Hookworm infection is one of the most common soil-transmitted helminth infections among the rural communities of the tropics. In Malaysia, the infection is commonly reported among the underprivileged communities living in poverty especially the aborigines (Orang Asli). While many studies focused on the prevalence of hookworm infection in rural communities, there is a lack of studies among the urban or semi urban aboriginal communities. The cross-sectional study was performed in a semi urban aboriginal primary school in Kuala Kubu Bharu. A total of 159 stool samples were collected among the school children. All samples were subjected to direct stool smear and formalin-ether concentration technique followed by microscopic observation. The overall prevalence of hookworm infection among the semi urban school children was low (7.55% ; 12/159) and the highest was among school children aged 11 years old. Male school children had higher prevalence of hookworm infection (10.14 % ; 7/69) in comparison to female students (5.55% ; 5/90). This study shows that living in semi urban area with better facilities and improved sanitation provide good chance and hope for prevention and control of hookworm infection among the aboriginal school children.

Introduction: Parasitic worm infection is a global affliction with significant disease burden. The disease however is endemic in the tropics where poverty stricken communities live in substandard living conditions. In Malaysia, the infection is largely limited to Orang Asli (aborigine) and rural communities across the country where prevalence may reach up to 90%. Objective: This study investigates the parasitic worm infection in an aboriginal primary school closely located to Cyberjaya, the modern IT capital of Malaysia. Materials and Methods: 42 pupils from Bukit Cheeding primary school participated in this study and were screened for hel- minth infection by faecal sample examination using Kato-Katz technique. Result: The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection was 59.5%. Majority of pupils were infected with Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides and double infection with Trichuris and Ascaris constituted 16.6% prevalence. None of the pupils were infected with hookworm. The infection rate amongst the males (66.7%) seemed to be higher than the females (46.7%). The mean worm burden for Ascaris lumbricoides was 2495.6 ± 1709 while for Trichuris trichiura was 1093.1 ± 433. Conclusion: Despite the rising affluence in Malaysia's Klang Valley, minority communities such as the aborigine who live side by side to modernity are still plagued with soil-transmitted helminth infection. More efforts are needed to address this problem.

Trichuris trichiura is the most common soil-transmitted helminth affecting communities of the tropical regions. Living in places with lack of hygienic lifestyle, the aborigines were reported to have the highest prevalence of trichuriasis especially among children. A total of 159 aboriginal school children from a semi urban area in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor were recruited in this study. Stool specimens collected from the school children were examined for Trichuris trichiura ova using direct stool smear and formalin-ether concentration technique. Trichuriasis is prevalent among the aboriginal school children (44.0%). The aboriginal school children aged 9 years old showed the highest prevalence of infection at 63.2%. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of trichuriasis according to gender between male (44.9%) and female students (43.3. From this study, it was found that despite living in a semi urban area with better sanitation and hygiene at school, trichuriasis was still prevalent among the aboriginal school children in Kuala Kubu Bharu