A Brief Survey of Parasitic Helminth in South Laos and Cambodia with a Comparison to the State in Thailand

Whereas the epidemiologic study of parasitic helminth in Thailand have been reported by several authors, that of Laos and Cambodia is little known at present. We have an opportunity of visiting South Laos and Cambodia along Mekong River Basin in order to make a survey on schistosomiasis in 1960. During the staying period of one and a half months in that region, our survey was focused on three subjects; seeking a susceptible intermediate snail host of Schistosora japonicum, intradermal skin test of schistosomiasis on the inhabitants, and stool examination of the inhabitants. As far as the schistosomiasis japonica is concerned, no trace of the existence of that disease was detected. This was already reported by us as an assignment report, WPRO 80, from the regional office of WHO in August, 1960. On the other hand it was revealed by the stool examination that a remarkably high incidence of intestinal helminth among the rural people was observed. So this is a report concerning mainly that incidence of intestinal helminth in the region of our short time examination.