Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Low Prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi Infection Among Domestic Animals in Southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Somphou Sayasone
ORCID logo ,
Phonepadith Khattignavong
,
Sengdeuane Keomalaphet
,
Phoyphaylinh Prasayasith
,
Pheovaly Soundala
,
Sannikone Sonesimmaly
,
Takashi Kumagai
ORCID logo ,
Souk Phamhaksa
,
Phouth Inthavong
,
Bouasy Hongvanthong
,
Paul T TBrey
,
Shigeyuki Kano
ORCID logo ,
Moritoshi Iwagami
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 4 June 2023 / Approved: 5 June 2023 / Online: 5 June 2023 (08:25:55 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Sayasone, S.; Khattignavong, P.; Keomalaphet, S.; Prasayasith, P.; Soundala, P.; Sannikone, S.; Kumagai, T.; Phomhaksa, S.; Inthavong, P.; Matsumoto-Takahashi, E.L.A.; Hongvanthong, B.; Brey, P.T.; Kano, S.; Iwagami, M. Low Prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi Infection and High Prevalence of Other Helminth Infections among Domestic Animals in Southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8, 372. Sayasone, S.; Khattignavong, P.; Keomalaphet, S.; Prasayasith, P.; Soundala, P.; Sannikone, S.; Kumagai, T.; Phomhaksa, S.; Inthavong, P.; Matsumoto-Takahashi, E.L.A.; Hongvanthong, B.; Brey, P.T.; Kano, S.; Iwagami, M. Low Prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi Infection and High Prevalence of Other Helminth Infections among Domestic Animals in Southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8, 372.

Abstract

The prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi in humans in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been relatively well monitored and has decreased due to effective interventions such as preventative chemotherapy with mass drug administration of praziquantel and community awareness programs. However, the prevalence among potential domestic reservoir animals remains broadly unclear, except for a few villages in the endemic area. Therefore, we conducted S. mekongi surveys for the domestic animals that had contact with Mekong River water. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the domestic animals in the seven sentinel villages in the Khong and Mounlapamok Districts of Champasak Province in southern Lao PDR in 2018 by random sampling with a statistically reliable sample size. Stool samples of the five predominant domestic animal species, cattle (n = 160), pig (n = 154), buffalo (n = 149), dog (n = 143), and goat (n = 85), were collected and examined by experienced laboratory technicians using parasitological FECT method and the LAMP technique. The microscopic analysis did not detect any eggs of S. mekongi in the stool samples of any animal species. However, S. mekongi DNA was detected by the LAMP test in dog stool samples (0.7%; 1/143). Other helminth eggs were found during our microscopic analysis. These findings suggested that an intervention for S. mekongi infection should focus solely on human populations. However, periodic surveillance for S. mekongi infection among dogs should be conducted to monitor a possible resurgence of S. mekongi infection in the domestic animal population.

Keywords

Schistosoma mekongi; LAMP; Reservoir Animal; Domestic animal; Lao PDR; Mekong River;

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Tropical Medicine

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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