Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in soil and its association with selected environmental parameters in an Aeta Community in Porac, Pampanga

• Main Authors: Anastacio, Erika Camille Quintos, Ogasawara, Erie Kate Abella, Tan, Kimberly Gayl Tan
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2019
• Subjects: Helminths > Philippines; Soils > Philippines; Aeta Community (Porac, Pampanga); Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/7921
• Institution: De La Salle University

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) was observed to be prevalent in 16 out of 17 regions in the Philippines. Indigenous peoples being a part of the underdeveloped communities risk STH infection due to their practice of open defecation leading to the transmission of STH. The study focused on the Aeta community of Barangay Villa Maria, Porac, Pampanga where soil samples were collected in three areas, tested for the presence of STH eggs and analyzed with sucrose centrifugal flotation along with environmental parameters namely, soil temperature (°C), soil moisture (%), soil pH, soil texture, air temperature (°C), and relative humidity (%). Anecdotal reports from the locals and local government officials on their lifestyle were also noted. Out of the 317 samples, 197 (62.15%) were found to be positive for STH eggs. Hookworm larvae, mites and ticks were also observed in the samples. Purok 3 was found to have the highest prevalence for STH contamination with 67.97% while Purok 1 and 2 have 59.49% and 54.12%, respectively. Purok 1 obtained a prevalence of 56.96% for Ascaris sp. significantly higher than its prevalences in Purok 3 (50.33%) and Purok 2 (32.94%) (p0.05). The egg count of each species was analyzed for its correlational relationship to each parameter. The correlation coefficient values between all the parameters showed very weak to no correlation. Aside from fecalysis, the detection of STH soil contamination can provide information to assess a community for their risk of getting STH infections. The barangay lacks toilets making the residents resort to open defecation and this leads to the contamination of the environment and water sources. The presence of stray animals with no proper shelter and improper waste disposal can also lead to Toxocara sp. infection. Members of the Aeta community are at a high risk of getting ascariasis and toxocar