Earticle

Host-specificity is an important aspect of parasite diversity. Mammalian chewing lice are highly host-specific ectoparasites that demonstrate adaptive specialization to morphological characteristics of their host, such as hair shaft diameter. Studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between louse head groove width and host hair diameter, suggesting an anatomical relationship that is crucial to louse survival. This study aims to assess the relationship between hair shaft diameters of goats and rostral groove dimensions of the chewing lice that parasitize them. Thirty chewing lice (Damalinia limbata) attached to guard hairs were removed from the nape region of three adult goats of different breeds (Anglo-Nubian, Saanen and Boer), for a total of 90 lice and hair shaft pairs. Rostral groove width and hair shaft diameter were measured using microscopy and MIPro Standard v1.1 image analysis software. The results showed no correlation between the louse rostral groove width and hair shaft diameter. This suggests that goat chewing lice have a rostral groove that allows for attachment to variable host hair shafts, and that hair shaft diameter as a physical adaptive constraint may be less apparent at the level of individual hosts of the same species, providing new insights into host-parasite evolutionary relationships.

The results of study of the parasites of rockfishes, Sebastes spp. collected at Oregon coast aquarium during April 6 to June 30, 2002 are presented. Six species of parasites were recovered from examination of 19 rockfishes with an incidence of infection of 42.1 %. This study investigated parasitic infestation of 7 black rock-fish, Sebastes melanops ; 3 quillback rockfish, S. maliger ; 2 yellowtail rockfish, S. flavidus ; 3 canary rockfish, S. pinniger 2 yelloweye rockfish, S. ruberrimus ; 2 tiger rockfish, S. nigrocinctus. Sebastes spp. from aquarium were found to be infested with parasites: Mycrocotyle sebastis, Megalocotyle trituba, Clavella uncinata, Anisakis simplex larvae, Contracaecum sp. larvae, Pseudoterranova decipiens larvae. Prevalence and mean intensity of rockfishes were infected respectively as follows: 21.1%, 4.0 of M. sebastis, 10.5%, 55.5 of M. trituba, 21.1%, 34.3 of A. simplex larvae, 10.5%, 15.0 of Contracaecum sp. larvae, 10.5%, 8.5 of Pseudoterranova decipiens larvae and 10.5%, 5.0 of Clavella uncinata. This study reveled that gills and gastrointestinal tracts of S. pinniger were heavily infested with M. trituba and A. simplex larvae.

A 3 yr experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of diet and feeding location on animal performance, carcass characteristics, whole blood counts, and internal parasite burden of lambs assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) confinement fed 71% alfalfa, 18% barley pellet, 5% molasses, 0.013% Bovatec, 6.1% vitamin/mineral package diet (CALF), 2) confinement fed 60% barley, 26% alfalfa pellet, 4% molasses, 2.5% soybean-hi pro, 0.016% Bovatec, 7.4% vitamin/mineral package diet (CBAR), 3) field fed 71% alfalfa, 18% barley pellet, 5% molasses, 0.013% Bovatec, 6.1% vitamin/mineral package diet (FALF), and 4) field fed 60% barley, 26% alfalfa pellet, 4% molasses, 2.5% soybean-hi pro, 0.016% Bovatec, 7.4% vitamin/mineral package diet (FBAR). A year × location interaction was detected for ending body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and dry matter intake (DMI); therefore results are presented by year. In all years, cost of gain and DMI were greater for CALF and FALF than for CBAR and FBAR feed treatments (p ≤ 0.03). In yr 2 and 3 field treatments had greater ending BW and ADG than confinement treatments. For all years, diet did not affect ending BW or ADG. In yr 1 dressing percent and rib eye area were greater for field finished lambs than confinement finished (p ≤ 0.02) and Warner-Bratzler shear force was greater for CALF and FALF (p = 0.03). In yr 2 lambs in FALF and FBAR treatments had greater leg scores and conformation than CALF and CBAR (p = 0.09). In yr 1, FALF had a greater small intestine total worm count than all other treatments. In yr 1, ending Trichostrongyle type egg counts were greater for FALF (p = 0.05). In yr 2, ending Nematodirus spp. egg counts were greater for FALF and lowest for CBAR (p < 0.01). Abomasum Teladorsagia circumcinta worm burden was greater in CALF than all other treatments (p = 0.07) in yr 2. While field finishing lambs with a grain- or forage-based diet we conclude that it is possible to produce a quality lamb product without adverse effects to animal performance, carcass quality or increasing parasite burdens.

This Leishmaniasis is common skin lesion parasitic disease caused by Leishmania protozoan parasites on exposed body and its polymorphic nature complicates to diagnosis because the lesion may create confusion with other dermatoses likewise fungi, bacteria and non-infectious diseases. The molecular techniques, microscopy, culture, and rapid diagnostic test are conventional methods that are timeconsuming, expensive, susceptible to errors with limited resources in health care services. Early diagnosis with timely identification of multifaceted Leishmaniasis is aided to selection of therapy and provide comfort to patient to combating with it. The promising integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with medical diagnostics has efficacy in numerous fields of identification of diseases as in Dermatology research. The fast, efficient and automatic diagnosing of leishmaniasis with microscopic images of lesion's seamer with VGG-16 deep learning (DL) model is the approach to reach the objective of this designed research to identify the negative and positive results. The exceptional performance of designed VGG-16 is achieved with accuracy of 88.14%, precision 100%, sensitivity 77.42%, specificity 100%, F1-score 0.87%, and ROC curve 97%. The proposed modified VGG-16 model is more precise, swift, reliable, efficient, effectual, economical and user-friendly substitute to address all key factors than human resource to find the leishmaniasis affected that may support medical care services.

목적: 매미에 기생하는 동충하초를 1990 년부터 2016년까지 매년 7월부터 10월까지 주로 한국에서 수집하고 분류하는 것이 목적이었다. 그러나 네팔, 베트남, 일본, 중국, 태국에서 자주 채집을 하였다. 방법: 매미에 기주로 한 동 충하초를 산에서 채집하였다. 결과: 9개 속과 10개 종에 속하는 총 1,104개의 표본이 수집하였다. 가장 많은 수의 표본 은 Ophiocordyceps (563개)이었고, 이어서 Isaria (361개), Polycephalomyces (73개), Cordyceps (70개), Beauveria (25개), Perennicordyceps (8개), Metarhizium (2개) 그리고 Purpureocillium (2개)이었다. Ophiocordyceps종 중. O. longissima는 563개 중에 총 426개의 표본으로 가장 많이 수집되었으며, 120개가 수집된 O. heteropoda와 17개의 표본이 있는 O. sobolifera이었다. 주로 한국에서 채집되었지만 C. ishikariensis는 네팔에서만 채집되었다. 새로운 특징은 Isaria cicada-like synnemata가 같은 숙주에서 C. ishikariensis stromata와 함께 자라는 것을 발견했다. 한국에서는 1,104개 중 총 691개의 표본이 제주도 한라산에서 발견되었다. 표본을 수집한 한국의 다른 산들은 대룡, 용문, 삼악, 설악, 구절, 두륜, 백암, 칠갑, 청등, 내장, 월출, 지리, 대룡산 등 이었다. 채집한 샘풀 중에서 3개는 미확정되었다. 결론: 총 1,104개의 표본은 9개의 속(genus), 10종류의 종(species)으로 분류되었고, 수집된 691개의 샘풀은 제주도 한라산에서 채집되었다.

Purpose: The aim was to collect and classify the Cordyceps parasitized in cicadas from July to October every year from 1990 to 2016 in Korea. And they were frequently collected in Nepal, Vietnam, Japan, China, and Thailand. Methods: Cordyceps parasitizing cicadas collected in mountains and fields. Results: A total of 1,104 specimens were collected that belonged to 10 different species under nine genera. The highest number of samples belonged to Ophiocordyceps (563 specimens), followed by Isaria (361 specimens), Polycephalomyces (73 specimens), Cordyceps (70 specimens), Beauveria (25 specimens), Perennicordyceps (8 specimens), Metarhizium (2 specimens) and Purpureocillium(2 ones). Among Ophiocordyceps spp. O. longissima was most frequently collected with a total of 426 samples out of 563, followed by O. heteropoda with 120 ones and O. sobolifera with 17 specimens. The species mainly collected in Korea, but C. ishikariensis was collected in Nepal only. The new characteristic was that Isaria cicada-like synnemata were found growing together with C. ishikariensis stromata on the same host. In Korea, the collected 691 specimens in total out of 1,104 were found in Mt. Halla in Jeju Island. Other mountains in Korea where the samples were collected were Mountains Daeryong, Jiri, Yongmoon, Samag, Seolag, Gujeol, Duryun, Baegam, Chilgap, Chundeung, Naejang, Welchul, and Daeryong. The three samples were not identified. Conclusions: A total of 1,104 specimens belonged to 10 different species under nine genera, and the collected 691 samples were found in Mt. Halla in Jeju Island.

Self-hygiene is considered one of the most essential self-management skills necessary for children with disabilities to acquire and perform independently. With this in mind, we developed an Android-based mobile application intended to teach children how to eliminate parasites. To assess its effectiveness, three children with developmental disabilities were tested prior to and after playing the game. The results indicated that the children’s knowledge of health behaviors and health-related self-efficacy improved after playing the game. Implications for health education and management are discussed.

Carbohydrate binding protein, lectin, is considered to have various functions such as adhesion molecules, signaling molecules, immune related molecules in vertebrates. However, its function in invertebrate has not been elucidated in detail yet. Using manila clam as a model system, we investigated possible roles of lectin in host defense against protozoan and microbial infection. We find Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) synthesizes a lectin termed Manila clam lectin (MCL) only after infection with the protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni. MCL is synthesized in hemocytes as a ~74 kDa precursor and secreted into hemolymph where it is converted to 30 kDa and 34 kDa polypeptides. The synthesis of MCL in hemocytes is stimulated by a factor(s) in Perkinsus-infected hemolymph, but not directly by Perkinsus itself. MCL can bind to the surfaces of purified hypnospores and zoospores of the parasite and this binding was inhibited by EDTA and GalNAc. Fluorescent beads coated with purified MCL were actively phagocytosed by hemocytes from the clam. Immunohistochemistry showed that secreted MCL localized inside of cyst-like structure. To investigate the patterns of genes expressed in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) infected with the protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni, we constructed a cDNA library and generated 1,850 clones (expressed sequence tags). The 1,850 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were compared to sequences in the GenBank database. Of these, 1,151 clones (62.2%) were unknown and are likely to represent newly described genes, while 699 clones (37.8%) were identified based on matches to sequences in the database. Lectins were the largest group of immune-function ESTs found in the Manila clams (6 different lectin were expressed). The expressions of lectins in the hemocytes were analyzed by RT-PCR using gene specific primers. Hemocyte from Perkinsus-infected clam expressed different set of lectins from that of Vibrio-infected one. Among these lectins we cloned MCL3, MCgalectin, and sialic acid binding lectin and characterized. It showed that has an open reading frame of 918 nucleotide and composed of 309 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 33.9kDa. Like other galectins, it did not contain signal peptide or transmembrane domain. It contained tandem repeated carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), in which the typical motifs important for carbohydrate recognition were conserved. Gemonic DNA analysis revealed MCGal is intronless. The carbohydrate recognition of MCGal analyzed by heptan inhibition of hemagglutination revealed that rMCGal showed a general feature of the galectin family, i.e. significant affinity for galactose and GalNAc. The expression of MCGal mRNA mainly detected in the tissues of heart, mantle, foot, adductor, palp and siphon. Immunohistochemistry using anti-MCGal antibody also conformed expression of MCGal in those tissues and hemocytes. The temporal expression of MCGal mRNA in manila clam challenged by perkinsus or vibrio was both up-regulated compared with non-challenged healthy manila clam. The recombinant MCGal agglutinated Vibrio tapitus and agglutination was inhibited by incubation with α-lactose. The rMCGal also bind surface of Perkinsus. We also find a specific protease associated with manila clam lectin (MCL). Protease was appeared in clams that were infected with Perkinsus sp, whereas uninfected clams did not contain protease. We suggest that in clam, which does not have adaptive immunity, lectins might act as strong defense molecules and their production is very inducible.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of helminths parasites from collected fecal samples of 410 feral pigeons (Columba livia) in 3 different areas of Gwangjin-gu, Seongdong-gu and Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul from December, 2011 to July, 2012 in Korea. The fecal samples were examined through by the centrifugation method using formalin-ether solution. The overall prevalence of parasites in the pigeons was 29.27% (120/410). Two nematodes (Tetrameres spp. and Capillaria spp.) and one protozoa (Eimeria spp.) were identified. In the case of nematodes, Tetrameres spp. dominated numerically (58, 14.15%), followed by Capillaria spp. (10, 2.44%) and oocysts of Eimeria spp. were detected in 78 cases (19.02%). This investigation introduces the result of examination on the prevalence of parasites in feral pigeons from some areas in Seoul for the first time.

The aim of this study is to determine the species of parasites that affected the inhabitants of the city of Acre on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean during the Ottoman Period. This is the first archaeological study of parasites in the Ottoman Empire. We analysed sediment from a latrine dating to the early 1800s for the presence of helminth eggs and protozoan parasites which caused dysentery. The samples were examined using light microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. We found evidence for roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), fish tapeworm (Dibothriocephalus sp.), Taenia tapeworm (Taenia sp.), lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), and the protozoa Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica. The parasite taxa recovered demonstrate the breadth of species present in this coastal city. We consider the effect of Ottoman Period diet, culture, trade and sanitation upon risk of parasitism in this community living 200 years ago.

To determine geographical patterns of natural parasite infections among wild rodents, a total of 46 wild rodents from 3 different localities in northern Gangwon-do (Province), Korea were examined for intestinal parasite infections. Along with nematodes such as hookworms and Syphacia spp., Plagiorchis muris (2 specimens) (Trematoda) were collected from striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius. In a Korean wood mouse, Apodemus peninsulae, the overall nematode infections were similar to A. agrarius, but an adult worm of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda) was collected. In addition, 2 species of cestodes, i.e., Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta, were collected from A. agrarius. Through this survey, A. agrarius and A. peninsule were confirmed as the natural definite hosts for zoonotic intestinal helminths, i.e., P. muris, E. hortense, H. nana, and H. diminuta, in northern Gangwon-do, Korea. Considering increased leisure activities around these areas, seasonal and further comprehensive surveys on wild rodents seem to be needed to prevent zoonotic parasite infections.

A total of 450 stool samples were collected from inpatient and outpatient clinics of Pediatric Department, Minia University Hospital, Minia District, Egypt. Two groups of patients were studied, including 200 immunosuppressed and 250 immunocompetent children. Stool samples were subjected to wet saline and iodine mounts. A concentration technique (formol-ether sedimentation method) was carried out for stool samples diagnosed negative by wet saline and iodine mounts. Samples were stained by 2 different methods; acid fast stain (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain) and Giemsa stain. Total 188 cases (94%) were diagnosed positive for parasitic infections among immunosuppressed children, whereas 150 cases (60%) were positive in immunocompetent children ($P$<0.0001). The most common protozoan infection in immunosuppressed group was $Cryptosporidium$ $parvum$ (60.2%), followed by $Blastocystis$ $hominis$ (12.1%), $Isospora$ $belli$ (9.7%), and $Cyclospora$ $caytenensis$ (7.8%). On the other hand, $Entamoeba$ $histolytica$ (24.6%) and $Giardia$ $lamblia$ (17.6%) were more common than other protozoans in immunocompetent children.

A total of ten specimens of darkblotched rockfish, Sebastes crameri obtain-ed from Newport fish market were examined for parasites during February, 2002. Eight out of ten S. crameri were found to be infected with metazoan parasites. They were flatworm Trochopus australis, nematoda Anisakis simplex, and copepods Neobrachiella robusta and Chondracanthus triventricosus. Nine (30.0%) T. australis, seven (30.0%) N. robusta, one (10.0％) C. triventricosus and seven (60.0%) A. simplex were infected. Among them, A. simplex was the most abundant and prevalent metazoan parasites in S. crameri. T. australis and N. robsta were found in gills with moderate intensity (1.7 and 1.9, respectively), and C. triventricosus in dorsal fin with low intensity (0.3).

Objectives: This research, using the interview methods, attempts to identify a new type of network users which is called as “online parasites.” Since online parasites have a higher level of information retention and activity than ordinary passive users, companies that operate online communities should consider the needs and meaning of “online parasites” when activating inactive users. Methods: This study conducted preliminary interviews with seven participants to observe how they use the internet, why they join the online community, and how they obtain information from the online community, regardless of whether they have the experience in posting messages in the online community. Results: This study explores the relationship between the active user, inactive user, lurker, and online parasite according to users’ interaction behaviors and the perceived contributions to the community. In addition, online parasites are defined as users who access and use the online community and produce interactive behaviors (such as likes and favorites) with the content but have no substantial content creation and contribution. Conclusions: Compared to Lurker or passive receivers who read newspapers many years ago, most internet users now have a certain degree of enthusiasm like online parasites. Therefore, conceptualizing online parasites and studying their motivations and behaviors will greatly impact the sustainable development of the internet and virtual community.

Oomycetes are ubiquitous heterotrophs of considerable economic and ecological importance. Lately their diversity in marine environments has been shown to be greatly underappreciated and many lineages of intracellular holocarpic parasites, infecting micro- and macro-algae, remain to be fully described taxonomically. Among them, pathogens of marine red algae have been studied extensively as they infect important seaweed crops. Throughout the 20th century, most intracellular, holocarpic biotrophic oomycetes that infect red algae have been assigned to the genus Olpidiopsis Cornu. However, 18S rRNA sequencing of Olpidiopsis saprolegniae, the species considered the generitype for Olpidiopsis, suggests that this genus is not closely related to the marine pathogens and that the latter requires a nomenclatural update. Here, we compile and reanalyze all recently published 18S rRNA sequence data for marine holocarpic oomycetes, with a particular focus on holocarpic pathogens of red algae. Their taxonomy has been revised twice over the past four years, with suggestions to transfer them first into the genus Pontisma and then Sirolpidium, and into a monogeneric order, Pontismatales. We show however, that previously published topologies and the proposed taxa Pontisma, Sirolpidium, and Pontismatales are unsupported. We highlight that name changes that are unfounded and premature create confusion in interested parties, especially concerning pathogens of marine red algae that infect important seaweed crops. We thus propose that the names of these holocarpic biotrophic parasites of red algae are retained temporarily, until a supported topology is produced with more genetic markers to enable the circumscription of species and higher-level taxa.

Whilst archaeological evidence for many aspects of life in ancient China is well studied, there has been much less interest in ancient infectious diseases, such as intestinal parasites in past Chinese populations. Here, we bring together evidence from mummies, ancient latrines, and pelvic soil from burials, dating from the Neolithic Period to the Qing Dynasty, in order to better understand the health of the past inhabitants of China and the diseases endemic in the region. Seven species of intestinal parasite have been identified, namely roundworm, whipworm, Chinese liver fluke, oriental schistosome, pinworm, Taenia sp. tapeworm, and the intestinal fluke Fasciolopsis buski. It was found that in the past, roundworm, whipworm, and Chinese liver fluke appear to have been much more common than the other species. While roundworm and whipworm remained common into the late 20th century, Chinese liver fluke seems to have undergone a marked decline in its prevalence over time. The iconic transport route known as the Silk Road has been shown to have acted as a vector for the transmission of ancient diseases, highlighted by the discovery of Chinese liver fluke in a 2,000 year-old relay station in northwest China, 1,500 km outside its endemic range.

During the course of studying the helminth fauna from the fishes of the Korean coastal waters, two bucephalid species, Dolichoenterum longissimum Ozaki, 1924 and Prosorhynchus aculeatus Odhner, 1905, were collected from the alimentary canal of the conger eel, Conger myriaster. D. longissimum was characterized by having the ovary between the testes, and 7-8 horn-like projections on the ventral side of rhynchus. P. aculeatus was distinguished from the other species by the location of the mouth or the opening position of the excretory vesicle. These two bucephalid digeneans are new to the Korean fauna.

A total of 480 live buffaloes and 180 visceral samples from Dhaka, Mymensingh, Bogura and Rajshahi were examined for the presence of parasites of water buffaloes in Bangladesh during September, 1988 to August, 1989. The recorded parasites were eight trematodes, two cestodes, fourteen nematodes, two protozoa and two arthropods. The trematodes were Fasciola gigantica (18.9%-46.4%). Paramphistomes (Gigantocotyl explanatum, Ceylonocotyl scoliocoelium, Cotylophoron cotylophorum and Gastrothylax crumenifer (29.5%-48.3%). Schistosoma indicum (1.6%-31.6%), S. spindale (13.9%-27.7%) and S. nasalis (4.6%-8.3%). The cestodes were Hydatid cyst (24.4%), Cysticercus tenuicollis (11.1%). The nematodes were Strongyloides papillosus (14.8%-21.6%), Capillaria spp. (C. bilobata, C. bovis) (8.5%-20.0%), Setaria digitata (7.2%), Onchocerca armillata (27.2%), Thelazia rhodesii (2.3%), Gongylonema pulchrum (3.9%), Oesophagostomum radiatum (6.6%-41.6%), Hookworms (Agriostomum vryburgi, Bunostomum phlebotomum) (8.1%-17.2%), Trichostrongylus axei (11.2%-21.6%), Mecistocirrus digitatus & Haemonchus contortus (15.2%-25.5%) and Toxocara vitulorum (1.1%-9.8%). The protozoa were Eimeria zuerni (2.3%) and Trypanosoma theileri (0.4%). The arthropods were Haemaphysalis bispinosa (8.1%) and Haematopinus tuberculatus (34.6%).

Intestinal parasitic infections remain a major public health problem in many parts of Thailand, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among the people living in Huai Sai sub-district, Bang Khla district, Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June 2017 to August 2017 which included a total of 224 participants. Stool samples were examined using a simple direct smear and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 16.1%. Soil-transmitted helminth infections (14.3%) were more common than protozoan infections (1.8%). The most common intestinal parasites were hookworms (6.7%) followed by Strongyloides stercoralis, (5.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.3%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.0%), Giardia intestinalis (0.4%), and Blastocystis hominis (0.4%) were the protozoans identified. A high prevalence of infections was found in male participants of ${\geq}40years$ who raised dogs in the households and did not wear boots while working fields. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association of intestinal parasitic infections with gender with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.1-5.2 (P=0.020). The results showed a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections among adults in rural communities which were particularly apparent regarding the skin-penetrating species of nematodes. A greater focus on intervention is required by improving sanitation and personal hygiene to prevent the spread of intestinal parasitic infections.

Due to the possible emergence of resistance and safety concerns on certain treatments, development of new drugs against parasites is essential for the effective control and subsequent eradication of parasitic infections. Several drug targets have been identified which are either genes or proteins essential for the parasite survival and distinct from the hosts. These include the phosphagen kinases (PKs) which are enzymes that playa key role in maintenance of homeostasis in cells exhibiting high or variable rates of energy turnover by catalizing the reversible transfer of a phosphate between ATP and naturally occurring guanidine compounds. PKs have been identified in a number of important human and animal parasites and were also shown to be significant in survival and adaptation to stress conditions. The potential of parasite PKs as novel chemotherapeutic targets remains to be explored.

A survey was made to find the extent of intestinal parasite infection in Kampongcham, Cambodia in February 2002. A total of 251 fecal specimens were collected from Tonlebat primary school children and examined by formalin-ether sedimentation technique. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasite was 54.2% (males, 57.3%; females, 50.8%). The infection rate of intestinal helminths by the species were as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides 26.3%, Echinostoma sp. 15.6%, hookworm 6.4%, Opisthorchis sp. 4.0%, Rhabditis sp. 2.4%, and Trichuris trichiura 0.4%. The infection rate of intestinal protozoa were as follows: E. coli 7.6%, G. lamblia 3.2%, I. butschlii 3.2%, and E. histolytica 0.8%. More than two different kinds of parasites were found in 16.7% of the stool samples. All the children infected were treated with albendazole, praziquantel and metronidazole according to parasite species. The results showed that intestinal parasites are highly endemic in this area.