PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume 10, Issue 11, 2016

Migrant Workers in Malaysia: Current Implications of Sociodemographic and Environmental Characteristics in the Transmission of Intestinal Parasitic Infections (Article) (Open Access)

Sahimin N. , Lim Y.A.L. , Ariffin F. , Behnke J.M. , Lewis J.W. , Mohd Zain S.N.*
  • a Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • b Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • c Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Teknologi Mara Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
  • d School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • e School of Biological Sciences, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
  • f Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of intestinal parasitic infections amongst migrant workers in Malaysia was conducted. A total of 388 workers were recruited from five sectors including manufacturing, construction, plantation, domestic and food services. The majority were recruited from Indonesia (n = 167, 43.3%), followed by Nepal (n = 81, 20.9%), Bangladesh (n = 70, 18%), India (n = 47, 12.1%) and Myanmar (n = 23, 5.9.2%). A total of four nematode species (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis and hookworms), one cestode (Hymenolepis nana) and three protozoan species (Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp.) were identified. High prevalence of infections with A. lumbricoides (43.3%) was recorded followed by hookworms (13.1%), E. histolytica/dispar (11.6%), Giardia sp. (10.8%), T. trichura (9.5%), Cryptosporodium spp. (3.1%), H. nana (1.8%) and E. vermicularis (0.5%). Infections were significantly influenced by socio-demographic (nationality), and environmental characteristics (length of working years in the country, employment sector and educational level). Up to 84.0% of migrant workers from Nepal and 83.0% from India were infected with intestinal parasites, with the ascarid nematode A. lumbricoides occurring in 72.8% of the Nepalese and 68.1% of the Indian population. In addition, workers with an employment history of less than a year or newly arrived in Malaysia were most likely to show high levels of infection as prevalence of workers infected with A. lumbricoides was reduced from 58.2% to 35.4% following a year’s residence. These findings suggest that improvement is warranted in public health and should include mandatory medical screening upon entry into the country. © 2016 Sahimin et al.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

genetics parasitology protozoon Trichuris trichiura helminth transmission Enterobius vermicularis India Giardia Cryptosporidium Entamoeba histolytica human middle aged statistics and numerical data Parasites Animals Environment nonhuman ethnology screening animal Cross-Sectional Studies parasite catering service Young Adult migrant worker cross-sectional study Ascaris lumbricoides Humans Helminths classification species male female Indonesia Malaysia Myanmar nematode Hymenolepis nana prevalence isolation and purification disease transmission Nematoda major clinical study adult migration plantation Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Bangladesh Transients and Migrants Nepal employment intestine parasite public health hookworm

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007318280&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pntd.0005110&partnerID=40&md5=695d448b9ead4d14843bd00ba070eda3

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005110
ISSN: 19352727
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English