Phasuk Nonthapan, Kache Ratee, Thongtup Kanjana, Boonmuang Saowalee, Punsawad Chuchard
School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
J Trop Med. 2020 Sep 8;2020:9659640. doi: 10.1155/2020/9659640. eCollection 2020.
Soil is considered the primary source of transmission to humans, especially children. The status of soil contamination with eggs in southern Thailand is unknown. This study aimed at estimating the soil contamination with eggs in public schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand. Soil samples were collected from 12 public schools between August and September 2017. At each site, ten soil samples were collected from the following five types of locations: (1) playgrounds, (2) football fields, (3) sidewalks, (4) schoolyards, and (5) areas around cafeterias. In total, 120 samples were examined for eggs with a modified flotation method using a sucrose solution. eggs were detected in 8 (66.7%) of the 12 studied public schools. Of the 120 soil samples, 22 (18.3%; 95% CI: 11.9, 26.4) were contaminated with eggs. The highest levels of egg contamination were observed in playgrounds (41.7%; 95% CI: 22.1, 63.4), followed by football fields (20.8%; 95% CI: 7.1, 42.2), sidewalks (12.5%; 95% CI: 2.7, 32.4), and schoolyards (12.5%; 95% CI: 2.7, 32.4). There were significant differences in the distribution of eggs across location types ( < 0.05). The findings demonstrated that the soil samples from public schools were contaminated with eggs. Playgrounds were the most heavily contaminated locations. Teaching children proper handwashing steps and discouraging geophagia should be implemented to reduce the distribution of and limit future infections.
土壤被认为是人类尤其是儿童感染的主要传播源。泰国南部土壤中虫卵的污染状况尚不清楚。本研究旨在评估泰国南部那空是贪玛叻府公立学校土壤中的虫卵污染情况。2017年8月至9月期间，从12所公立学校采集了土壤样本。在每个地点，从以下五种类型的位置采集了10个土壤样本：（1）操场，（2）足球场，（3）人行道，（4）校园，以及（5）食堂周围区域。总共使用蔗糖溶液改良浮选法对120个样本进行了虫卵检测。在12所研究的公立学校中，有8所（66.7%）检测到虫卵。在120个土壤样本中，有22个（18.3%；95%置信区间：11.9，26.4）被虫卵污染。操场的虫卵污染水平最高（41.7%；95%置信区间：22.1，63.4），其次是足球场（20.8%；95%置信区间：7.1，42.2）、人行道（12.5%；95%置信区间：2.7，32.4）和校园（12.5%；95%置信区间：2.7，32.4）。不同位置类型的虫卵分布存在显著差异（P<0.05）。研究结果表明，公立学校的土壤样本被虫卵污染。操场是污染最严重的地点。应教导儿童正确的洗手步骤并劝阻异食癖，以减少虫卵传播并限制未来的感染。
