Research

yaowalark.suk@mahidol.ac.th

+66 (0) 2354 9100 Ext 4

Background

Prof. Yaowalark Sukthana has been Dean of the Faculty since 2012 and previously held other administrative board positions. She is also a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Protozoology.

She is currently working with the Faculty’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases Foundation on a program to reduce the parasitic infection rate in school pupils living in border areas to less than 10%.

Prof. Yaowalark Sukthana‘s primary research area is toxoplasmosis but she also has a keen interest in all regional zoonotic and potentially zoonotic infections, including giardia.

Affiliations

Department of Protozoology

Research

Prof. Yaowalark Sukthana’s research has focussed on completing many of the gaps in understanding regarding Toxoplasma infection in Thailand. Her numerous studies have determined that the magnitude of Toxoplasma infection in overall Thai population is not large but that certain populations are at greater risk such as those who are immunocompromised, children in rural areas and those living temples where animals are abandoned.

Her work has also looked at improving detection and diagnosis methods for toxoplasmosis and other diseases, including finding an alternative to the Sabin-Feldman dye test that is more appropriate in a low resource setting.

Qualifications

1996	Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Diploma	Medical Council, Thailand
1996	Master of Clinical Tropical Medicine	Mahidol University, Thailand
1995	Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene	Mahidol University, Thailand
1985	Medicine MD	Pramongkutkloa Medical College, Thailand
1979	Doctor of Veterinary Medicine	Kasetsart University, Thailand

Research Areas

Toxoplasmosis
Zoonotic infections

Publications

Dr. Yaowalark Sukthana has a total of 34 publications. The full list can be seen here.

Selected Publications

Toxoplasmosis: beyond animals to humans
Sukthana Y.
Trends Parasitol 2006;22(3):137-42.
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2006.01.007

Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoonbieneusi among children in rural communities in Thailand
Mori H, Mahittikorn A, Watthanakulpanich D, Komalamisra C, Sukthana Y
Parasite 2013;20,14
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2013014

Oyster is an effective transmission vehicle for Cryptosporidiuminfection in humans
Sutthikorncha C, Popruk S, Chumpolbanchorn K, Sukhumavasi W, Sukthana Y.
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2016; 9 (6): 562–566
DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.04.018

A Promising Diagnostic Tool for Toxoplasmic Encephalitis: Tachyzoite/Bradyzoite Stage-Specific RT-PCR
Sukthana Y, Mahittikorn A, Wickert H, Tansuphaswasdikul S.
Int J Infect Dis. 2012;16(4):e279-84.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2011.12.009

Toxoplasma gondii: Simple duplex RT-PCR assay for detecting SAG1 and BAG1 genes during stage conversion in immunosuppressed mice
Mahittikorn A, Wickert H, Sukthana Y.
Exp Parasitol. 2010 Feb;124(2):225-31.
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.10.003

Is Sabin-Feldman dye test using T. gondii tachyzoites from animal inoculation still the best method for detecting Toxoplasma gondii antibodies?
Udonsom R, Buddhirongawatr R, Sukthana Y.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2010;41(5):1059-64.
PMID: 21073025

Does silent Giardia infection need any attention?
Popruk S, Thima K, Udonsom R, Rattaprasert P, Sukthana Y.
Open Trop Med J. 2011;4:26-32.