MALAYSIAN PARASITES II 
PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE INCIDENCE OF WORM INFECTION 
IN COMMON HOSTS 
By 
A. A. SANDOSHAM 
Definition of Terms 
It would be proper to define here the terms used in this and following helminthological 
papers. The terms worm and helminth are group names without strict zoological connotation 
and are used here as synonyms and refer to members of the Acanthocephala, Nematoda, 
Cestoda and Trematoda. The word helminth, however, seems to be generally preferred by 
parasitologists because it excludes the Annelids and worm-like Arachnids from consideration. 
In recent years, it has been suggested by certain parasitologists that one should limit the 
use of the word infection to those organisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, which are capable 
of indefinite multiplication within the host, and infestation to those parasites which do not so 
multiply such as worms and insects. Owing to the confusion in usage of these words by 
medical men and parasitologists the matter was referred by the American Society of Parasitolo- 
gists to a Committee on Terminology. Although any attempts at legislation would be un- 
warranted the views of such a Committee can be informative and advisory. Hertig, Taliaferro 
and Schwartz (1937) who constituted the Committee reported that the terms infection and 
infestation refer to processes undergone and effects produced by parasites rather than to the 
nature of systematic position of the organisms themselves. In the invasion of the host and 
subsequent establishment of parasites the phenomena involved in resistance, susceptibility, 
dosage, host-specificity, virulence and the like, exhibit so many fundamental similarities for 
the various groups of organisms concerned, that it seems awkward to use first one and then another 
term for the same process or condition. They recommended that infestation ought to revert 
to its original use in connection with external, and in most cases visible, agents such as insects. 
In fact, they said they “fail to see any reason for continuing the use of the term infestation as 
applied to internal parasites and believe that the present confusion will disappear only if its 
use be discontinued.” The term infection should properly be applicable wherever the parasite 
invades and establishes itself within the body of the host, including the gastro-intestinal tract. 
For conditions which do not he clearly in either category, such as those involving the Sarcoptoid 
mites, and maggots in ulcers or external orifices, etc., they suggested that the terminology could 
well be left to the judgment and taste of the author. 
Historical Summary 
No systematic survey of the parasitic worms of Malaya has ever been undertaken but that 
does not mean that no information is available or that no interest is evinced by Medical and 
Veterinary Officers about this important group of organisms. 
Worm Parasites of Man. — As long ago as 1893, Kirk gave an analysis of 150 cases of local 
fever in the Journal of the Straits Medical Association. He considered that ankylostomiasis 
was widespread and responsible for a large amount of sickness and mortality among the cooly 
class and that a chronic febrile condition was often a main symptom of this infection. He 
deplored the fact that the disease was rarely diagnosed owing to the neglect of a systematic 
examination of the faeces. Daniels (1905) discussed the importance of the importation of 
parasites like “Filaria Bancrofti ” by immigrants from India and China. 
MALAYA , No. 26, 1953 
