AUTHOR=Xu Meng , Jiang Yanyan , Yin Jianhai , Cao Shengkui , Shen Yujuan , Cao Jianping 

TITLE=Risk Factors for Clonorchis sinensis Infection in Residents of Binyang, Guangxi: A Cross-Sectional and Logistic Analysis Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.588325

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.588325

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Clonorchiasis is a serious food-borne parasitic disease caused by <italic>Clonorchis sinensis</italic> infection. <italic>C. sinensis</italic>, a major fish-borne trematode, is a known causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma. The risk factors for <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection include individual eating behaviors and environmental factors. In this study, we evaluated the <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection rate and the associated risk factors among residents in Binyang County, Guangxi, China.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In 2016 and 2017, five villages from Binyang, Guangxi were selected by multistage cluster random sampling for a cross-sectional study. A modified Kato-Katz thick smear method was used to examine <italic>C. sinensis</italic> eggs in fecal samples in triplicate (three smears for each sample). Both uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the risk factors for <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A total of 1,977 fecal samples were collected from villagers in the investigated areas. The overall infection rates of <italic>C. sinensis</italic> in Binyang County was 20.49% (405/1,977). The mean age of participants was 39.42 ± 23.48 (range: 3–89 years old), and the highest infection rate (33.72%) was seen in the age group of 40-49 years old, followed by those aged 50–59 (31.83%). Multi-variate logistic regression analysis showed that higher infection rates were significantly associated with males (<italic>aOR</italic> = 6.51, <italic>95% CI</italic> = 4.67–9.08), Zhuang (<italic>aOR</italic> = 2.41, <italic>95% CI</italic> = 1.62–3.59), ages (<italic>aOR</italic> = 33.51, <italic>95% CI</italic> = 10.13–110.86), frequency of raw fresh fish consumption (<italic>aOR</italic> = 14.56, <italic>95% CI</italic> = 9.80–21.63), and close contact with cats and dogs (<italic>aOR</italic> = 1.53, <italic>95% CI</italic> = 1.02–2.30). Occupations and education levels showed no significant association with <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> High levels of <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection were observed among residents in Binyang County, Guangxi. Intervention strategies should be strengthened among the investigated population at high risk, such as males, Zhuang and older individuals, especially those who frequently eat raw fresh fish. In addition, the individuals contacting with cats and/or dogs were observed to have significantly higher infection rate of <italic>C. sinensis</italic> than those having no contact with cats and dogs. The association between contacting with cats and/or dogs and <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection needs to be explored and confirmed in the future study by more epidemiological investigations of human <italic>C. sinensis</italic> infection from different areas.</p>