Project's information
| Project's title | Development of a model for controlling environmental pollution caused by parasitic pathogens in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam |
| Project’s code | UQ.SNMT.01/23-25 |
| Research hosting institution | Institute of Biology |
| Project leader’s name | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Ha |
| Project duration | 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025 |
| Project’s budget | 5,000 million VND |
| Classify | Grade B |
| Goal and objectives of the project | This work contributes to the control and mitigation of environmental pollution caused by parasites in livestock farming; enhances the capacity for proactively response through forecasting areas at risk of parasitic pathogens over time; establishes a monitoring and early warning model for sources of parasitic pathogen pollution; and provide technical guidance on sustainable processes for controlling pollution sources in selected northern mountainous provinces. |
| Main results | - Theoretical results:
The prevalence of parasitic infection in the northern mountainous provinces remains high, ranging from 11.28% to 34.73%. The detected parasitic groups included tapeworms, soil-transmitted helminths, and fish-borne trematodes, especially small liver flukes showed a particularly high infection rate in the Thac Ba reservoir area.
The presence of a first intermediate host of Clonochis sinensis in Son La and Hoa Binh reservoirs, together with the high prevalence of pleurolophocercaria and the similarity in sanitary conditions, customs, and cultural of local communities living around these reservoirs, suggests that Son La and Hoa Binh reservoirs may also be endemic areas of C. sinensis, comparable to the Thac Ba area.
Analysis of the trematode larvae collected from fish species showed that all examined species harbored metacercariae capable of infecting humans, with an overall infection prevalence of 66.1% and an mean infection intensity of 10.8 larvae per fish sample analyzed. Fish species found to be infected with C. sinensis metacercariae: Toxabrasmis houdemeri, Hemiculter leucisculus, Cultrichthys erythropterus, Culter recurvirostris, Carassioides cantonensis, Opsariichthys bidens and Rhinogobius sp.
- Applied results:
A surveillance model and early warning system for liver flukes were developed and implemented in Yen Bai Province (former administrative boundaries. In addition, techniques, technical documentation, and methodological guidelines were transferred, and training courses were conducted for loal health center staff in five communes of the former Luc Yen District. |
| Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results | The identification of high infection rates of trematode larvae in intermediate hosts in Son La, Hoa Binh, and Thac Ba reservoir areas, togeather with the similarity in sanitary conditions, customs and cultural practices of local communities living around these reservoirs, provides important new scientifict evidence. These findings highlight the potential endemicity of liver fluke infections in these regions and have significant implications for surveillance, prevention, and control of parasitic and liver fluke diseases in humans.. |
| Products of the project | - Scientific papers in referred journals (list):
(1) Le Hung Anh, Nguyen Van Ha, Hoang Van Hien, Tran Anh Tuan, Nguyen Ngoc Chinh, Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Nguyen Thi Hai, Stephen E. Greiman, Jay Stauffer Jr, Henry Madsen, Nguyen Manh Hung (2025). Hydropower reservoirs – their potential association with transmission of trematodes in Vietnam. Journal of Helminthology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X2400097X. (Q2; IF 1.6; SCIE)
(2) Nguyen Manh Hung, Nguyen Van Ha (2025). The conundrum of freshwater molusk control for preventing trematode transmission and protection of gastropod diversity. Proceedings of Scientific Conference on Biodiversity and Bioactive Substances for Sustainable Development, March 2025, Hanoi: 2003-2015.
(3) Bich Nguyen Ngoc, Trung Dung Do, Ngoc Minh Nguyen, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Do Trung Ha, Le Thuy Dung, Vu Thi Trang, Nhung Hong Thi Nguyen, Tang Van Nguyen, Thai Quang Nguyen, Thanh Van Nguyen, Nguyen Ngoc Chinh, Pham Ngoc Doanh, Hien Van Hoang, Ha Van Nguyen, Tran Anh Tuan, Phuc Pham Duc, Stephen E. Greiman, Henry Madsen, Hung Manh Nguyen. Emerging Hotspots of Trematode Transmission in Vietnam: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Local Communities in Hydropower Reservoir Areas. Parasitology (Submitted).
(4) Le Quang Tuan, Tran Anh Tuan, Nguyen Van Ha, Nguyen Manh Hung (2026). Map of infection risk for pathogens associated with the freshwater snail Parafossarulus manchouricus in Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Community Medicine (Accepted).
- Patents (list):
- Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place):
(1) Model for controlling environmental pollution caused by parasitic pathogens in the mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam. The model documentation has been transferred to local health centers where this project is implemented, including methods, technical procedures, and reporting forms for implementing parasitic pathogen control.
(2) Synthesis report on the situation of parasite pollution in the northern mountainous community, the impacts of climate change on the spread of parasites.
(3) Report on current environmental pollution areas due to parasites, forecast of parasite distribution areas and pollution levels (over time) for climate change scenarios.
(4) Technical manual on waste management and treatment in livestock farming to reduce parasitic pollution in the environment. The product is printed in 330 copies, size 10x15 cm, delivered to localities implementing the project.
(5) A set of propaganda documents providing instructions on how to prevent and reduce environmental pollution, protecting the health of farmers and animals.
- Other products (if applicable): Support training of 01 PhD student; |
| Research area | Muong Lai Commune, Lao Cai Province |
| Recommendations | The model for controlling environmental pollution caused by parasitic pathogens that has been deployed needs to be expanded in the reservoir areas of the northern mountainous provinces to control and reduce the rate of human infection to a low level (<10%) and minimize environmental pollution caused by the spread of parasitic pathogens. |
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