Sirisobha Boonyotha. A survey on vector-borne and water-borne diseases in Klong Aae hydropower Dam construction project Surat Thani province Thailand. Master's Degree(Tropical Medicine ). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2009.
A survey on vector-borne and water-borne diseases in Klong Aae hydropower Dam construction project Surat Thani province Thailand
Abstract:
The Klong Aae hydropower dam in the southern Thai province of Surat Thani,
at a construction cost of 270.319 million Baht, will generate 1800 kilowatts of
electricity for consumption. Previous environmental impact studies for this project did
not exhaustively consider all potential resource and environmental problems at the
study site, and omitted environmental information and health-impact studies.
This cross-sectional survey assessed secondary health statistics and health
problems surrounding the project area. Secondary statistical health data, covering the
period 2005-2007, were collected from Surat Thani Provincial Health Office and
Primary Health Center, and analyzed for potential health problems. Potential disease
vectors were collected at 12 construction-project survey stations, and examined in the
laboratory for parasites. The major water- and vector-borne disease problems among
the study population were diarrhea and malaria, respectively. The mollusk survey
found 4 medically important snails; 3 Thiarid snails were infected with Xyphidio
cercariae. The fish survey found metacercarial infections with Neolissocheilus
soroides [1/37(2.70%)], Paralaubuca riverori [4/15(26.67%)], Hampala
macrolepidota [100%], Puntius gonionotus [63/153(73.68%)], and Cyclocheilichthys
apogon [100%]. The crab survey found 7 waterfall crabs (77.78%), disease vectors of
paragonimiasis; none was infected with metacercariae. The rat survey found 12 rats
with minute intestinal flukes in the liver [1(8.33%)] and intestines [11(91.67%)], and
Taenia spp. parasites in the liver [2(16.67%)]. Leptospirosis was not found. The
mosquito survey found many species of mosquito intermediate hosts for malaria (An.
minimus, An. dirus, and Ae. niveus gr.), dengue fever (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus),
encephalitis (Cx. tritaeniorhynchus), and filariasis (Cx. quinquefasciatus). This basic
information can be used to improve the effectiveness of water- and vector-borne
disease management programs during the construction and operational phases of the
project.