In the present study, we report on the occurrence of paramphistomes, Fischoederius cobboldi and Paramphistomum epiclitum, in Lao PDR with the basis of molecular data. Parasite materials were collected from bovines bred in Ban Lahanam area, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR at Lahanam public market. Morphological observations indicated 2 different species of paramphistomes. The mitochondrial gene cox1 of the specimens was successfully amplified by PCR and DNA sequencing was carried out for diagnosis of 11 specimens. Pairwise alignment of cox1 sequences were performed and confirmed F. cobboldi and P. epiclitum infecting bovines in Laos. Although there were many limiting points, as the small number of worm samples, and the restricted access of the animal host materials, we confirmed for the first time that 2 species of paramphistomes, F. cobboldi and P. epiclitum, are distributed in Lao PDR. More studies are needed to confirm the paramphistome species present in Savannakhet and its hosts to clear the natural history of these parasites of ruminants in the region and measure the impact of this parasite infection in the life and health of the local people.
Animals ; Cattle ; Diagnosis ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Helminths ; Laos ; Natural History ; Paramphistomatidae* ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rumen* ; Ruminants ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

InLao PDR, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) evaluates bednet coverage,often at the village level, using a coverage target of one net per 2.5 (or fewer)persons in a given population. However, in villages that meet the target, notall households necessarily meet the target or utilize all available bednets. Thisstudy explored households that fell short of the target and household utilizationof bednets in villages that met the target of bednet coverage set by the NMCP. Thepersons per net ratio (PPNR), which is defined as the population divided by thenumber of available bednets in a household/village, was used to determine whethera household/village met the NMCP target. Using a household survey, we collectedand analyzed the data of 635 households in 17 villages in Xepon district in2012. Households that fell short of the target (households with a PPNR of >2.5 or no bednet) existed in every village. The proportion of these households differedgreatly among the villages, ranging from 3.4–50%, with some households fallingfar short. Of the 635 households, 275 (43.5%) had at least one bednet that wasnot being used on the night preceding the survey and 131 (20.6%) had at leasttwo. In conclusion, in villages that met the NMCP target, a considerable numberof households fell short of the target. Available bednets were not fullyutilized in many of the surveyed households.

In Lao PDR, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) evaluates bednet coverage, often at the village level, using a coverage target of one net per 2.5 (or fewer) persons in a given population. However, in villages that meet the target, not all households necessarily meet the target or utilize all available bednets. This study explored households that fell short of the target and household utilization of bednets in villages that met the target of bednet coverage set by the NMCP. The person per net ratio (PPNR), which is defined as the population divided by the number of available bednets in a household/village, was used to determine whether a household/village met the NMCP target. Using a household survey, we collected and analyzed the data of 635 households in 17 villages in Xepon district in 2012. Households that fell short of the target (households with a PPNR of > 2.5 or no bednet) existed in every village. The proportion of these households differed greatly among the villages, ranging from 3.4–50%, with some households falling far short. Of the 635 households, 275 (43.5%) had at least one bednet that was not being used on the night preceding the survey and 131 (20.6%) had at least two. In conclusion, in villages that met the NMCP target, a considerable number of households fell short of the target, and the available bednets were not fully utilized in many of the surveyed households.

This article summarizes observations made in Northern Uganda and a lecture given at the Nodding Syndrome Workshop in Nagasaki September 2013. The objective of the manuscript is to summarize the current knowledge on nodding syndrome and to provide an agenda for investigations into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and care management of nodding syndrome in Uganda.

This article summarizes observations made in Northern Uganda and a lecture given at the Nodding Syndrome Workshop in Nagasaki September 2013. The objective of the manuscript is to summarize the current knowledge on nodding syndrome and to provide an agenda for investigations into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and care management of nodding syndrome in Uganda.

Anemia is a severe public health problem in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). Consequently, a new control strategy to reduce the burden of anemia has been introduced for preschool children (aged 6–52 months). The objective of this study was to assess the current prevalence of anemia and related factors in preschool children in southern rural Lao PDR. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in six communities in Songkhone district, Savannakheth province, in February 2009. As a result, the prevalence of anemia was found to be 48.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 43.5–54.3), although most cases were mild. A multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that there was no protective effect of breastfeeding against anemia. The anemia prevalence was higher in 1) children aged 6–23 months (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.02–2.90) than in older children, 2) children in large families (6 or more members) (OR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.17–3.29), and 3) children in three remote villages with relatively difficult access to markets (OR = 3.01, 95% CI, 1.25–7.47).
In Lao PDR, improvement of food practices and home-fortified food supplementation interventions are essential. High-risk groups should be targeted and a long-term health education program that aims to modify food habits implemented. Furthermore, in settings where iron deficiency is not the only cause of anemia, combining an iron supplement with other measures is necessary.

An attempt was made to examine the long-term impact of the introduction of communal piped water supply on pattern of water use and transmission of schistosomiasis haematobia in an endemic area of Kenya. In the study area, Mtsangatamu, a control program based on repeated selective mass-chemotherapy had been carried out for 6 years from 1987 to 1993. The pre-treatment overall prevalence and intensity of infection in 1987 were 59.2% and 10.9 eggs⁄10 ml of urine (Muhoho et al., 1997). During the control program, the prevalence was kept at a low range of 20 to 40% (Muhoho et al., 1994). At the end of the program, in 1994, gravity-fed water supply was provided to the village. Although the water facilities were damaged by flooding in 1998, new and further expanded gravity-fed water supply facilities consisting of 7 standpipes were introduced in 2000. The follow-up survey done in 1999 revealed reduced prevalence and intensity of infection, I.e. 23.0% and 1.2 eggs⁄ 10 ml of urine (unpublished data). The present study was carried out in 2006, 6 years after the last mass-chemotherapy. Urine examination showed that the prevalence and intensity of infection had return to 52.2% and 7.4 eggs⁄10 ml, nearly the same level as the pre-treatment level. The results of our study demonstrated that, over the long-term, the gravity-fed water supply facilities had little impact on the overall prevalence and intensity of infection in this village. However, analysis of the spatial pattern of infection, observation of human water contact at the river and a questionnaire on water use shed light on the possible impact of water supply on human water contact. The younger people (5-19 years old) with easy access to the standpipes showed a lower prevalence and intensity of infection, while the relationship was not clear in other age groups.
The result of the questionnaire indicated that the long distance from household to standpipe was the major factor limiting the use of the communal tap water. Most of the villagers who used piped water as the main source of water lived within 800 m of the nearest standpipe, and villagers who used river water exclusively lived beyond that distance. Observation of water-related activities at the communal water facilities also indicated that the residents who lived near standpipes used the piped water more frequently.
The frequency of total visits to river water sites did not differ between residents who lived near and far from the standpipe. However, water contact in the form of playing, the highest risk behavior, was observed exclusively among children who lived far (>250m) from standpipes, although the number of observations was small.
The present study demonstrated that the water facilities had little effect on the dispersed population but might have a beneficial effect on some villagers given easy access to standpipes.

To investigate AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices (KABPs) among Chinese migrant laborers in east African cities, and to examine the current status of access to AIDS-related healthcare services, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Of 121 male laborer participants who spoke neither English nor Swahili, 109 (90.9%) had an education level of high school or less. The survey revealed that migrants‘ AIDS-related knowledge was poor, e.g., very few (n=4, 3.3%) were aware of the epidemiologic status of HIV in these two cities. Negative attitudes toward people living with HIV⁄AIDS (PLWHA) were widespread, and the majority (n=94, 77.7%) did not make use of AIDS-related healthcare services or education. Although the main information resources on HIV⁄AIDS in China include television (n=94, 77.7%), books and newspapers (n=78, 64.5%) and radio (n=51, 42.1%), these sources were much less common in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam (p&It;0.001 for each). One third (n=44, 36.4%) did not have any information resources in these two cities. These results indicate that Chinese migrant laborers are at risk of HIV infection in the two African cities. Appropriate education for the general population in China and for migrants in these two cities regarding HIV⁄AIDS, along with relevant information resources that are more accessible and useful for migrants in East Africa are therefore needed to minimize the risk of infection.

Although identification of water contact patterns is one of the most important factors for the prevention of Schistosoma japonicum infection, it is still insufficient for clarifying specific high-risk behaviors and their implications. Parasitological studies and behavioral observations were carried out in a rural village, the Dongting Lake region, China. A time-allocation study conducted by a time-saving spot-check method was implemented to quantify the behavioral risks. Of the 122 participants, 18 (14.8%; 95% confidence interval: 8.5, 21.0) were positive for S. japonicum. Among those diagnosed, the median (25−75% quartile) eggs per gram was 8 (8−16). A significant positive correlation with worm intensity was found among people who repair ships on the marshland (p&It;0.001), and this potential risk was consistent with previous suggestions. Although the parasitological techniques and study design require further improvements, our observational methods may be of use to explicitly identify behaviors at the local level that could be relevant to prevention.