From 09-12 March 2015, the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Quy Nhon (IMPE-QN) Viet Nam in collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM Antwerp) and Ghent University (Ugent), Belgium held the Workshop o­n introduction to the diagnosis of soil transmitted helminths (STHs) and Fasciola spp. in 2015 with the purpose of improving the diagnostic capacity and capability of IMPE Quy Nhon.

Participants to the training workshop.

Due to the humid tropical climate, culinary traditions, and widespread faecal contamination, helminth infections remain endemic in various countries in South-East Asia. In Vietnam the major genera of helminths important for public health are the zoonotic helminth infections (ZHI) (i) the trematodes Fasciola, Paragonimus, Opisthorchis and Chlonorchis, and the tapeworms Taenia spp. and (ii) the soil-transmitted helminths (STH), Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworms. The situation in Central Vietnam is particularly alarming. In the last decade this region has seen a spectacular increase in morbidity and mortality rates caused by these helminth infections. For example (i) opisthorchiasis is currently considered a major cause of cholangiocarcinoma; (ii) fascioliasis, rather sporadic in most of the country, has emerged to an epidemic situation in Central Vietnam, with thousands of cases each year; and (iii) Central Vietnam is among the regions with the highest prevalence of STH. It is clear that these helminthiases contribute to poverty, especially in the most exposed rural populations.

Assoc.Prof. Nguyen Van Chuong in his directive speech at the training workshop.

This workshop is in the framework of the VLIR South Initiative Project "The diagnosis of zoonotic and soil-transmitted helminth infections in Central Vietnam", a project that is funded by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), in which from the Belgian site, Ghent University and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp participate. Attending the opening ceremony of the workshop, the representatives of IMPE-QN included Assoc.Prof. Nguyen Van Chuong-Director, Assoc.Prof. Ho Van Hoang, Vice-Director, Dr. Huynh Hong Quang, Vice-Director, MSc. Vo Tri Dung, Vice-Director and heads/vice-heads of technical and functional departments; the Belgian project promoter and lectures were Prof.Dr. Pierre Dorny, Head of Unit of Veterinary Helminthology Department of Biomedical Sciences, ITM Antwerp and Guest Professor at Laboratory of Parasitology, Falculty of Veterinary Medicine, UGent, Dr. Sarah Gabriël, senior researcher in ITM Antwerp and Ms. Anke Van Hul, senior laboratory technician; all of the Belgian experts have a long experience in various parasitological techniques and they have worked in laboratories in various countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America; and 20 trainees from departments of parasitology, molecular biology, international cooperation and institute clinic.  

Prof.Dr. Pierre Dorny in his opening speech at the training workshop.

During four days of the training course, the Belgian experts have demonstrated and trained the IMPE-QN staff o­n new methods for the diagnosis of soil transmitted helminths and Fasciola.

The content of the training school included:

·     Mc Master technique for the quantitative diagnosis of STH;

·     Mini FLOTAC technique for the quantitative diagnosis of STH;

·     Pooling of stool samples for the mini FLOTAC technique;

·     Fasciola Antibody ELISA (BioX);

·     Fasciola copro-Antigen ELISA (BioX).

Dr. Sarah Gabrie instructing the trainees the Mc Master method.

With the trainees' serious learning spirit and the lectures' enthusiastic instruction, the trainees have grasped and made good practices o­n the above techniques. Besides, the Belgian partners were very impressed by the new building and the facilities that are available in the new IMPE Quy Nhon. Working in such a pleasant environment is not o­nly stimulating for the staff but will also ensure a high quality of results. At the end of the training workshop, all the trainees were awarded the Certificate of Attendance signed by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Chuong, Director of IMPE-QN and Prof. Dr. Pierre Dorny, Course / workshop Responsible.

Dr. Huynh Hong Quang-Vice-Director of IMPE-QN and Dr. Sarah Gabriel awarded certificate of attendance to the trainees.

Some images at the training workshop:

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