Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in northeastern Thailand (agar plate culture detection).

UNLABELLED: The prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection was studied in the rural and urban populations of 19 provinces of Northeastern Thailand. A total of 1233 fecal samples was collected from July to September 2002 and examined using agar plate culture method. The overall prevalence of S. stercoralis was 23.5 per cent with the highest infection rate in Kalasin Province (61.0%), predominantly among 60 year olds and older (28.0%), and in males (32.8%). The factors associated with Strongyloides infection were sex (males) and age (the over 19 year-old age group).

CONCLUSION

S. stercoralis infection remains highly prevalent among the population of northeastern Thailand as confirmed by the agar plate culture method. The authors recommend that a program for effective strongyloidiasis control should have a justifiable priority.