Autosomal Microsatellite Investigation Reveals Multiple Genetic Components of the Highlanders from Thailand

The hill tribes of northern Thailand comprise nine officially recognized groups: the Austroasiatic-speaking (AA) Khmu, Htin and Lawa; the Hmong-Mien-speaking (HM) IuMien and Hmong; and the Sino-Tibetan-speaking (ST) Akha, Karen, Lahu and Lisu. Except the Lawa, the rest of the hill tribes migrated into their present habitats only very recently. The Thai hill tribes were of much interest to research groups focusing on study of cultural and genetic variation because of their unique languages and cultures. So far, there have been several genetic studies of the Thai hill tribes. However, complete forensic microsatellite database of the Thai hill tribes is still lacking. To construct such database, we newly generated 654 genotypes of 15 microsatellites commonly used in forensic investigation that belong to all the nine hill tribes and also non-hill tribe highlanders from northern Thailand. We also combined 329 genotypes from previous studies of northern Thai populations bringing to a total of 983 genotypes, which were then subjected to genetic structure and population relationships analyses. Our overall results indicated homogenous genetic structure within the HM- and Tai-Kadai (TK)-speaking groups, large genetic divergence of the HM-speaking Hmong but not IuMien from the other Thai groups, and genetic heterogeneity within the ST- and AA-speaking groups, reflecting different population interactions and admixtures. In addition to establishing genetic relationships within and among these populations, our finding, which provides a more complete picture of the forensic microsatellite database of the multiple Thai highland dwellers, would not only serve to expand and strengthen forensic investigation in Thailand, but would also benefit its neighboring countries of Laos and Myanmar, from which many of the Thai hill tribes originated and where large populations of these ethnic groups still reside.

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Experiences and expectations regarding COVID-19 prevention and control measures among the hill tribe population of northern Thailand: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11145-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Siwarak Kitchanapaibul ◽

Anusorn Udplong ◽

Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽

Ratipark Tamornpark ◽

Thanatchaporn Mulikaburt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Prevention ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Control Measures ◽

The Other ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Hill Tribe ◽

Prevention And Control Measures ◽

Hill Tribes ◽

And Control ◽

The Hill

Abstract Background COVID-19 has been a major human threat for a year. A large number of people have been infected and killed globally, including hill tribe people living in remote and border areas between Thailand and Myanmar. Different expectations of and experiences with the implemented disease prevention and control measures by local, national and international organizations have been widely reported. This study aimed to understand the experiences and expectations regarding the disease prevention and control measures that were implemented among hill tribe people in Thailand. Methods Qualitative data were collected from participants aged 20 and older who belonged to the hill tribes living on the border of northern Thailand and Myanmar. A semistructured questionnaire was used to guide interviews. Information was extracted for thematic analysis by the NVivo program. Results Fifty-seven participants (36 female, 21 male) were interviewed; 27 participants were Thai Yai, 14 participants were Yunnan Chinese, 8 participants were Akha, and 8 participants were from other tribes. The average age was 45.8 years (min = 20 years, max = 90 years). Thirty participants had never attended school, and the other 27 participants had received education at different levels, from primary school to higher education. Forty participants were unemployed, 13 worked as agriculturists, and the other 4 were attending school. Both positive experiences, such as improving personal hygiene practices, maintaining close contact and increasing relationships among family members and demonstrating the leadership of the villager leaders, and negative experiences, including interruption of social interactions, family financial problems, poor access to medical care services, and invisible people to the government, were found. Different expectations were observed regarding organizations at the local, national, and international levels. Expectations at the local level included villagers and community leaders taking action to strongly contribute to prevention and control measures and to prevent unscreened people from entering the village. Obtaining accurate information about the disease and being financially supported were expectations at the national level, while closing borders to protect cases from overflowing into their villages was an international-level expectation. Conclusion Although hill tribes reside in very remote rural areas, they experience both positive and negative effects of the disease prevention and control measures implemented by organizations. Their expectations are formally and informally voiced to policy makers at the local, national and international levels.

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Plants and people of the Golden Triangle: ethnobotany of the hill tribes of northern Thailand

Choice Reviews Online ◽

10.5860/choice.31-3290 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 31 (06) ◽

pp. 31-3290-31-3290

Keyword(s):

Northern Thailand ◽

Golden Triangle ◽

Hill Tribes ◽

The Hill

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Reconstructing the human genetic history of mainland Southeast Asia: insights from genome-wide data from Thailand and Laos

10.1101/2020.12.24.424294 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wibhu Kutanan ◽

Dang Liu ◽

Jatupol Kampuansai ◽

Metawee Srikummool ◽

Suparat Srithawong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Southeast Asia ◽

Geographic Region ◽

Whole Genome Sequence ◽

Genetic History ◽

Asian Populations ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Population Interactions ◽

Hill Tribes ◽

Mainland Southeast Asia

AbstractThailand and Laos, located in the center of Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), harbor diverse ethnolinguistic groups encompassing all five language families of MSEA: Tai-Kadai (TK), Austroasiatic (AA), Sino-Tibetan (ST), Hmong-Mien (HM) and Austronesian (AN). Previous genetic studies of Thai/Lao populations have focused almost exclusively on uniparental markers and there is a paucity of genome-wide studies. We therefore generated genome-wide SNP data for 33 ethnolinguistic groups, belonging to the five MSEA language families from Thailand and Laos, and analysed these together with data from modern Asian populations and SEA ancient samples. Overall, we find genetic structure according to language family, albeit with heterogeneity in the AA-, HM- and ST-speaking groups, and in the hill tribes, that reflects both population interactions and genetic drift. For the TK speaking groups, we find localized genetic structure that is driven by different levels of interaction with other groups in the same geographic region. Several Thai groups exhibit admixture from South Asia, which we date to ∼600-1000 years ago, corresponding to a time of intensive international trade networks that had a major cultural impact on Thailand. An AN group from Southern Thailand shows both South Asian admixture as well as overall affinities with AA-speaking groups in the region, suggesting an impact of cultural diffusion. Overall, we provide the first detailed insights into the genetic profiles of Thai/Lao ethnolinguistic groups, which should be helpful for reconstructing human genetic history in MSEA and selecting populations for participation in ongoing whole genome sequence and biomedical studies.

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The Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility: Asian Oasis—Mythical Journeys in the Hill Tribe Villages of Northern Thailand

10.4135/9781529717785 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Scott Michael Smith

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Hill Tribe ◽

Corporate Social ◽

The Hill

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Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among the hill tribe youths, northern Thailand

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-019-3747-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tawatchai Apidechkul

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Hepatitis B Virus Infection ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Hill Tribe ◽

B Virus ◽

The Hill

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Drinking Water Investigation of Hill Tribes: A Case Study in Northern Thailand

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17051698 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 1698

Author(s):

Suntorn Sudsandee ◽

Krailak Fakkaew ◽

Vivat Keawdounglek ◽

Pussadee Laor ◽

Suwalee Worakhunpiset ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Samples ◽

Total Coliform ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Easy Access ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Hill Tribe ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

Hill Tribes ◽

Water Treatments

Hill tribes are a group of people who live in remote areas in northern Thailand. They typically use untreated water for drinking, that can lead several health problems. The six main hill tribes—Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, and Yao—were selected for the study. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Water samples were collected from the selected villages and tested for the quality at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand. Results: the major sources of drinking water were mountain water supplies (74.3%), and commercial bottled water (21.4%). Easy access, sufficiency for the whole year, and food-drug administration sign labeled were the criteria used for selecting sources of drinking water. Colorless and safety were also used as a selection criteria for their drinking water in some tribes. Lisu, Karen, and Hmong treated their drinking water by boiling, while Akha and Lahu stored the water in certain containers to allow particle settling before drinking water without treatment. 42.0% of the water samples had a turbidity values <5 NTU, and total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria were detected in 100.0% of the samples. To prevent water-borne diseases among the hill tribe people, appropriate water treatments such as boiling, filtration, and disinfection are recommended.

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High-Value Plant Species Used for the Treatment of “Fever” by the Karen Hill Tribe People

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9050220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 220 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Methee Phumthum ◽

Nicholas J. Sadgrove

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Minority Group ◽

Terminal Condition ◽

World Population ◽

Hill Tribe ◽

Importance Index ◽

Cultural Importance Index ◽

Karen People ◽

Hill Tribes ◽

The Hill

The symptom “fever” is generally not itself a terminal condition. However, it does occur with common mild to severe ailments afflicting the world population. Several allopathic medicines are available to attenuate fever by targeting the pathogen or the symptom itself. However, many people in marginal civilizations are obligated to use locally grown medicinal plants due to limited access to common pharmaceuticals. The Karen ethnic group is the biggest ethnic minority group in the hill-tribes of Thailand. They utilise a vast repertoire of medicinal plant species. Since many modern drugs were discovered out of traditional therapies, it is possible to discover new allopathic drugs in the treatment of fever and associated pathogens from the Karen people. Thus, this study aims to identify and record the ethnomedicinal plants they used for the treatment of “fever”. The names of plants used by the Thai Karen people for the treatment of fever were mined from publications on ethnomedicinal uses. Useful plant species and families were identified using the Cultural Importance Index (CI). With the mined data, 125 plant species from 52 families were identified, distributed across 25 Karen villages. A chemical cross-examination of these species provided valuable insights into chemical classes worthy of further investigation in the context of fever and associated pathogens.

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