Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Myanmar Workers in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon

Abstract

Objective: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. Materials and Methods: A total of 213 stool samples from the workers in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon provinces were examined for intestinal parasites by using simple smear and formalin-ether concentration techniques. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 13.6%. Helminthes (10.3%) were more commonly found than Protozoa (8.5%). The migrant workers were mainly infected with the fecal-oral transmitted parasites; Entamoeba histolytica / dispa (3.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3.3%), and Trichuris trichiura (2.3%). The high prevalence of intestinal parasites (17.2%) was found among the migrant workers living in Bangkok. Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of the parasitic infection situation among Myanmar workers.