Background: Control and elimination of the liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) is a primary preventive strategy against cholangiocarcinoma in Southeast Asia. A sensitive parasitological diagnostic method is required to facilitate a surveillance and control program. In this study, we evaluated the performance of Mini Parasep^® SF stool concentrator kit (stool kit) compared with Kato-Katz (KK) and the quantitative formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) for detection of O. viverrini and co-endemic parasitic infections. Methods: A cross-sectional survey for parasitic infection in residents aged > 15 years in a community in Kalasin province, Northeast Thailand, was conducted in 2018. Fecal samples were collected and screened by KK method, and a subset of samples was further examined by the stool kit and FECT methods. The results were analyzed for prevalence of parasitic infections in addition to the diagnostic performance of the methods for qualitative and quantitative detection of helminthiases. Results: The initial survey of parasitic infection determined by the KK method (n = 567) showed the prevalence of O. viverrini was 32.63%, followed by Taenia 2.65%, echinostomes 1.76%, hookworms 1.41%, Trichuris trichiura 0.53% and Strongyloides stercoralis 0.53%. Within a subset of samples tested with multiple diagnostics (n = 150), the detection rates of O. viverrini by the stool kit, FECT and KK methods were 27.3%, 30.7% and 28.7%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity for opisthorchiasis was similar for FECT (75.5%), KK(66.0%) and the stool kit (67.3%). For other parasitic infections, FECT and stool kit methods performed better than KK, particularly in detecting minute intestinal flukes (MIF), S. stercoralis and coinfections. When measuring the intensity of O. viverrini infection (fecal egg counts), the stool kit results showed a significant positive correlation with KK and FECT (P < 0.05). Conclusions: As the stool kit is simple to use and shows a comparable performance to FECT, it may serve as an alternative method of fecal examination for screening of helminthiasis including opisthorchiasis. Graphical

Objectives: The unsafe use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and health symptoms among chili farmers in northeast Thailand.Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 141 chili farmers in Sakon Nakhon Province, in northeast Thailand. Data regarding health symptoms were gathered using a self-report questionnaire. A medical technician tested blood cholinesterase activity using an erythrocyte method, and an occupational medicine specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand reviewed the results. Associations between personal characteristics, pesticide exposure factors, and health symptoms were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.Results: Of the 141 chili farmers studied, 66.7% experienced pesticide poisoning, as indicated by below-normal cholinesterase levels. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom associated with pesticide exposure, affecting 37.6% of participants. This was followed by nausea and vomiting (31.9%), dizziness (14.9%), and dry throat (14.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with adverse symptoms: amount of work experience, volume of pesticides used, use of chemical pesticides, use of leaking containers during spraying, direct pesticide exposure while working, contact with pesticide-soaked clothing, consumption of food and drinks in the fields, and blood cholinesterase level indicating risk.Conclusions: This study suggests potential health risks for chili farmers stemming from exposure to and contamination by pesticides used in agricultural practices. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to supply personal protective equipment and to implement educational programs aimed at improving protective behaviors among farmers.

Opisthorchis viverrini infection remains a significant public health concern in Southeast Asia, particularly in rural communities of Northeast Thailand, where persistent environmental and behavioral factors sustain transmission. A quasi-experimental study aimed to identify environmental and behavioral risk factors for infection and to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based intervention program. The intervention program study was conducted over 10 months and comprised three phases: baseline survey‚ health education intervention program implementation‚ and follow-up evaluation. The results were analyzed for the prevalence of parasitic infections, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors. The majority of study participants were female (67.94%)‚ aged 55 to 64 years (48.09%)‚ and farmers (89.31%). Parasitic infections‚ especially O. viverrini‚ substantially decreased during the follow-up period‚ and independent risk factors predicting infection included lower education‚ previous infection‚ raw fish consumption‚ and pesticide use‚ according to multivariable logistic regression analysis. This intervention considerably improved knowledge; mean knowledge score increased by 6.29 points (p < 0.001). Analysis of fecal sludge after treatment with the sand-drying system identified S. stercoralis larvae (20 eggs/L) and Taenia spp. eggs (12.4 eggs/g). These findings indicated that, despite treatment, integrated behavioral and environmental interventions can be effective in interrupting parasite transmission in rural endemic settings.

Rubber farmers exposed to herbicides containing glyphosate face significant health risks from occupational exposure. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of health symptoms and their association with glyphosate exposure among rubber farmers in northeast Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the prevalence of health symptoms using a self-report questionnaire. Of 400 participants, 72.8% reported chemical exposure during spraying and 39.3% reported adverse health effects. The most frequent symptom was nasal irritation (18.5%), followed by coughing or shortness of breath and fatigue (3.75%). After adjustment, reporting any adverse health effect was associated with age > 40 years [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-3.74; P = 0.025], male sex (aOR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.19-2.82; P = 0.006), > 10 years’ experience (aOR = 1.53; 95%CI: 1.01-2.31; P = 0.043), and underlying disease (aOR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.10-2.79; P = 0.019). Unsafe practices and equipment problems were strongly associated with higher odds: self‑application (aOR = 1.97; 95%CI: 1.24-3.13; P = 0.004), leaking equipment (aOR = 2.50; 95%CI: 1.62-3.86; P < 0.001), wet clothing while spraying (aOR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.78-4.36; P < 0.001), eating during work (aOR = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.30-3.29; P = 0.002), and morning spraying (aOR = 2.88; 95%CI: 1.38-6.03; P < 0.005). The study revealed a high prevalence of health effects among rubber farmers, with the greatest risk magnitude linked to unsafe practices and equipment. Providing personal protective equipment and guiding occupational health and training on chemical handling practices are crucial for effectively reducing these risks.

Opisthorchis viverrini infection remains an important public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly among rural populations in Northeast Thailand. Despite control efforts, transmission remains uninterrupted due to persistent behavioral and environmental factors. To better understand the longitudinal patterns of opisthorchiasis after selective praziquantel treatment, this study aimed to determine the incidence and reinfection rates in the study population and identify risk factors associated with O. viverrini infection. Based on a prospective study, the status of opisthorchiasis was monitored in a cohort of participants (n = 612) in Northeast Thailand using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) and O. viverrini antigen detection in urine by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The baseline prevalence of O. viverrini infection was 41.0% by urine antigen assay, compared to 8.1% by FECT. Over the 24-week study period, the calculated incidence of infection was 64.6/100 person-years, and the reinfection rate after PZQ treatment, as measured by urine ELISA, was 63.7/100 person-years. Based on FECT, a tenfold lower incidence (7.5/100 person-years) and reinfection rate (5.9/100 person-years) were observed. Risk factor analysis identified raw fish consumption in the previous 6 months (aRR = 7.52; p < 0.001), frequent raw fish consumption (>10 times per month) (aRR = 3.60; p < 0.001), and previous praziquantel treatment aRR = 1.49; p = 0.032) as significant risk factors for infection. The results demonstrated that the persistence of opisthorchiasis prevalence is driven mainly by the incidence of infection and reinfection after chemotherapy, as assessed by urine antigen assay and FECT. Behavioral risk factors, particularly the consumption of raw fish, remain the primary risk of parasite transmission. Therefore, comprehensive intervention measures consisting of sensitive diagnostics, drug treatment, and culturally appropriate interventions are required.