Houseflies with helminthic objects, a good indicator for unsanitary environment
7
Issued Date
2013
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Wanna Maipanich, วรรณา ไมพานิช, Paron Dekumyoy, พารณ ดีคำฝอย, Surapol Sa-nguankiat, สุรพล สงวนเกียรติ, Somchit Pubampen, สมจิต ภู่บำเพ็ญ, Akkarin Poodeepiyasawat, เอกรินทร์ ภูดีปิยสวัสดิ์, Dorn Watthanakulpanich, ดร วัฒนกุลพานิชย์ (2013). Houseflies with helminthic objects, a good indicator for unsanitary environment. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/63174
Title
Houseflies with helminthic objects, a good indicator for unsanitary environment
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Houseflies are a mechanical vector of helminthic infections, and it is common to find all stages (egg-larvaadult)
of helminths in flies. In communities where people harbor high prevalence of worm infection, and
the use of outside latrines is common, houseflies may play an important role in the mode of transmission.
People in the area with high contaminated flies are risk for many helminth infections due to Ascaris, Trichuris, Taenia
and Angiostrongylus. For this study, helminth objects were compared from two study areas: Tak and Yasothon provinces
in Thailand. In Tak province (western Thailand) where defecating in outside latrines is common, the prevalence of
helminthiasis was 55.2%. The majority of infections were Ascaris (47.8%) and some villagers were even diagnosed with
heavy ascaris infestation. Upon examination of 622 houseflies that were captured in this area, the number of eggs
detected was as follows: 1,951 (Ascaris), 369 (Taenia), 147 (Trichuris), 52 (hookworm) and 1 (Toxocara). In Yasothon
province (northeastern Thailand), indiscriminate defecation is rare, therefore the prevalence of helminthic infection was
low with no observances of ascaris infection among the population. Examination of houseflies showed that Dicrocoelium
eggs were common and other eggs such as Strongyloides, Trichuris and Opisthorchis were also noted. These eggs are
commonly found in dogs and cats so it is possible that they belonged to animal parasites.
T he examination of helminth objects on the external body of houseflies can be performed easily and the agents
can be examined by using a light microscope. This simple method can be used as an indicator of an environment’s
unsanitary condition caused by human and animal waste.
Description
Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting 2013: Towards global health: an Asian paradigm of Tropical Medicine 11-13 December 2013 Centara Grand Bangkok Convention Center at Central World, Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University; 2013. p.145.