Biomaterial Database

Soil contamination and infections by soil-transmitted helminths in an endemic village in southern Thailand. 1999

V Chongsuvivatwong, and S Uga, and W Nagnaen

Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand. cvirasak@ratree.psu.ac.th

The aim of this study was to test the association between soil contamination and infection of the household members by soil-transmitted helminths in dry and rainy seasons. A lake-side community in southern Thailand with a population of 2,340 was studied twice, in the dry season and rainy season of 1995. Fifty households were randomly selected. Soil samples near the latrine, in the yard, at the foot-washing area and under the trees were taken and analysed for presence of helminthic eggs. All members of the selected household were interviewed and stool samples obtained. Age-adjusted odds ratios of presence of Ascaris and Trichuris eggs in the household soil for ascariasis and trichuriasis were 10.5 (95% CI 1.5-77.1) and 5.5 (95% CI 2.4-12.7) in dry season and 10.4 (95% CI 2.5-43.8) and 8.3 (95% CI 3.4-20.0) in rainy season. The levels of hookworm eggs detected in the soil were too low to test the association. Soil analysis for eggs of Ascaris and Trichuris may be used to predict infections among the household members but not that for hookworm.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010270	Parasite Egg Count	Determination of parasite eggs in feces.	Count, Parasite Egg,Counts, Parasite Egg,Egg Count, Parasite,Egg Counts, Parasite,Parasite Egg Counts
D011159	Population Surveillance	Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy.	Surveillance, Population
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005243	Feces	Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D006725	Hookworm Infections	Infection of humans or animals with hookworms other than those caused by the genus Ancylostoma or Necator, for which the specific terms ANCYLOSTOMIASIS and NECATORIASIS are available.	Bunostomiasis,Infections, Hookworm,Bunostomiases,Hookworm Infection,Infection, Hookworm
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001196	Ascariasis	Infection by nematodes of the genus ASCARIS. Ingestion of infective eggs causes diarrhea and pneumonitis. Its distribution is more prevalent in areas of poor sanitation and where human feces are used for fertilizer.	Ascaris Infection,Ascariases,Ascaris Infections,Infection, Ascaris,Infections, Ascaris
D012621	Seasons	Divisions of the year according to some regularly recurrent phenomena usually astronomical or climatic. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Seasonal Variation,Season,Seasonal Variations,Variation, Seasonal,Variations, Seasonal
D012987	Soil	The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.	Peat,Humus,Soils