Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 29 in total

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  1. Skin test suggesting human toxocariasis in West Malaysia
    Bisseru B
    Med J Malaya, 1968 Sep;23(1):35-40.
    PMID: 4237554
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  2. Fulltext Geographical distribution of soil transmitted helminths and the effects of community type in South Asia and South East Asia - A systematic review
    Silver ZA, Kaliappan SP, Samuel P, Venugopal S, Kang G, Sarkar R, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2018 01;12(1):e0006153.
    PMID: 29346440 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006153
    BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTD) worldwide. Since the publication of the WHO road map to combat NTD in 2012, there has been a renewed commitment to control STH. In this study, we analysed the geographical distribution and effect of community type on prevalence of hookworm, Trichuris and Ascaris in south Asia and south east Asia.

    METHODOLOGY: We conducted a systematic review of open-access literature published in PubMed Central and the Global Atlas of Helminth Infection. A total of 4182 articles were available and after applying selection criteria, 174 studies from the region were retained for analysis.

    PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Ascaris was the commonest STH identified with an overall prevalence of 18% (95% CI, 14-23%) followed by Trichuris (14%, 9-19%) and hookworm (12%, 9-15%). Hookworm prevalence was highest in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. We found a geographical overlap in countries with high prevalence rates for Trichuris and Ascaris (Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bangladesh). When the effect of community type was examined, prevalence rates of hookworm was comparable in rural (19%, 14-24%) and tribal communities (14%, 10-19%). Tribal communities, however, showed higher prevalence of Trichuris (38%, 18-63%) and Ascaris (32%, 23-43%) than rural communities (13%, 9-20% and 14%, 9-20% respectively). Considerable between and within country heterogeneity in the distribution of STH (I2 >90%) was also noted. When available data from school aged children (SAC) were analysed, prevalence of Ascaris (25% 16-31%) and Trichuris (22%, 14-34%) were higher than among the general population while that of hookworm (10%, 7-16%) was comparable.

    CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis showed significant variation in prevalence rates between and within countries in the region. Highlighting the importance of community type in prevalence and species mix, we showed that tribal and rural communities had higher hookworm infections than urban communities and for ascariasis and trichuriasis, tribal populations had higher levels of infection than rural populations. We also found a higher prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis in SAC compared to the general population but comparable levels of hookworm infections. These key findings need to be taken into account in planning future MDA and other interventions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  3. Helminthiases in peninsular Malaysia--prevalence and density of infestation of hookworm, Ascaris and trichuris in rural school children
    Lo EK, Varughese J, Ghouse A, Noor M
    Med J Malaysia, 1979 Dec;34(2):95-9.
    PMID: 548726
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  4. Prevalence and distribution of soil-transmitted helminthiases among Orang Asli children living in peripheral Selangor, Malaysia
    Al-Mekhlafi MS, Azlin M, Nor Aini U, Shaikh A, Sa'iah A, Fatmah MS, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2006 Jan;37(1):40-7.
    PMID: 16771211
    Soil-transmitted helminthiases are a public health problem in rural communities. A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and distribution of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm was conducted in 281 Orang Asli children (aborigines) aged between 2 and 15 years, from 8 Orang Asli villages in Selangor, Malaysia. All the children were infected with soil-transmitted helminthes, with 26.3% of the children infected either with A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or hookworm and 72.6% having mixed infection. The overall prevalences of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm were 61.9, 98.2 and 37.0%, respectively. Approximately 19.0, 26.0 and 3.0% of the children had severe infection of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, respectively. The prevalences and mean egg per gram (epg) counts for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were not significantly dependent on age, therefore age-dependent convexity was not seen in this study. However, the results of this study reveal an age-dependent prevalence and mean epg count in children with hookworm infection. We conclude that ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection are still prevalent and therefore a public health concern in Orang Asli communities. Severe ascariasis and trichuriasis may lead to other health and medical problems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  5. Fulltext Comparative trials using albendazole and mebendazole in the treatment of soil-transmitted helminths in schoolchildren on Penang, Malaysia
    Rahman WA
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1996 Dec;27(4):765-7.
    PMID: 9253881
    Trials using albendazole and mebendazole, as single 400 mg dose treatments, against soil-transmitted helminths, were carried out in 7-9 and 10-12 years-old schoolchildren living in urban and rural environments in Penang, Malaysia. Both drugs were equally effective in treating trichuriasis and ascariasis in both age groups and environments. However, mebendazole is not so effective in the treatment for hookworms when compared to albendazole. It is suggested that albendazole should be considered the drug of choice for mass chemotherapy for Penang.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  6. Does ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection predispose to non-specific abdominal symptoms among adults in endemic areas?
    Raj SM, Anteson R, Sivakumaran S, Abdullah MR, Low HC
    Trop Doct, 1994 Apr;24(2):88-9.
    PMID: 8009635
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  7. Aggregation and predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura at the familial level
    Chan L, Bundy DA, Kan SP
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1994 1 1;88(1):46-8.
    PMID: 8153999 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(94)90492-8
    This study examines the persistence of familial aggregation and familial predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection over 2 periods of treatment and reinfection, in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both parasite species were shown to be aggregated (assessed by the variance to mean ratio) within families at all 3 interventions, although no consistent trend in aggregation was observed over the period of the study. Associations between mean A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infection levels of families, at all 3 interventions, were highly significant (P < 0.0001), suggesting persistent predisposition at the family level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  8. Age-related prevalence, intensity and frequency distribution of gastrointestinal helminth infection in urban slum children from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Bundy DA, Kan SP, Rose R
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1988;82(2):289-94.
    PMID: 3188158
    The gastrointestinal helminth infection status of 1574 children living in a slum area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was assessed by quantitative coprology. Almost two-thirds were infected with Trichuris trichiura, 49.6% with Ascaris lumbricoides, and 5.3% with hookworm. Infection prevalence rose rapidly to a stable asymptote at 7 years of age, and the age-intensity profile was convex with maximal values in the 5-10 year age classes. This pattern was the same for males and females, but differed markedly between different ethnic groups. The frequency distributions of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were highly overdispersed (k values were 0.21 and 0.27, respectively), and age-dependent over the 0-8 year age classes. This suggests that the force of infection with these nematodes is lower in infants than in older children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  9. Intestinal parasitism in a Kampong on Pulau Pangkor, West Malaysia
    Nawalinski T, Roundy LM
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1978 Sep;9(3):440-1.
    PMID: 749228
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  10. Prevalence and predictors of low serum retinol and hypoalbuminaemia among children in rural Peninsular Malaysia
    Al-Mekhlafi MH, Azlin M, Aini UN, Shaik A, Sa'iah A, Norhayati M
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2007 Dec;101(12):1233-40.
    PMID: 17936317
    Vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition are still considered public health problems in rural areas of developing countries, including Malaysia. A cross-sectional exploration study was carried out on 281 Orang Asli (Aborigine) children aged between 2 and 15 years in Selangor, Malaysia. The overall prevalence of low serum retinol (<70 micromol/l) and hypoalbuminaemia (<35 g/l) were 25.2 and 7.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that severe ascariasis, significant stunting and giardiasis were significantly associated with low concentration of serum retinol. As well as intestinal parasitic infections, low socio-economic status was a significant predictor of hypoalbuminaemia. Logistic regression analysis identified severe ascariasis and significant stunting as predictors of low serum retinol, while mixed intestinal parasitic infection and low household income were predictors of hypoalbuminaemia. In conclusion, control measures for intestinal parasitic infections should be included as one of the strategies for the prevention and control of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in this population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  11. Fulltext Epidemiological surveys of, and research on, soil-transmitted helminths in Southeast Asia: a systematic review
    Dunn JC, Turner HC, Tun A, Anderson RM
    Parasit Vectors, 2016 Jan 27;9:31.
    PMID: 26813007 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1310-2
    Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections of humans fall within the World Health Organization's (WHO) grouping termed the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is estimated that they affect approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide. A significant proportion of these infections are in the population of Southeast Asia. This review analyses published data on STH prevalence and intensity in Southeast Asia over the time period of 1900 to the present to describe age related patterns in these epidemiological measures. This is with a focus on the four major parasite species affecting humans; namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and the hookworms; Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Data were also collected on the diagnostic methods used in the published surveys and how the studies were designed to facilitate comparative analyses of recorded patterns and changes therein over time. PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Global Atlas of Helminth Infections search engines were used to identify studies on STH in Southeast Asia with the search based on the major key words, and variants on, "soil-transmitted helminth" "Ascaris" "Trichuris" "hookworm" and the country name. A total of 280 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria from 11 Southeast Asian countries; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. It was concluded that the epidemiological patterns of STH infection by age and species mix in Southeast Asia are similar to those reported in other parts of the world. In the published studies there were a large number of different diagnostic methods used with differing sensitivities and specificities, which makes comparison of the results both within and between countries difficult. There is a clear requirement to standardise the methods of both STH diagnosis in faecal material and how the intensity of infection is recorded and reported in future STH research and in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the impact of continuing and expanding mass drug administration (MDA) programmes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  12. Intestinal parasitic infection among five interior communities at upper Rejang River, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Sagin DD, Mohamed M, Ismail G, Jok JJ, Lim LH, Pui JN
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2002 Mar;33(1):18-22.
    PMID: 12118449
    Intestinal parasitic infection among five interior communities at Bakun Valley, upper Rejang River, Sarawak, Malaysia, was investigated as part of a public health impact assessment of the proposed US$ 3 billion Bakun Hydroelectric Project. Coproparasitological examination of 355 stool samples from 7 of 16 villages representing 5 of 7 tribes in the area revealed infection rate of 41%. A higher infection rate was found among the settled Kayans (56%) than the seminomadic Penans (29%). Infection rate was high (68%) among children less than 14 years old. Trichuris trichiura accounted for more than 90% of all infections; less common were Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms and Strongyloides stercoralis. Polyparasitism was found in 8% of the individuals surveyed with dual infection due to T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides being more common than dual infection with T. trichiura and hookworm. Women had higher infection rates (57%) than men (33%).
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  13. The prevalence of malnutrition and geo-helminth infections among primary schoolchildren in rural Kelantan
    Zulkifli A, Anuar AK, Atiya AS, Yano A
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2000 Jun;31(2):339-45.
    PMID: 11127336
    A cross-sectional study of the nutritional status of schoolchildren aged 7-10 years from the Kuala Betis Resettlement Scheme in Gua Musang, Kelantan was done. A total of 291 schoolchildren were examined but only 183 (62.9%) fecal samples were returned for geo-helminth infection analysis. The prevalence of stunting was 40.4% and underweight was 28.4%. A total of 127 schoolchildren (69.4%) were positive for at least one of the 3 geo-helminth infections. The most common geo-helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (62.8%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (38.9%), and hookworm infection was relatively low (12.6%). All the anthropometric indices measured were lower in the geo-helminth infected children compared to the uninfected childen, except for the weight-for-height z-score. However the differences were insignificant Geo-helminth infections may not be a significant factor in malnutrition of these schoolchildren. However, with the availability of safe, efficacious and cheap broad spectrum anthelmintics, regular mass treatment should be given in selected areas where the prevalence of geo-helminth infections is still high, so that these schoolchildren will be able to achieve their growth potential during their school years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  14. Fulltext Ascariasis, trichuriasis, and growth of schoolchildren in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia
    Raj SM, Naing NN
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Dec;29(4):729-34.
    PMID: 10772554
    A study to determine the effect of antihelminthic treatment on growth and nutritional status was undertaken on 103 children in the second grade of primary school, 71 of whom were found to be infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or Trichuris trichiura. The median Ascaris and Trichuris intensities in the infected group were 19,600 (range; 0-488,000) and 2,800 (range; 0-84,600) eggs per gram of feces respectively. Forty-three children harbored both types of worm. Fourteen weeks after two 400 mg doses of albendazole were administered to infected children, the increases in weight, height, weight for age, height for age and weight for height were significantly higher among infected children than controls who were uninfected at baseline. The observed gains were independent of sex and socioeconomic status. Decrease in log transformed Trichuris intensity correlated with increases in weight (r=0.24; p=0.02) and weight for age (r=0.20; p=0.06) but decrease in Ascaris intensity did not correlate with increases in any of the anthropometric parameters. The results suggest that antihelminthic treatment has beneficial short-term effects on growth and nutritional status of a modest magnitude among early primary schoolchildren in the area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  15. Fulltext Helminthic infections of urban and rural schoolchildren in Penang Island, Malaysia: implications for control
    Rahman WA
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Sep;29(3):596-8.
    PMID: 10437964
    The intestinal parasites of schoolchildren from an urban and a rural area on Penang island, Malaysia were compared. Examination of stool samples for helminth eggs showed that helminths found were Trichuris, Ascaris and hookworms. The results indicate that there is no significant difference (p<0.05) between rural and urban schoolchildren as regards to the prevalence of the three species of helminths. An extensive control program targetted at schoolchildren to monitor the helminth problem on the island is suggested.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  16. Fulltext Intestinal helminthiasis in relation to height and weight of early primary school children in northeastern peninsular Malaysia
    Mahendra Raj S, Sein KT, Khairul Anuar A, Mustaffa BE
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1997 Jun;28(2):314-20.
    PMID: 9444012
    Stool examination, height and weight measurements were undertaken on 249 early primary school children at two schools in North-eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Helminth infected children were treated and follow-up anthropometric measurements and stool examination undertaken on all (n = 100) children at one of the schools 16 months later; to observe the relationship between acquisition of infection and growth. Baseline Ascaris prevalence rates at the two schools were 16.0% (23/144) and 47.6% (50/105) respectively whilst Trichuris rates were 33.3% (48/144) and 52.4% (55/105). Hookworm infection was uncommon. There was no difference in weight or height for age between infected and uninfected children at any time. Acquisition of worm infection over the initial 16 month follow-up period was not associated with significant decreases in growth rates. However the small subsets of children with heavy Ascaris infection were consistently lighter and shorter at all evaluation times. They also gained significantly less weight and tended to have reduced linear growth rates between measurements. Further interventional studies are required to determine if this association is one of cause and effect or largely incidental.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  17. Fecal occult blood testing on Trichuris-infected primary school children in northeastern peninsular Malaysia
    Raj SM
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1999 Jan;60(1):165-6.
    PMID: 9988342
    Stool specimens of 104 primary schoolchildren (mean+/-SD age = 8.2+/-0.3 years) were examined for helminth eggs and for occult blood to investigate the possibility that trichuriasis causes occult intestinal bleeding in the absence of the overt Trichuris dysentery syndrome. A commercially available guaiac test was used to detect fecal occult blood. Sixty-one children had Trichuris infection, 11 of whom had heavy infections (> 10,000 eggs per gram of feces [epg]), and 53 had Ascaris infections. No hookworm infection was detected. Baseline screening yielded only one weakly positive occult blood test result in a child with a light (800 epg) Trichuris infection. Serial stool occult blood testing on the 11 subjects with heavy trichuriasis and 8 uninfected controls yielded a single weakly positive result in the control group. The results provide no evidence that trichuriasis predisposes to significant occult gastrointestinal bleeding in children in the absence of the dysenteric syndrome.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  18. Fulltext The prevalence of Trichuris, Ascaris and hookworm infection in Orang Asli children
    Norhayati M, Zainudin B, Mohammod CG, Oothuman P, Azizi O, Fatmah MS
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1997 Mar;28(1):161-8.
    PMID: 9322301
    A community study on the age and sex related prevalence, intensity infection and frequency distribution of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm was carried out in 205 Orang Asli (Aborigines) children (95 boys, 110 girls) aged 1-13 years. The overall prevalence of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm was 62.9%, 91.7% and 28.8%, respectively. Almost two-thirds of the children were infected with moderate and severe intensity infection of Trichuris, 46.3% had moderate to severe intensity infection of Ascaris. However only 1.5% had moderate intensity of hookworm infection. The prevalence and mean intensity infection (measured by eggs per g) of Ascaris was age-dependent; lower in age group 1-4 years reached peak and stable at age group 5 years and above. The prevalence of Trichuris was high in all age groups and it fluctuated with age; the mean intensity of infection of Trichuris (measured by eggs per g) was age-dependent. Hookworm infection also rose with age and reached peak at 5-6 years, following that the prevalence declined. The frequency distributions of Ascaris, and hookworm were overdispersed. A strong positive correlation (p < 0.001) were observed between Ascaris and Trichuris and between hookworm and Trichuris. A positive correlation (p < 0.01) were also observed between Ascaris and hookworm.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology*
  19. The effect of repeated chemotherapy on age-related predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura
    Chan L, Kan SP, Bundy DA
    Parasitology, 1992 Apr;104 ( Pt 2):371-7.
    PMID: 1594301
    This study examines the persistence of predisposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura during repeated chemotherapy in an urban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Significant predisposition was observed over 2 periods of reinfection with and without age-standardization of data. Analysis of different age groups indicated that predisposition was most strongly detectable in the younger age classes. The intensities of infection with both parasites were strongly correlated at each cycle of intervention, suggesting that individuals were similarly predisposed to both species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
  20. Prevalence of parasitic infections in Malaysian oil palm estate workers
    Sinniah B, Sinniah D, Singh M, Poon GK
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1978 Jun;9(2):272-6.
    PMID: 725660
    A survey of workers and families resident in an oil palm estate in Malaysia revealed high incidence of parasitic infections. The commonest parasites are T. trichiura (56%), A. lumbricoides (52%), hookworm (28%), Entamoeba coli (11.3%) and Giardia lamblia (11.3%). Mixed infections by two or more parasites was seen in 46% of the subjects. Anaemia was present in 70% of children with hookworm infection. Eosinophilia was observed in 69% of subjects. One each of Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta infection was detected. This is the first report of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in man in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/epidemiology
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