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Relationship between faecal egg count and worm burden of Opisthorchis viverrini in human autopsy cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

P. Sithithaworn ,
S. Tesana ,
V. Pipitgool ,
S. Kaewkes ,
C. Pairojkul ,
B. Sripa ,
A. Paupairoj  and
K. Thaiklar
P. Sithithaworn
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
S. Tesana
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
V. Pipitgool
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
S. Kaewkes
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
C. Pairojkul
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
B. Sripa
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
A. Paupairoj
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
K. Thaiklar
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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Summary

The relationship between faecal examination for egg output and worm burden of Opisthorchis viverrini in man of 181 autopsy cases from Northeast Thailand is described. Diagnosis of the parasite infection by stool examination for the presence of eggs was less sensitive than the worm recovery technique. Using Stoll's dilution and formalin–ether technique, no eggs were detected in the faeces of 20 cases harbouring low worm burdens (< 20 worms). The quantitative faecal egg count by Stoll's dilution technique showed a strikingly close positive correlation with the number of worms recovered (r = 0·96, P < 0·001) indicating a strong linear association between eggs per gram of faeces (epg) and worm burden. The number of epg per worm was inversely correlated to the worm burden (P < 0·001), suggesting that density-dependent constraints on fecundity could operate to restrict egg output in heavy infections. The accuracy of egg counts for estimating worm burden and its relevance to parasite epidemiological research are discussed.

Keywords

Opisthorchis viverrinieggs per gramworm burdenfecundityautopsy
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 102 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 277 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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