Barbieri LM, Pierangeli NB, Giayetto AL, Manacorda AM, Castronovo E, et al. Intestinal parasites and the environment: frequency of intestinal parasites in children of Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina. Rev Latinoam Microbiol. 2001;43:96–101.
Skarbinski J, James EM, Causer LM, Barber AM, Mali S, Nguyen-Dinh P, et al. Malaria surveillance—United States, 2004. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2006;55(4):23–37.
Euro TB. Surveillance of tuberculosis in Europe, 2004. EuroTB Annual Reports, report on tuberculosis cases notified in 2004, UK. Available on: http://www.eurotb.org. Accessed: March 10, 2008.
Walker PF, Jaranson J. Refugee and immigrant health care. Med Clin North Am. 1999;83:1103–20.
Center of Disease Control. Department of Health, Taiwan: Items required for Health Certificate for foreign labors. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/en/. Accessed March 10, 2008.
Wang LC. Changing patterns in intestinal parasitic infections among Southeast Asian laborers in Taiwan. Parasitol Res. 2004;92:18–21. doi:10.1007/s00436-003-1013-4.
Lopez-Velez R, Huerga H, Turrientes MC. Infectious diseases in immigrants from the perspective of tropical medicine referral unit. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003;69:115–21.
Lifson AR, Thai D, O’Fallon A, Mills WA, Hang K. Prevalence of tuberculosis, Hepatitis B virus, and intestinal parasitic infections among refugees to Minnesota. Public Health Rep. 2002;117:69–77.
Arfaa F. Intestinal parasites among Indochinese refugees and Mexican immigrants resettled in Contra Costa County, California. J Fam Pract. 1981;12:223–6.
Huguet JW, Punpuing S. International migration in Thailand. Bangkok: International Organization for Migration; 2005.
International Organization for Migration. Number of migrant labour work permits 1 June–30 August 2005. Available at: http://www.iom-seasia.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=6&pid=317. Accessed March 10, 2008.
National Food institute Thailand. Food sector in Thai economy, 2003. Available at: http://www.nfi.or.th/domestic/thai-food-industry/food-sector02.html. Accessed March 10, 2008.
Center of Epidemiological Information Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. Wkly Epidemiol Surveill Rep. 2003;34:325–6.
Triteeraprapab S. Update in lymphatic filariasis: a re-emerging disease of Thailand. Chula Med J. 1997;41:611–22.
Triteeraprapab S, Nuchprayoon I, Porksakorn C, Poovorawan Y, Scott AL. High prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti infection among Myanmar immigrants in Thailand. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2001;95:535–8. doi:10.1080/00034980120072248.
Triteeraprapab S, Songtrus J. High prevalence of bancroftian filariasis in Myanmar-immigrant workers: a study in Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand. J Med Assoc Thai. 1999;82:735–9.
Torres AM, Sanz B. Health care provision for illegal immigrants: should public health be concerned? J Epidemiol Community Health. 2000;54:478–9. doi:10.1136/jech.54.6.478.
Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labor, Thailand. Available at: http://www.doe.go.th/service3_en.aspx. Accessed March 10, 2008.
Sevilla RC, Chalamwong Y. Dilemmas of rapid growth: a preliminary evaluation of the policy implications of illegal migration in Thailand. TDRI Q Rev. 1996;11:16–24.
Wiwanitkit V, Assawawitoontip S. High prevalence of positive culture and parasites in stool samples of food handlers in a Thai hospital setting. MedGenMed. 2002;4:8.
Bajracharya D. Myanmar experiences in sanitation and hygiene promotion: lessons learned and future directions. Int J Environ Health Res. 2003;13(Suppl 1):S141–52. doi:10.1080/0960312031000102903.
Ohnmar, Than-Tun-Sein, Ko-Ko-Zaw, Saw-Saw, Soe-Win. Household income, health and education in a rural area of Myanmar. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2005;36(2):529–33.
Olson ME, Ceri H, Morck DW. Giardia vaccination. Parasitol Today (Personal Ed.). 2000;16:213–7. doi:10.1016/S0169-4758(99)01623-3.
Anantaphruti MT, Yamasaki H, Nakao M, Waikagul J, Watthanakulpanich D, Nuamtanong S. Sympatric occurrence of Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica, Thailand. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:1413–6.
Coker-Vann MR, Subianto DB, Brown P, Diwan AR, Desowitz R, Garruto RM, et al. ELISA antibodies to cysticerci of Taenia solium in human populations in New Guinea, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1981;12:499–505.
Warunee N, Choomanee L, Sataporn P, Rapeeporn Y, Nuttapong W, Sompong S, et al. Intestinal parasitic infections among school children in Thailand. Trop Biomed. 2007;24:83–8.
Saksirisampant W, Prownebon J, Kanmarnee P, Thaisom S, Yenthakam S, Nuchprayoon S. Prevalence of parasitism among students of the Karen hill-tribe in Mae Chame district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004;87(Suppl 2):S278–83.
Loh IK. Comparison of detection rate of some trematodes’ eggs by combined technique of formalin-ether sedimentation and zinc sulfate flotation. Korean J Parasitol. 1964;2:52–4.
Mahdi NK, Setrak SK, Shiwaish SM. Diagnostic methods for intestinal parasites in southern Iraq with reference to Strongyloides stercoralis. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1993;24:685–91.
Clark CG, Diamond LS. Methods for cultivation of luminal parasitic protists of clinical importance. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2002;15:329–41. doi:10.1128/CMR.15.3.329-341.2002.
Zhan B, Li T, Xiao S, Zheng F, Hawdon JM. Species-specific identification of human hookworms by PCR of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. J Parasitol. 2001;87:1227–9.
Yamasaki H, Allan JC, Sato MO, Nakao M, Sako Y, Nakaya K, et al. DNA differential diagnosis of taeniasis and cysticercosis by multiplex PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 2004;42:548–53. doi:10.1128/JCM.42.2.548-553.2004.
Khairnar K, Parija SC. A novel nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for differential detection of Entamoeba histolytica, E. moshkovskii and E. dispar DNA in stool samples. BMC Microbiol. 2007;24:7–47.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to the supervisors and officers at the Food Industry in Samut Sakhon Province. We would like to thank Ms. Sutin Yenthakam, Ms. Jarurat Prownebon, Ms. Alisa Junpee, Mr. Job Boonpunya, Mr. Parkpoom Dejhutsadin, Ms. Pasakorn Jaipradubpetch, Ms. Achara Jongjareonkumchok, Ms. Mattaneeya Pattarateerachat for their technical help. V. Sanprasert is supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) through the Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) Ph.D. Program (Grant No. PHD/0169/2543).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nuchprayoon, S., Sanprasert, V., Kaewzaithim, S. et al. Screening for Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Myanmar Migrant Workers in Thai Food Industry: A High-Risk Transmission. J Immigrant Minority Health 11, 115–121 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9169-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9169-8