Human infections and co-infections with helminths in a rural population in Guichi, Anhui Province, China

• Main Authors: Yi Hu, Rui Li, Michael P. Ward, Yue Chen, Henry Lynn, Decheng Wang, Gengxin Chen, Zonggui He, Liqian Sun, Chenglong Xiong, Zhijie Zhang, Qingwu Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2015-11-01
• Series: Geospatial Health
• Subjects: Helminth infection; Co-infection; Social and behavioural determinants; Bayesian multilevel model; China
• Online Access: http://www.geospatialhealth.net/index.php/gh/article/view/374
• ISSN: 1827-1987; 1970-7096

Helminth infections are believed to be common in tropical and subtropical countries. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two villages located in Guichi District in Anhui Province, the People’s Republic of China, where multiparasitism was investigated using parasitological tests. The data collected were fitted to Bayesian multi-level models to profile risk factors for helminth infections. The prevalence of <em>Schistosoma</em> (<em>S.</em>) <em>japonicum</em>, <em>Ascaris</em> (<em>A.</em>) <em>lumbricoides</em> and <em>Trichuris</em> (<em>T.</em>) <em>trichiura</em> were 0.43% (range: 0-0.87% at the village level), 2.28% (range: 1.69-2.88%), and 0.21% (range: 0-0.42%), respectively. No hookworm infection was found. With regard to multiparasitism, only a 33-year-old female was found to be co-infected with <em>S. japonicum</em> and <em>A. lumbricoides</em>. Multiparasitism was unexpectedly rare in the study area, which contrasts with results from other studies carried out elsewhere in the country. The long-term usage of albendazole for individuals serologically positive for schistosomiasis may be the main reason, but this needs to be confirmed by future studies.