About 10 percent of the population carry 60 percent of the worm load, and although everyone is exposed, not everyone is infected, which suggests a strong genetic influence on susceptibility. Preliminary fieldwork was conducted in the Jiri region of east central Nepal in 1985 and 1993. The Jirels are an excellent focal group for a helminthic study since intestinal infections are the leading cause of illness in the Jiri area, where sanitary and hygienic conditions are poor, and childhood mortality approaches 30 percent. The current study involves 1,000 individuals, representing some 50 families from two villages near the small local hospital. Blood and fecal samples are being collected along with growth and development measurements.
Treatment involves an antihelminthic drug to expel the worms.
Preventive measures are not available. This is the first full scale study of genetic susceptibility to helminthic infection in human populations. The goals of the study are to understand underlying mechanisms involved in high worm burdens so that better treatments and early intervention programs can be designed for high risk people in developing nations. Last modified 12 July 1999.