BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: A cross - sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium infections among migrant workers in Thailand. METHODS: A total of 241 migrants at Kanchanaburi, Pathumthani and Nakornpathom provinces of Thailand were recruited in our surveillance. Blood samples were examined for human malaria parasites by using microscopy and semi - nested multiplex PCR (SnM- PCR). RESULTS: Laboratory diagnosis revealed 6.2% total positive rate. As compared to microscopy (26.7%), SnM- PCR was more sensitive (93.3%) for malaria. Plasmodium falciparum was predominant than P. vivax (53% : 40%, respectively). The majority of positive cases were from Myanmar workers who had low parasitaemia and without symptoms. The highest prevalence (13.7%) was found among migrant workers from Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate risk of malaria transmission from migrant workers. Malaria surveillance should be included in the health- screening program for migrants in Thailand to manage this health risk.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: A cross - sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Plasmodiuminfections among migrant workers in Thailand. METHODS: A total of 241 migrants at Kanchanaburi, Pathumthani and Nakornpathom provinces of Thailand were recruited in our surveillance. Blood samples were examined for humanmalaria parasites by using microscopy and semi - nested multiplex PCR (SnM- PCR). RESULTS: Laboratory diagnosis revealed 6.2% total positive rate. As compared to microscopy (26.7%), SnM- PCR was more sensitive (93.3%) for malaria. Plasmodium falciparum was predominant than P. vivax (53% : 40%, respectively). The majority of positive cases were from Myanmar workers who had low parasitaemia and without symptoms. The highest prevalence (13.7%) was found among migrant workers from Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate risk of malaria transmission from migrant workers. Malaria surveillance should be included in the health- screening program for migrants in Thailand to manage this health risk.
Authors: Elisabeth Baum; Jetsumon Sattabongkot; Jeeraphat Sirichaisinthop; Kirakorn Kiattibutr; D Huw Davies; Aarti Jain; Eugenia Lo; Ming-Chieh Lee; Arlo Z Randall; Douglas M Molina; Xiaowu Liang; Liwang Cui; Philip L Felgner; Guiyun Yan Journal: Malar J Date: 2015-02-25 Impact factor: 2.979
Authors: Daniel M Parker; Verena I Carrara; Sasithon Pukrittayakamee; Rose McGready; François H Nosten Journal: Malar J Date: 2015-10-05 Impact factor: 2.979