Problems in Tropical Public Health among Workers at a Jute Mill Near Calcutta

Abstract

Summary A survey of intestinal parasites was conducted among 750 workers at an American-owned jute mill near Calcutta from March through June 1952. Infections were found in 92.5 per cent of the sample, 73.5 per cent with protozoan infections and 76.1 per cent with helminthic infections. The mean number of infections per person was 2.5, but nearly 10 per cent of the persons proved to have 5 or more (up to 8) infections. The rate of infection with those parasites generally considered to be pathogenic follow in order of prevalence: hookworm (68.7 per cent), Trichuris trichiura (16.4 per cent), Ascaris lumbricoides (9.6 per cent), Giardia lamblia (9.1 per cent), Entamoeba histolytica (8.3 per cent), and Strongyloides stercoralis (8.1 per cent). Slight general differences were noted in comparing rates for different age groups, males and females, and Hindus and Muslims. The most striking variance, however, concerned the much higher prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis among Muslims (29.9 and 46.7 per cent respectively) as compared with Hindus (3.0 and 6.5 per cent respectively). No differences with respect to parasite prevalence were found between workers living in sanitated quarters within the mill compound as compared with those living in the generally unsanitated environment of the nearby villages. The significance of this observation is discussed and the limitations of “pin-point” sanitation are indicated.