Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane 4029, Queensland, Australia.
Int J Parasitol. 2011 Sep;41(11):1165-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.07.006. Epub 2011 Aug 16.
Schistosomiasis japonica and soil-transmitted helminthiasis are endemic parasitic diseases in the People's Republic of China (PR China). As very few studies have reported on the distribution and interaction of multiple species helminth infections, we carried out a comparative study of households in a rural village and a peri-urban setting in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan province in November and December 2006 to determine the extent of single and multiple species infections, the underlying risk factors for infection, and the relationships with clinical manifestations and self-reported morbidity. In each household, stool samples were collected and subjected to the Kato-Katz method for identifying Schistosoma japonicum, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections. Clinical examinations were performed and questionnaire surveys conducted at both household and individual subject levels. Complete parasitological, clinical and questionnaire data were obtained for 1,298 inhabitants of the two settings. The overall prevalences of single infections of S. japonicum, A. lumbricoides, hookworm and T. trichiura were 6.5%, 5.5%, 3.0% and 0.8%, respectively; the majority of the infections were of light intensity. We found significant negative associations between wealth and infections with S. japonicum and A. lumbricoides. Clinical manifestations of splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and anaemia were prevalent (9.0%, 3.7% and 10.9%, respectively), the latter two being significantly (P<0.05) associated with schistosomiasis. Self-reported symptoms were more common among females but there was considerable under-reporting in both sexes when relying only on spontaneous recall. Our findings may guide the design and targeting of a more equitable, comprehensive and integrated parasitic disease control programme in Hunan province and in other areas of PR China.
日本血吸虫病和土源性线虫病是中华人民共和国（中国）流行的寄生虫病。由于很少有研究报道多种蠕虫感染的分布和相互作用，我们于 2006 年 11 月至 12 月在湖南省洞庭湖地区的一个农村村庄和城郊环境中进行了一项家庭比较研究，以确定单一和多种物种感染的程度、感染的潜在危险因素，以及与临床表现和自我报告发病率的关系。在每个家庭中，收集粪便样本并采用加藤厚涂片法鉴定日本血吸虫、蛔虫、钩虫和鞭虫感染。在家庭和个体层面进行临床检查和问卷调查。在这两个环境中，共有 1298 名居民获得了完整的寄生虫学、临床和问卷调查数据。日本血吸虫、蛔虫、钩虫和鞭虫单一感染的总流行率分别为 6.5%、5.5%、3.0%和 0.8%；大多数感染为轻度。我们发现财富与日本血吸虫和蛔虫感染之间存在显著的负相关。脾肿大、肝肿大和贫血的临床表现较为普遍（分别为 9.0%、3.7%和 10.9%），后两者与血吸虫病显著相关（P<0.05）。自我报告的症状在女性中更为常见，但仅依靠自发回忆，男女两性的报告都存在相当大的漏报。我们的发现可能为湖南省和中国其他地区制定更公平、全面和综合的寄生虫病控制计划提供指导。
