Soil-transmitted helminth egg contamination from soil of indigenous communities in selected barangays in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Philippines

James Owen DELALUNA; Mary Jane FLORES; Jose Isagani JANAIRO; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO; James Owen DELALUNA; Mary Jane FLORES; Vicente BELIZARIO; Jose Isagani JANAIRO; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO; Vicente BELIZARIO; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO

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Soil-transmitted helminth egg contamination from soil of indigenous communities in selected barangays in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Philippines

Author: James Owen DELALUNA ¹ ; Mary Jane FLORES ¹ ; Jose Isagani JANAIRO ¹ ; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO ¹ ; James Owen DELALUNA ² ; Mary Jane FLORES ² ; Vicente BELIZARIO ² ; Jose Isagani JANAIRO ² ; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO ² ; Vicente BELIZARIO ³ ; Derick Erl SUMALAPAO ⁴
Author Information

1. Biology Department, College of Science, De la Salle University
2. Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research, De la Salle University
3. Department of Parasitology, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines
4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health University of the Philippines
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Ascaris; Indigenous peoples; Public health; Soil-transmitted helminths; Toxocara; Trichuris
From: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2020;13(9):409-414
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: To provide baseline data on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination in the soil among indigenous communities. Methods: A total of 317 soil samples from three barangays of indigenous communities communities in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Philippines were examined for soil-transmitted helminthiasis egg contamination using optimized sugar flotation method. Results: Of the soil samples examined, 141 (44.48%) were contaminated by Ascaris spp., Toxocara spp., and Trichuris spp. with cumulative prevalence varying across the study sites (P0.01). Ascaris spp. was predominant in all study sites, followed by Toxocara spp. and Trichuris spp. with a prevalence of 41.96%, 7.57%, and 5.36%, respectively. Interestingly, Toxocara pp. has the highest intensity of contamination, followed by Ascaris spp. and Trichuris spp. in term of geometric mean soil-transmitted helminthiasis eggs recovered per one gram soil sample (34.25, 21.45, and 11.85 respectively). Each study site harbors significant amount of soiltransmitted helminthiasis eggs and zoonotic Toxocara eggs, which present high risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis infection, particularly among children observed to play and cohabitate with animals known to be hosts of these parasites. Conclusions: The alarming rate of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and Toxocara egg contamination reported in this study suggests that additional measures should be undertaken to control soil-transmitted helminthiasis and zoonotic intestinal infections in the country.