Molecular and Parasitological Study on Selected Opportunistic Intestinal Parasites in Immunocompromised Patients

Coinfection of Toxoplasma Gondii and Intestinal Parasites among Elderly Immunocompromised Patients

Elderly Health Journal ◽

10.18502/ehj.v6i1.3413 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Mahmoudi ◽

Behnaz Rahmati

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Blastocystis Hominis ◽

Intestinal Protozoan ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Early Therapy

Introduction: Patients with cancer and hemodialysis are prone to opportunistic infections. The present research aims to examine the frequency of Toxoplasmosis and intestinal parasites in these patients. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, seventy stool and blood samples from immunocompromised patients (46 hemodialysis and 24 cancer patients) from Guilan Province were collected in 2017-2018. Different tests including direct smear examination and formalin-ether was conducted for the intestinal protozoan parasites. To detect coccidian parasites (e.g. Cryptosporidium spp.) Ziehl Neelsen staining was applied. The anti T.gondii antibodies were detected via ELISA method. Results: Totally 6.52% and 4.16% cases of hemodialysis and cancer patients were positive for intestinal parasite infection respectively. Blastocystis hominis was only intestinal parasite that were detected in these patients. IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibody detected in 35 (76.8%) hemodialysis and 15 (62.5%) cancer patients. IgM antibody were found in 1 elderly hemodialysis patient. Mix infection (Toxoplasmosis and Blastocystis) was observed in 6.52% and 4.16% in hemodialysis and cancer patients respectively. Conclusion: It is recommended to evaluate these patients for intestinal parasitic infections during hemodialysis or chemotherapy sessions. Data showed the high percentage of elderly patients were susceptible to reactivation of chronic Toxoplasmosis. Therefore, in order to refer them for early therapy or other interventions, it is important that elderly hemodialysis and cancer patients with toxoplasma infection be diagnosed and identified.

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Investigating the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Immunocompromised Patients in Bushehr Province, Southwest Iran: A Conventional and Molecular Study

Turkish Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.4274/tpd.galenos.2021.7145 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 121-127

Author(s):

Ali Heydari ◽

Gholamreza Hatam ◽

Moradali Fouladvand ◽

Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi ◽

Afshin Barazesh

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Molecular Study ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Southwest Iran

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Intestinal Parasites Infection among Immunocompromised Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.3923/pjbs.2010.390.394 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 390-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Wafa A.I. Al-Megrin

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Immunocompromised Patients

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A preliminary study of the prevalence of intestinal parasites in immunocompromised patients with and without gastrointestinal manifestations

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652003000400004 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 197-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Jorge Humberto Botero ◽

Amanda Castaño ◽

Marta Nelly Montoya ◽

Norma Elena Ocampo ◽

Marta Inés Hurtado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saline Solution ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Lymphoid Leukaemia ◽

Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Stool Specimens ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Haematological Disorders

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of the intestinal parasites most commonly found in immunocompromised patients. A group of 111 individuals with acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other immunocompromised conditions (principally haematological disorders) was selected. A battery of tests was performed on each individual to identify the presence of parasites (three stool specimens with saline solution and Lugol both directly and by concentration, culture and special staining). No significant differences were found among the frequencies of the different parasites with the several types of immunocompromised conditions. The overall frequencies of potentially pathogenic and opportunistic parasites were 32.4% (36/111) and 9% (10/111) respectively, the most frequently encountered among the latter being Cryptosporidium sp., Microsporidia spp. and Strongyloides stercoralis.

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Assessing the Impact of Electronic Ordering on Stool Parasite Testing Practices in an Academic Medical Center

American Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1093/ajcp/aqaa137.017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S10-S10

Author(s):

Mei San Tang ◽

Ronald Jackups ◽

Neil Anderson

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Medical Record ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Diagnostic Yield ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction While microscopic stool ova and parasite examination (MSOP) is the traditional testing method for intestinal parasites, it has low diagnostic yield when used inappropriately. To promote stewardship at our institution, MSOP was only orderable utilizing paper requisitions. The only stool parasite testing orderable in our electronic ordering system was the Giardia / Cryptosporidium immunoassay (available as stool O&P screen), which has adequate sensitivity to detect the most common regional intestinal parasites. This was changed during two regional cyclosporiasis outbreaks, when MSOP was added to our electronic ordering system (EOS) to facilitate Cyclospora detection (available as stool O&P examination). The stool O&P screen was also changed to Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigen to better reflect the testing performed. We aimed to measure the impact of this change in terms of test utilization. Methods We quantitated the amount of testing performed pre- and post-intervention over 12-month periods, outside of the outbreak period. We performed chart reviews of 141 patients who received stool parasite testing (Giardia/Cryptosporidium immunoassay and/or MSOP) and compared the proportion of appropriate vs. inappropriate stool parasite testing before (n = 73) and after (n = 68) MSOP was added to the EOS. We used the following criteria to define appropriate MSOP testing; the presence of (1) any travel history outside the continental US, (2) immunocompromised status or (3) intestinal parasite mentioned as a differential diagnosis in medical record. MSOP was considered overordered in patients who failed to fulfill criteria. Testing was deemed underordered if only Giardia/Cryptosporidium immunoassay was ordered on patients who fulfilled criteria for MSOP. Both underordering and overordering were considered inappropriate testing. Statistically significant differences were calculated using Fisher’s exact test (p<0.05). Results The number of patients tested per month by MSOP increased from an average of 10 pre-intervention to 56 post-intervention (p<0.0001). The proportion of appropriate MSOP utilization increased from 44% to 58% of (p=0.13). Inappropriate testing happened in both periods, though underordering was significantly higher pre-intervention (89% vs. 10% of inappropriate testing, p<0.0001), while overordering was significantly higher post intervention (90% vs. 11% of inappropriate testing, p<0.0001). Pre-intervention, 34 of 38 patients in whom underordering occurred were immunocompromised patients tested by the Giardia/Cryptosporidium immunoassay only. Notably, all patients who had intestinal parasite mentioned as a differential diagnosis in the electronic medical record were tested by MSOP, regardless of its availability in the ordering system. Conclusion These findings suggest that omission of MSOP from the electronic ordering system can prevent appropriate testing, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Transitioning to an electronic ordering format can promote overall test utilization and decrease the amount of inappropriately narrow testing, though this also promotes inappropriately broad testing which may represent an opportunity for future clinical decision support interventions.

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Intestinal Parasites Infection in Children with Cancer in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1155/2020/8839740 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Roya Salehi Kahyesh ◽

Arash Alghasi ◽

Shekoufe Haddadi ◽

Asaad Sharhani

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Cancer Type ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Intestinal Infections ◽

Stool Samples

Background. Infection with intestinal parasites is widespread worldwide, especially in developing countries. Intestinal parasites are known as one of the leading causes of diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised subjects, but cancer patients are highly susceptible to contamination, and it can be deadly for them. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in immunocompromised patients in Ahvaz. Material and Methods. In this descriptive cross-sectional pilot case-control study, fecal samples were collected from 52 children with malignancies hospitalized in Baqaei2 hospital in Ahvaz. A questionnaire including demographic information, type of cancer, type of gastrointestinal symptoms, and laboratory diagnosis was completed for each patient. The collected specimens were examined by direct smear, Logul staining, and concentration. Result. The 52 stool samples were collected, 46% were female and 54% male. The age range of children enrolled in the study was from 4 months to 16 years. Of these stool samples, 38.38% were infected with a variety of parasitic intestinal infections (helminths and protozoa). In this study, protozoan parasites, Blastocystis (23%), Chilomastix mesnili (1.92%), Endolimax nana (7.7%), and Entamoeba coli (1.92%), and helminth infection, Strongyloides stercoralis (3.84%), were observed and statistical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and parasitic infection in children with cancer. Conclusion. Blastocystis and Endolimax nana are the most prevalent gastrointestinal parasitic protozoans that infect individuals admitted to Baqaei2 Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran. Since parasitic intestinal infections in immunocompromised patients lead to fatal diarrhea, children with parasitic infections must be carefully identified and treated.

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