Аssessment of the helminthological situation in Тajikistan

Abstract

Purpose of the study: To assess the helminthological situation in Tajikistan and to identify the most common types of helminths among people of different ages.

Material and research methods. Helminthological studies were conducted in 2022 in 6 districts of the Khatlon region (Yavan, A. Jomi, Shahritus, Nurek, Dangara, Muminabad), differing in climatic and geographical conditions. We also processed and analyzed data on examined persons for helminthiasis in the parasitological laboratories of the Centers for the Control of Tropical Diseases and the Centers for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance in the period 2020-2023. Stool studies were carried out using two methods for detecting parasites: scraping from the perianal folds with a cotton swab; the Kato-Katz method.

Results of the study and their discussion. The incidence of helminths, according to the official statistical reports of the State Institution “Republican Center for Tropical Diseases Control” in the republic in 2023 was 37792 cases (of which 14,205 cases (37,5%) are children and adolescents under 18 years of age). Of these, 12905 cases are ascariasis (34,1%), 10092 cases of enterobiasis (26,7%), 3580 cases of hymenolepiasis (9,4%), 17 cases of trichuriasis (0,04%), 28 cases of taeniasis (0,07%) and 155 cases of echinococcosis (0,4%). The results of the study in 2022 showed that the prevalence of helminths among 65,665 examined individuals in the target areas of the Khatlon region averaged 7,5%. The most common helminth is the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) - this parasite was found in 2604 (4.0%) of those examined.

Conclusions. High prevalence of helminthiasis was found in the examined residents of two districts (A. Jomi and Shahritus) of the plain zone (14,0% and 11,3%, respectively), low prevalence of the population (1,0%) was noted in the city of Nurek. Failure to observe personal hygiene and sanitary standards, as well as the use of water from open water sources unprotected from pollution contribute to the intensive invasion of the population by helminths