Accidental finding of asymptomatic human paragonimiasis among karen people, mae lah village, tha song yang district, tak province, Thailand

Abstract

Parasite surveys were conducted at Ban Mae Lah, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand in December 2013 and February 2014. A total of 343 fecal samples were collected to identify parasite infections. We report an accidental finding of Paragonimus spp. eggs in the feces of an asymptomatic 74-year-old female Karen patient. Her stool was separated and preserved in 95% alcohol for species identification by PCRtechnique.Theresults showed a band reacting to Paragonimus heterotremus. She reported a history of eating semi-cooked or dry waterfall crabs while fishing in mountain streams far from the village a long time ago. 30 waterfall crabs were collected from this stream and examined for Paragonimus metacercariae; all were found negative. Paragonimiasis remains a prevalent health problem in some rural areas of Thailand. With asymptomatic patients, a careful interview about past eating habits is very important, together with laboratory investigations to identify the infective agent specifically. A health education program was implemented in the village to help prevent Paragonimus and other helminth infections.