Abstract:

Objective To investigate the infection status of common parasite infections and people’s awareness of parasitic diseases and health behavior in Tianjin. Methods An epidemiological survey was carried out in Tianjin according to the requirements of the National Survey on the Status of important human parasitic diseases. The pilot survey districts were randomly selected based on the different ecologic zones and economic status. Selected districts were staratified according to the topographic, economic level and other factors. The pilot sites were selected from each layer by random number method and no less than 250 residents with age over 0 year-old was included in each site. Fecal samples were collected and the helminth eggs (soil-transmitted nematodes, tape worms and Clonorchis sinensis) were examined with the Kato-Katz method and the intestinal protozoa were examined by direct smear method. The anal tape test was used to examine Enterobius vermicularis eggs in children with 3-6 years old. The infection status among residents was analyzed based on their different gender, age and occupation with statistical analysis using Chi-square test. Some residents from 26 pilot survey sites were randomly selected to conduct a questionnaire on parasite-related knowledge to understand their awareness of parasites and infection risk. Results A total of 15 674 people from 61 pilot sites in 12 counties were investigated. The infection rate for all intestinal parasites was 0.14% （22/15 674） with only 8 infected with Ascaris lumbricoides (1 cases of moderate infection and 7 cases of mild infection) and 14 infected with Enterobius vermicularis (all of them were mild infection). The infection rate of E. vermicularis in children with age 3-6 was 0.54% (4/744). There was no other intestinal parasite identified. The infection rate for A. lumbricoides in Yanshan-Taihang Mountain Ecological Zone was 0.17% (8/4 705) and no parasite infection was detected in Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan Ecological Zone. All infections happened in Wuqing, Binhai, Jinghai, Baodi and Ji Districts (all are agriculture districts) with parasite infection rates of 0.13% (1/784), 0.07% (1/1 501), 0.29% (3/1 040), 1.04% (8/766) and 0.19% (9/4 705), respectively. The difference was statistically significant among counties (P < 0.05). The parasite infection rates in males and females were 0.09% (7/7 566) and 0.19% (15/8 108). The infection happened in farmers (0.18%, 14/7 620) was higher than those with other occupations. The infection rate in age of 50-59 (0.23%, 6/2 658) was higher than other age groups. Surprisingly, people with high school education or above had higher infection rate (0.21%, 7/3 330) than other education groups, however, the infection rate showed no significant difference among genders, age groups, levels of education and occupations (P > 0.05). Totally 1 561 questionnaires were collected from 26 pilot survey sites. The awareness rate for A. lumbricoides (62.78%, 981/1 561) was higher than that for Clonorchis sinensis (27.16%, 424/1 561)(P < 0.05). The awareness for parasite infections and healthy behavior in people living in urban cites are better than those who live in rural areas. Conclusion The infection rate of common parasite infections in Tianjin is low. Most people are aware of soil-transmitted nematodes and proper healthy behaviors, less aware of clonorchiasis.

Key words: Soil-transmitted nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides, Clonorchis sinensis, Infection rate, Survey, Awareness, Tianjin