http://unisep.lib.unishams.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/31948 2026-04-22T23:38:58Z http://unisep.lib.unishams.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/31949 Prevalence, potential risk factors and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in ruminant livestock animals from Penang, Malaysia Li li Lee; Adedolapo Aminat Rauff-Adedotun; Nabilah Abd Talib; Nurshafarina Shaari; Zary Shariman Yahaya; Farah Haziqah Meor Termizi Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic protist inhabiting the intestinal tract of diverse animal hosts, including human. Informa- tion regarding Blastocystis in small ruminants, namely goats and sheep, is limited globally; thus, this study was carried out to investigate the distribution and determinants of Blastocystis in ruminant livestock animals from Penang, Malaysia. Fecal samples from 127 cattle, 149 goats, and 100 sheep were examined for Blastocystis by in vitro cultivation using modified Jones' medium, while DNA barcoding was used for subtyping. Overall, 23.1% (87/376) of animals screened were positive for Blastocystis sp. The prevalence of infection was significantly higher in goats than in cattle and sheep, while the female gender, semi-intensive farming system, and the Northeast Penang Island district were identified as potential risk factors for Blastocystis infection. Blastocystis sp. STS, ST14, and ST25 were identified in cattle; STS, ST10, ST13, and ST14 in goats; and ST4, STS, ST14, and ST15 in sheep. STS and ST14 were found to be the most abundant and widespread subtypes in the study area. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ST4 from sheep and ST13 from goats, thus serving as an update to the host range of Blastocystis sp. ST4 and ST13. The isolation of ST4 and ST5 in this study suggests that ruminant livestock animals could serve as reservoirs of human infection. 2023-07-18T00:00:00Z http://unisep.lib.unishams.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/28624 Risk Factors Of Hookworm Infection Among Aborigines During Different Seasons In Malaysia Noradilah Samseh Abdullah; Ii Li Lee; Tengku Shahrul Anuar Hookworm infection threatens millions of people especially in tropical areas and has been a major public health concern. In Malaysia, hookworm infection is still a burden to the aborigines despite modernization. The actual factor of the never-ending hookworm infection among the aborigines should be ruled out to overcome the problem. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the prevalence and risk factors in the acquisition of hookworm infection among the aboriginal community in Pahang, Malaysia during wet and dry seasons. Age less than or equal to 15 years old was found to be the most significant risk factor to acquire hookworm infection during both seasons. Usage of stored river water for daily activities was found to be the risk factor to contract hookworm infection during the wet season. This study highlighted that children has higher risk to acquire hookworm infection regardless of the seasonal variation. This could be due to the involvement in outdoor activities, which exposed them to the soil that contain hookworm larva. Usage of untreated water for daily activities was another risk, which highlighted that provision of safe, treated and clean water supply is very crucial in reducing the number of hookworm infection among the aborigines. Health education and improved sanitation are also important for the prevention and control of hookworm infection among the aboriginal community. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://unisep.lib.unishams.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/12711 Impact of seasonality on the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia infections among the aborigines Samseh Abdullah Noradilah; Norhayati Moktar; Lee Ii Li, Dr; Fatmah Md Salleh; Tengku Shahrul Anuar Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia (G.) lamblia infections among the aboriginal community during the wet and dry seasons. Methods: A total of 473 stool samples from the aborigines in Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia were collected during wet (n=256) and dry seasons (n=217). Smear of all the PVA-preserved stool samples were subjected to Trichrome staining and microscopic examination under 1 000 x magnification (Nikon eclipse E100) for the detection of G. lamblia. Positivity was recorded based on the presence of G. lamblia in trophozoite and/or cyst forms. Results: The prevalence of giardiasis was 12.10% and 8.29% during the wet and dry season, respectively. Age of less or equal to 15 years old and presence of other family members with G. lamblia infection were found to be the significant risk factors to acquire G. lamblia infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply was the significant risk factor of giardiasis during the dry season. This study highlighted the possibility of anthroponotic transmission of G. lamblia during both seasons and waterborne transmission during the dry season in the aboriginal community. Conclusions: This study suggests that seasonal variation plays an important role in the prevalence and risk factor of G. lamblia infection in the aboriginal community. Therefore, close contact with Giardia-infected family members and water-related activities or usage of untreated water must be avoided to reduce the burden of G. lamblia infection in this community. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://unisep.lib.unishams.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/12710 Establishing a protocol for water sample processing for the detection of Blastocystis sp. Lee Ii Li, Dr.; Tian Chye Tan, Dr.; Suresh Kumar Govind, Dr. This study was aimed at establishing a protocol for water sample processing for the detection of Blastocystis sp. using distilled water spiked with Blastocystis sp. cysts. The study established a protocol involving eight technical aspects, namely, storage temperature, storage duration, minimum water sample volume, optimum relative centrifugal force, centrifugation duration, minimum number of cyst for inoculation in Jones' medium and turn-around-time for the detection of vacuolar forms of Blastocystis sp. Results showed a minimum of 1.0 L water sample should be collected and processed on the same day. Otherwise, it should be stored at 4 °C and processed within 3 days. Water sample should be centrifuged at 1400×g for 10 min. For the isolation of Blastocystis sp. cysts, parasite pellet could be layered on top of Ficoll-Paque™ PLUS, centrifuged at 1400×g for 20 min and washed twice using 0.9% saline with centrifugation at 1400 x g for 10 min. A minimum of 1 X 105 cysts could then be inoculated in Jones’ medium supplement with 10% horse serum, incubated at 37°C and examined for any presence of vacuolar forms of Blastocystis sp. after 3 days of inoculation. A protocol for water sample processing for the detection of Blastocystis sp. has successfully been established. The protocol was validated using 106 various water samples. This protocol will be very useful in determining the extent of Blastocystis sp. contamination inwater sources in order to identify the seriousness of contaminations. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z