Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PeerJ. 2024 Oct 8;12:e18216. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18216. eCollection 2024.
Soil-transmitted diseases are caused by intestinal worms transmitted various routes into the human body resulting in various clinical manifestations. This study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic factors contributing mainly to the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among newly arrived laborers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A total of 188 stool specimens were collected and examined macroscopically and microscopically using different techniques. In addition, real-time PCR was used as a molecular tool to detect several STHs. The descriptive analysis was used to evaluate demographic data and categorical variables in association with STHs infection.
Of all participants, the mean age was 26.08 ± 2.67 years, including 103 females and 85 males. A total of 86 (45.70%) were illiterate, followed by 60 (31.90%) of participants belonging to elementary level. STHs and other intestinal parasites were detected among 35 newly arrived laborers (18.61%). Nineteen cases (10.11%) were infected with STHs, including 15 cases with one STHs (four four four two one ) and four cases with two STHs (two and ; one and ; one and ). High rates of STHs infection were detected among drivers (11.70%) followed by housemaids (11.20%), but with no significant association to occupation. Higher rates of STHs infection were detected among those used to walk on soil barefoot in their home countries before arriving in Jeddah.
This study found that none of the newly arrived expatriate laborers in Jeddah was aware of STHs. About 10% of them had infection with one or two STHs, mainly among newly arrived laborers from Asian countries. There is a need for awareness programs and regular screening for STHs and other intestinal parasites among newly arrived expatriate laborers.
土壤传播疾病是由通过各种途径进入人体的肠道蠕虫引起的，导致各种临床表现。本研究旨在调查导致沙特阿拉伯吉达新到工人中土壤传播蠕虫（STHs）流行的主要社会人口因素。
共采集 188 份粪便标本，采用不同技术进行宏观和微观检查。此外，实时 PCR 被用作检测几种 STHs 的分子工具。描述性分析用于评估人口统计学数据和与 STHs 感染相关的分类变量。
所有参与者的平均年龄为 26.08±2.67 岁，包括 103 名女性和 85 名男性。共有 86 人（45.70%）是文盲，其次是 60 人（31.90%）属于小学水平。在 35 名新到工人中发现了 STHs 和其他肠道寄生虫。19 例（10.11%）感染了 STHs，包括 15 例感染了一种 STHs（四 四 四 二 一）和 4 例感染了两种 STHs（二 ；一 ；一 ；一 ）。司机（11.70%）和女佣（11.20%）中 STHs 感染率较高，但与职业无关。在到达吉达之前，在本国习惯赤脚走在土地上的新到工人中，检测到更高的 STHs 感染率。
本研究发现，吉达的新到外籍工人中没有人了解 STHs。其中约 10%的人感染了一种或两种 STHs，主要是来自亚洲国家的新到工人。需要为新到的外籍工人开展 STHs 和其他肠道寄生虫的意识宣传计划和定期筛查。
