Objective: To understand the prevalence of important human parasitic diseases in Fujian province.
Methods: According to the national guidelines, clustered random sampling was made for the survey. Modified Kato-Katz thick smear was applied to examine helminth eggs for soil-transmitted nematodes and Clonorchis sinensis. Cellophane and swab technique was applied for detecting Enterobius vermicularis eggs in children under 12. Questionnairing, skin test, serological test and eosinophil examination were carried out for Paragonimus infection. Questionnairing and serological test were used for Taenia infection and cysticercosis. Retrospective investigation was conducted with the data on outpatient and hospitalized cases with parasitic diseases.
Results: 45,736 people at 73 spots of 24 counties were investigated and 14 species of parasites were found. The overall infection rate of intestinal helminth infections was 36.15%. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms and Trichuris trichiura was 9.55%, 19.73% and 11.48% respectively. The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis and Clonorchis sinensis was 22.06% and 0.60% respectively. The positive rate of skin test and serological test among skin test positives for Paragonimus infection was 7.07% and 9.23% respectively. The serology positive rate for cysticercosis was 2.28%, only 3 cases of taenia infection were found from 16371 persons investigated. Human infections with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Diphyllobothrium latus, Taenia saginata, and Gnathostoma spinigerum were found for the first time in the Province. Metorchis orientalis and Echinostoma aegyptiaca infections in human were first recorded.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted nematodes has decreased significantly in the province, although still highly prevalent in social-economically less developed areas. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to the food-borne parasitic infections in human population.