Prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini Infection in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Northeast Thailand

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia especiallyin Lao PDR and Thailand. It is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence stronglyindicates that liver fluke infection is the major etiology of cholangiocarcinoma.
Objectives: This study aimed todetermine actual levels of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Northeast Thailand.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during a one year period from October 2010 to September2011. O. viverrini infection was determined using a modified Kato’s thick smear technique and socio-demographicdata were collected using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires.
Results: A total of 1,168 stool sampleswere obtained from 516 males and 652 females, aged 5-90 years. Stool examination showed that 2.48% wereinfected with O. viverrini. Males were slightly more likely to be infected than females, but the different was notstatistically significant. O. viverrini infection was most frequent in the 51-60 year age group and was found tobe positively associated with education and occupation. Positive results were evident in 16 of 32 districts, thehighest prevalence being found in Non Daeng with 16.7%, followed by Pra Thai with 11.1%, Kaeng SanamNang with 8.33%, and Lam Ta Men Chai (8.33%) districts.
Conclusion: This study indicates that O viverrini isstill a problem in some areas of Nakhon Ratchasima, the patients in this study bing suitable for the purpose ofmonitoring projects.