Spatial patterns and risk mapping of opisthorchiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections in Thailand using Bayesian geostatistical models.
Pratumchart K, Suwannatrai AT, Wattanawong O, Thinkhamrop K, Suwannatrai K
Soil Health
Soil-transmitted worm infections thrive in the same warm, humid, vegetated landscapes where backyard composting and barefoot gardening happen — understanding where they concentrate helps gardeners in tropical and subtropical climates think twice about soil contact and food hygiene.
Scientists used detailed maps and statistical models to figure out where two types of parasitic worm infections are most common across Thailand. They found that one infection (spread by eating undercooked freshwater fish) clusters in the northeast, while intestinal worms are more common in the south. Cooler temperatures, brighter nighttime lights (a sign of urban development), and hotter land surfaces were all linked to lower infection rates.
Key Findings
Males had 57% higher odds of liver fluke infection than females (OR: 1.57), and adults aged 25–59 had nearly 5 times the risk of those under 25.
Each 1°C increase in minimum temperature was associated with a 33% decrease in liver fluke infection risk, suggesting cooler climates limit transmission.
Roundworm (Ascaris) infection declined with higher land surface temperature and urbanization (nighttime light intensity OR: 0.97), pointing to sanitation and heat as protective factors.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers mapped the geographic distribution of two parasitic infections in Thailand — a liver fluke spread by eating raw fish, and intestinal worms — finding they cluster in distinct regions driven by temperature, land use, and demographics.
Abstract Preview
Opisthorchis viverrini and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remain major public health challenges in Thailand due to their widespread distribution. This study aimed to map and predict the prevalenc...
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