Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri, Central Thailand

Abstract

Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri Provinces, Central Thailand, was investigated. The prevalence and intensity of infection of swamp eels were determined; dog fecal samples and fresh-water copepods were examined for evidence of infection. The overall prevalence of eel infection was 38.1% (117/307) in Nakhon Nayok and 24.0% (74/308) in Prachin Buri - the former rate being significantly higher than the latter. Most of the positive Nakhon Nayok eels (53.8%) harbored only 1-9 larvae; only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. In Prachin Buri, 67.6% of the positive eels harbored 1-9 larvae; again, only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. The mean number of 11.0 ± 10.4 larvae/eel in Nakhon Nayok was not significantly different from that of Prachin Buri (9.3 ± 11.4). A total of 1,292 gnathostome larvae were recovered from 307 eels in Nakhon Nayok. Of these, 52.3% had accumulated in the liver and 47.7% had spread throughout the muscles. In eels from Prachin Buri, 50.6% and 49.4% of the total of 688 larvae (from 308 eels) were found in the liver and muscles, respectively. The larvae preferred encysting in ventral of muscles rather than dorsal part; they preferred the middle portion to the anterior and posterior portions. The average length of gnathostome larvae recovered from Nakhon Nayok eels was 4.0 ± 0.5 mm (range 2.5-5.1 mm) and the average body width was 0.40 ± 0.05 mm (range 0.29-0.51 mm). Those from eels in Prachin Buri were 3.9 ± 0.5 mm (range 2.2-5.1 mm) and 0.34 ± 0.05 mm (range 0.20-0.48 mm), respectively. The mean body length and width of the larvae from eels in Nakhon Nayok were significantly greater than those of the larvae from eels in Prachin Buri. In Ban Phrao, Nakhon Nayok, none of the first 44 fecal specimens examined was positive. Of the second (68) and the third (70) specimens, one (1.5%) and two (2.9%) samples were positive. However, six months after the third fecal collection, no eggs were found. In Tha Ngam, Prachin Buri, no eggs were found in all three batches (109, 115, and 100 fecal samples). A cyclops survey of 4,000-5,000 crustacea from each of two areas (Ban Phrao and Tha Ngam) found no evidence of natural cyclops infection.