Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths infection in students of klungkung, bali, after mass treatment with albendazole

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effect of the anti-helminth mass treatment use Albendazole makes detection of soil transmitted helminth infections is more difficult to do microscopically. It is hoped that the molecular method was able to help increase the detectability of Soil Transmitted Helminth infection. AIM: The research aimed is to determine the prevalence of STH infection after Albendazole administration in Bali by identify the presence of β-tubulin gene as molecular diagnosis of STHs infection among children. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study that recruits elementary school children aged 6-12 years as subjects. Stool examination was carried out using the Kato-Katz technique, then followed by a molecular method using the B-tubulin gene as the target gene. RESULTS: The results showed that only 1 sample out of 140 examined using Kato-Katz was positive for Trichuris trichiura. 30 samples were then extracted from the faeces and performed Polymerase Chain Reaction. A total of 4 positive samples detected the B-tubulin Ascaris lumbricoides gene and 1 positive sample of the B-tubulin Trichuris trichiura gene. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the prevaence of STH infection after albendazole treatment is low, the molecular method has a higher detectability than the microscopic method.