Prevalence of schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases among Cambodian refugees residing in Bang-Kaeng holding center, Prachinburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

Isolated cases of schistosomiasis were discovered on stool examination among Cambodian refugees residing in Thailand. Further epidemiologic investigations were conducted on a sample of 5,085 Cambodian refugees in the Ban-Kaeng holding center, using the intradermal skin test as a screening device to determine the prevalence of this disease. A positive diagnosis of Schistosoma mekongi was confirmed in 17 of those examined by recovery of eggs in the stool. The prevalence of schistomiasis in the Bang-Kaeng camp was 3.3 cases/1,000 population. All positive cases came from geographic areas in Cambodia where schistosomiasis has not been previously reported, indicating that schistosomiasis in Cambodia is currently more widespread than generally believed.