1.Entamoeba infections and associated risk factors among migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia
Sahimin, N. ; Yunus, M.H. ; Douadi, B. ; Yvonne Lim, A.L. ; Noordin, R. ; Behnke, J.M. ; Mohd Zain, S.N.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(4):1014-1026
The influx of low skilled migrant workers to Malaysia from low socio-economic
countries where gastrointestinal parasitic infections are prevalent has raised concerns about
transmission to the local population. Three methods for detection (serology, microscopy and
molecular techniques) were utilized to identify Entamoeba infections amongst the targeted
cohort and determine risk factors associated with infection. Serological screening of 484
migrant workers from five working sectors in Peninsular Malaysia using IgG4 ELISA based on
the rPPDK antigen showed an overall seroprevalence of 7.4% (n = 36; CL95 = 5.3–10.1%) with
only one factor statistically associated with seropositivity of anti-amoebic antibodies, i.e.
years of residence in Malaysia (χ2
1 = 4.007, p = 0.045). Microscopic examination of 388 faecal
samples for protozoan cysts and trophozoites showed a slightly higher prevalence (11.6%;
n=45; CL95: 8.4–14.8%). Meanwhile, amplification of the 16S rDNA gene detected two species
i.e. Entamoeba dispar (23/388; 5.9%; CL95: 3.6–8.3%) and E. histolytica (11/388; 2.8%; CL95:
1.2–4.5%) and mixed infections with both parasites in only three samples (3/388; 0.8%; CL95:
0.2–2.2%). Entamoeba dispar infection was significantly associated with those employed in
food and domestic services (χ2
4 = 12.879, p = 0.012). However, none of the factors affected
the prevalence of E. histolytica infection. Despite the low prevalence of E. histolytica in
faecal samples of the study cohort, the presence of this pathogenic parasite still poses
potential public health risks and calls for tighter control strategies based on better availability
of chemotherapeutic treatment and accessibility to appropriate health education.