Epidemiology of Intestinal Parasites in A Rai Community of Nuwakot District
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Microbiology
Abstract
Intestinal parasitosis is highly endemic in developing countries and usually
implicates the children and pregnant women along with the people residing in
filthy environment, urban slums and crowded areas. The dissertation was
conducted from March to October 2012 to study the prevalence and
distribution of intestinal parasites in a Rai community of Nuwakot district.
Soil, vegetables, water and fecal samples were collected, processed and
studied to correlate the distribution pattern of the intestinal parasites. Sucrose
floatation and saturated brine floatation techniques followed by direct smear
were used for the processing of soil and vegetable samples respectively. The
soil samples contamination rate was found to be 26.5% with the dominance of
Ascaris lumbricoides followed by hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and
Necator americanus). Soil samples from toilet vicinity and vegetable fields
were the most contaminated soils. Vegetable samples were collected directly
from the field. Of the 59 samples tested, 39% were found to be contaminated
with the intestinal parasites. Helminthic preponderance was observed with the
Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm topping the list. Giardia lamblia and
Entamoeba coli were also isolated from the vegetables. Leafy vegetables were
the most contaminated vegetables which were followed by root vegetable.
Water sample was processed following elution with saline after filtration.
Only water samples from irrigation channel were found to be contaminated
and the parasites detected were Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides and
Trichuris trichiura.
The intestinal parasitosis was highly prevalent in the community with the
prevalence rate of 56.7%. Helminthic parasites superseded the protozoans.
Protozoans were detected only from polyparasitic infection. Monoparasitism
(70%) was common to polyparasitism (30%). Trichuris trichiura was found
predominant among the community children. It was implicated in almost twothird
of
the
cases.
Unavailability
of
toilet
facility
in
home
imposed
statistically
significant
(P<0.05)
risk
of
parasitic
infection. Male children were the major
victim of the intestinal parasites in comparison to female children and the
difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). A statistically significant
relation was detected between the intestinal parasitic prevalence and fathers’
involvement in agriculture (P<0.05). The children of age group 4-8 years
were most vulnerable to parasitic infection which was closely followed by age
group 8-12 years. Besides, irregular footwear using habit, absence of
antihelminthic drug uptake within last six months, poor hygiene, joint and
family with more than five members were found to be favorable for the
intestinal parasites. The contaminated environment and unhygienic habits
were the major contributing factors to facilitate the distribution and prevalence
of intestinal parasites in the community.
Key words: soil, vegetables, water, fecal sample, intestinal parasites, Rai
community