[Emergence in humans of fascioliasis (from Fasciola gigantica) and intestinal distomatosis (from Fasciolopsis buski) in Laos].

Distomatoses due to Fasciola spp. and Fasciolopsis buski are very common in the developing countries of Southeast Asia. The flukes in Laos have not yet been completely studied and described, however. In 2004, we began screening for these two distomatoses in the province of Savannakhet, in southern Laos. Our initial results showed that the causal agent of fascioliasis in humans and animals is Fasciola gigantica. The infestation rate of fascioliasis in cattle in slaughterhouses ranged from 17 to 57%, with higher percentages in buffalo (75-100%) than in cows (0-25%). In Laotian villages, the prevalence of human fascioliasis reached 2.4 % after a stool examination and 13.8 % after systematic serology testing. The prevalence of intestinal distomatosis from F. buski was 33.7%. The rate of villagers with hepatobiliary and intestinal events exceeded 2% but the involvement of these two forms of distomatosis varied highly, ranging from 1.7% (stool diagnosis) to 16.4% (serodiagnosis) for F. gigantica and 11.2% for F. buski. We have described the first cases of fascioliasis and intestinal distomatosis from F. buski in Laos.