Toward integrated opisthorchiasis control in Northeast Thailand: The Lawa Project

Acta Tropica: Available online 4 August 2014, DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.07.017

Banchob Sripa, Sirikachorn Tangkawattana, Thewarach Laha, Sasithorn Kaewkes, Frank F. Mallory, John F. Smith, Bruce A. Wilcox

Abstract

Human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, a food-borne trematode is a significant public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand. Despite a long history of control programs in Thailand and a nationwide reduction, O. viverrini infection prevalence remains high in the Northeastern Provinces. Therefore, a new strategy for controlling the liver fluke infection using the EcoHealth/One Health approach was introduced into the Lawa Lake area in Khon Kaen province where the liver fluke is endemic. A program has been carried using anthelminthic treatment, novel intensive health education methods both in the communities and in schools, ecosystem monitoring and active community participation. As a result, the infection rate in the more than 10 villages surrounding the Lake has declined to approximate one third of the average of 50% as estimated by a baseline survey. Strikingly, the Cyprinoid fish species in the Lake, which are the intermediate host, now showed less than 1% prevalence compared to a maximum of 70% at baseline. This liver fluke control program, named “Lawa model,” is now recognized nationally and internationally, and being expanding to other parts of Thailand and neighboring Mekong countries. Challenges to O. viverrini disease control, and lessons learned in developing an integrative control program using a community-based, ecosystem approach, and scaling-up regionally based on Lawa as a model are described.

Keywords: Opisthorchis viverrini; integrated control; ecosystems health; Lawa model; Thailand

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Published: 05/08/2014