[Investigation on soil - transmitted nematode infections in national surveillance sites in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2015]

Objective: To understand the status of soil-transmitted nematode infections in rural residents so as to provide the evidence for formulating the guidance for prevention and control of the diseases.

Methods: The national surveillance sites of soil-transmitted nematode infections were established in Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2015. At least 1 000 fecal samples of residents aged 3 years or above were collected in every autumn, and the intestinal helminth eggs were detected with the Kato-Katz technique and the Enterubius vermicularis eggs were detected by the cellophane tape method for children aged 3-12 years. The soil samples were collected from vegetable fields, lavatories, courtyards and kitchens to examine Ascaris lumbricoides eggs and larvae of hookworm.

Results: The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in residents and E. vermicularis in children reduced from 1.81% (19/1 049) and 4.72% (5/106) in 2006 to 0.25% (3/1 180) and 0 (0/263) in 2015, respectively, in the surveillance sites. The infection intensity was mild in all the infected cases. The soil samples were negative for detecting A. lumbricoides eggs and hookworm larvae.

Conclusions: The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in the residents and E. vermicularis in the children show a decreasing trend and keep at a low level of prevalence in Shuyang County.