scholarly journals A cross-sectional analysis of intestinal parasitic infections among the general population in north of Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
Abdol Sattar Pagheh ◽  
Mahdi Sharif ◽  
Ahmad Daryani ◽  
Jamshid Yazdani-Charati ◽  
Eisa Nazar ◽  
...  

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) is one of the most important health problems in the developing countries. Study on the prevalence of IPIs in various communities is a prerequisite for the development of appropriate control strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among the general population in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Methodology: This study was conducted on 4,788 specimens collected from 17 urban areas (2,515 samples) and 34 rural areas (2,273 samples) within January-December 2016. Fecal specimens were examined by direct wet mounting, formalin-ether concentration, modified Ziehl–Neelsen, and trichrome staining methods. Results: The overall infection rate of intestinal parasite was 14.2% (680/ 4,788). Blastocystis hominis and Giardia lamblia were identified as the most frequent parasites. Protozoa, helminths, and polyparasitism (co-infections with two or more parasite species) were observed in 12.3%, 1.03%, and 0.85% of the specimens, respectively. Furthermore, IPIs showed a significant association with household income, place of residence, washing of vegetables, exposure to soil and season (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the findings, parasitic infections are still a major public health concern in the north of Iran that requires special attention. Therefore, the major key to success in the prevention of IPIs is the execution of some interventions, including patient screening and treatment, public education, and improvement of sanitary conditions.

Author(s):  
Fakhar Mahdi ◽  
Ghaffari Javad ◽  
Dabbaghzadeh Abbas ◽  
Yazdani Charati Jamshid ◽  
Ghaffari Bahman ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) has a range of clinical demonstrations and causes. Parasitic infections are mentioned as one of the main causes of the CU. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in patients with CU compared with healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 169 cases and 210 controls were included in this study. Ages ranged from 1 to 77 years old. Results: Of the 379 individuals examined here, 208 were from urban areas and 171 from rural areas. Three stool samples were taken from each patient in three consecutive days. Based on parasitological tests, 7 (4.1%) cases from 169 patients with CU and 6 (2.9%) cases from 210 non- CU group individuals were positive for intestinal parasites. Conclusion: The prevalence of various parasites between case and control groups was not significant.


Author(s):  
Shahrzad Soltani ◽  
Shokrollah Salmanzadeh ◽  
Sheyda Soltani ◽  
Mehdi Sagha Kahvaz ◽  
Sara Mobarak ◽  
...  

Background: The current study was aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in persons who were referred to selected hospitals of Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, in southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 43200 and 28821 stool specimens were gathered from Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively, during four consecutive years (2014-2017). Results: A decreasing trend was seen in the prevalence rate of IPIs in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities. The overall prevalence of IPIs were estimated 5.82% and 6.11% in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively. In Abadan city, the proportion of IPIs in male persons with 56% was higher than females 44%, while in Khorramshahr city, the more prevalence was observed in females (54% vs. 46%). Moreover, according to the season, the highest prevalence were recorded in the Spiring (30.4%) and Summer (31.1%) in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively. We found Giardia lamblia, as the most frequent parasite in studied individuals of both cities (Abadan: 2.92%; 1261/43200 and Khorramshahr: 3.15%; 908/28821). Other parasites were as follows: Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, E. coli, E. hartmanni, Blastocystis hominis, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Taenia spp. Conclusion: This was the first study on the prevalence of IPIs in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, southwest of Iran. Intestinal parasites are still the main public health concern in these regions. Health education, improving sanitary conditions, screening and treatment of infected people, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas can be helpful.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-287
Author(s):  
S. Viesy ◽  
J. Abdi ◽  
Z. Rezaei

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are the one of the most common health problems in developing countries. Objective: A number of patients die annually due to complications caused by these parasites.Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the rate and type of parasitic infections, determine the factors affecting them in Ilam city and also provide strategies to prevent them.In this descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in one of the Ilam labs in 2016, 417 stool specimens were randomly collected. All specimens were examined using direct and ethanol formaldehyde.Suspect specimens were examined using Trichrom staining. Demographic information was also recorded in a questionnaire, and finally the results were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 20.The data were then compared with Chi-square test. Results: Out of the 417 patients examined, 59 (14.1%) were infected with intestinal parasites. The type of parasitic infection in 9.4% was Blastocystis hominis, 3.6% Entamoeba coli, 0.5% Entamoeba histolytica, 0.5% Giardia and 0.2% Trichomonas hominis. Conclusion: Despite the improvement of public health, parasitic infections are still considered as one of the health problems in the city of Ilam. Therefore, proper planning, public health education, raising the level of health in the area and the provision of safe drinking water are some of the ways to reduce parasitic infections in the region.


Author(s):  
Beheshteh Haghparast-kenari ◽  
Tooran Nayeri ◽  
Shahabeddin Sarvi ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Rahimi ◽  
Ehsan Ahmadpour ◽  
...  

Background: Soil-transmitted parasites (STPs) are significant intestinal parasites that infect humans and animals and impose considerable burdens on human society and animal husbandry industries. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic elements of soil samples collected from the north of Iran. Methods: A total of 256 soil samples were collected from public parks, public places, vegetable gardens, sand heaps, and shadow areas near houses in the north of Iran and examined using the sucrose flotation method. Results: Out of 256 examined samples, 131 (51.2%) ones showed parasitic contamination including larvae (43%), oocysts (14.1%), and different eggs (6.6%). According to the results, the most and least common parasites observed in the samples were larvae (43%), as well as Toxascaris leonina, and Trichuris trichiura (0.4%), respectively. Moreover, the most and least contaminated locations were sand heaps (62.5%) and shadow areas near houses (45.6%), respectively. Regarding cities, Behshahr (68.3%) and Sari (67.5%) had the highest contaminated soil samples, whereas Chalus (37.5%) showed the lowest contamination. On the other hand, rural samples showed more contamination, compared to urban areas (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that the overall prevalence of STPs in examined areas and highly contaminated soil samples can be considered as a potential source of human contamination particularly tourists with STPs.


Author(s):  
Arcelia González-García ◽  
Claudia Hernández-Salas ◽  
Rosa Maria Martínez-Ortiz ◽  
Lilia González-Martínez

Introduction: Nowadays in our state, intestinal parasitic diseases are still endemic, with a greater frequency in rural and mountainous urban areas. After the years have elapsed since the last national survey, it was necessary to carry out a new survey to know the prevalence rates of intestinal parasitosis and to compare the results obtained between both studies. Such knowledge would be of great value in developing health strategies and designing intestinal parasitic infection control programs. Objective: to determine the current prevalence rates of intestinal parasites, to compare the results with those of the survey obtained. Methods: a random cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out during the months of December 2018 to March 2019 in a random sample of both sexes from the population of urban communities and the province of Zacatecas, Zac. Each one had a stool sample collected that was analyzed by the direct examination method, the Willis concentration technique, and the Kato-Katz examination; A questionnaire was also applied to them. Results: when comparing the results of the national and state surveys of intestinal parasitic infections carried out in 2009 and 2018, it was found that, in general, infections by parasites decreased, both helminths and pathogenic protozoa, although those infected with commensals increased their frequency in that of 2019. There was also a decrease in the frequency of infections by all species of soil-transmitted helminths, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, ancylostomideos, and Strongyloides stercoralis, as well as by the pathogenic protozoa Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolitica. Conclusions: when comparing the results of national and state surveys of intestinal parasite infections carried out in 2018 and 2019, it was found that in general the frequencies of infections with intestinal parasites decreased. The finding in both studies of a higher frequency of infection with parasites or commensals in the group aged 5 to 14 years (school age), supports the recommendation to place emphasis on control programs for intestinal parasites in this age group.


2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi SHARIF ◽  
Ahmad DARYANI ◽  
Elham KIA ◽  
Fateme REZAEI ◽  
Mehrdad NASIRI ◽  
...  

Parasitic infection is highly prevalent throughout the developing countries of the world. Food handlers are a potential source of infection for many intestinal parasites and other enteropathogenic infections as well. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite carriers among food handlers attending the public health center laboratory in Sari, Northern Iran for annual check-up. The study was performed from August 2011 through February 2012. Stool samples were collected from 1041 male and female food handlers of different jobs aged between 18 to 63 years and were examined following standard procedures. Sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral data analysis of the food handlers were recorded in a separate questionnaire. Intestinal parasites were found in 161 (15.5%) of the studied samples. Seven species of protozoan or helminth infections were detected. Most of the participants were infected with Giardia lamblia (53.9%) followed by Blastocystis hominis (18%), Entamoeba coli (15.5%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (5.5%), Cryptosporidium sp. (3.1%), Iodamoeba butschlii (3.1%) and Hymenolepis nana (1.9%) as the only helminth infection. The findings emphasized that food handlers with different pathogenic organisms may predispose consumers to significant health risks. Routine screening and treatment of food handlers is a proper tool in preventing food-borne infections.


Author(s):  
Vahedeh MOHAMMADI-MESKIN ◽  
Yaghoob HAMEDI ◽  
Mehrgan HEYDARI-HENGAMI ◽  
Ebrahim EFTEKHAR ◽  
Jebreil SHAMSEDDIN ◽  
...  

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among mentally retarded individuals and the staff of the center in Bandar Abbas, south of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in central institution for mentally retarded in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, from 2016 to 2017. A triple fecal specimen was collected from each one of the 163 participants and were evaluated using wet mount and formalin-ethyl acetate methods. Trichrome and Ziehl-Neelsen staining were used to confirm suspected cases of protozoa. As well as Baermann and Harada-Mori techniques and agar plate culture were implemented to diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis. Results: Overall, 163 subjects were examined including 126 mentally retarded individuals and 37 personnel. Ninety (55.2%) cases of participants were infected with at least one of the intestinal parasites, 69 (54.7%) of mentally retarded and 21 (56.7%) of personnel. Twenty-six mentally retarded individuals were infected with S. stercoralis (20.6%), Blastocystis hominis 30.2%, Entamoeba coli 25.4%, Giardia lamblia 5.6%, Enterobius vermicularis 1.6%, Hymenolepis nana 0.8% and Iodamoeba butschlii 1.6%. Twelve staff (32.4%) harbored B. hominis, E. coli 27%, S. stercoralis 2.7%, G. lamblia 10.8%, H. nana 2.7% and Endolimax nana 2.7%. Conclusion: High rate of intestinal parasites particularly, S. stercoralis compared to the most recent studies of general population. Therefore, regular screening and tracking the positive cases, disinfection of the living environment, training and financing of the staff, increasing the number of the workers, recruiting of professionals and trained personnel in these centers are suggested.


Author(s):  
Reza Jafari ◽  
Huriyeh Gorgizadeh ◽  
Masoud Soosaraei ◽  
Azar Shokri ◽  
Zainab Bandalizadeh ◽  
...  

Background: It is make clear that salt and pepper retinal lesion (SPRL) has subsequently associated with the infection with Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia). However, little is known regarding prevalence of SPRL among patients suffered from parasitic infections in the world. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SPRL among patients with intestinal protozoan infections, for the first time, in Sari, northern Iran. Methods: In this case-control study a total of 150 subjects participated: 75 were in patients group diagnosed to have intestinal parasite, and 75 in control group without any intestinal infection. Fecal samples were obtained from all participants and examined with wet mount and formalin-ether methods. The retina of both groups was examined by an ophthalmologist. Results: Overall, salt and pepper retinal changes were diagnosed in 12 (16 %) patients with at least one parasitic infection (7 females and 5 males). G. lamblia was diagnosed in 6 subjects (50%), Blastocystis hominis in 5 (41.6%), and Entamoeba coli in 1 (8.3 %). Most of the patients (58.3%) had a mild infection. Bilateral retina involvement was observed in 75% of the patients. Furthermore, macula involvement was observed in 91.7 % with SPRL. Conclusion: Our findings indicated the relatively high prevalence of SPRL in subjects with giardiasis and blastocystosis. It can be concluded that not only G. lamblia but also B. hominis can cause SPRL in Sari, Iran. Further studies are needed to find other etiologic parasites able to cause retinal damages.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
pp. 52-59
Author(s):  
Arjun Ghimire ◽  
Kishor Rai ◽  
Hemanta Khanal

 Intestinal parasitic infestation reflects a health threat with patients living with HIV & Tu-berculosis (TB). Parasitic infections caused by protozoa and helminths are the most com-mon infections worldwide. The present study was done to find out the frequency of intes-tinal parasitosis among HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) patients of Dharan total of 53 samples (>15 years) from HIV seropositive patients and 28 samples (>20years) from TB patients were collected in a clean, dry and capped fitted container and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examination for ova, cyst, adult parasites and or segments of parasites. Stool samples were fixed in a 10% formalin-ether solution. Sedimentation technique, with modified acid-fast (Ziehl-Neelsen) staining method, was performed for opportunistic in-testinal parasites in both patients. Multi-parasitic infection was noted in the study. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be 54 (66.67%). This result had shown that the participation of male patients was comparatively higher than female pa-tients. Out of 81 stool samples, 15 (27.78%) G. lamblia, 12(22.22%) E. histolytica, 12 (22.22%) Cryptosporidium parvum, 6 (11.11%), Isospora belli 4 (7.40%) Microspridium, 1(1.85%) Blastocystis hominis, 2(3.70%) and Taenia spp, 2(3.70%). To prevent this infec-tion appropriate health education should be given to the patients concerning disease trans-mission, antiparasitic therapy, personal hygiene, and safe drinking water.


Author(s):  
Meysam SHARIFDINI ◽  
Laleh GHANBARZADEH ◽  
Ameneh BARIKANI ◽  
Mehrzad SARAEI

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the most important etiologies of gastrointestinal disorders in developing countries. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of IPIs in rural inhabitants of Fouman, northern Iran. Methods: Overall, 31 villages were randomly selected during 2015-2016. Stool samples were collected from 1500 inhabitants aged 2-87. The samples were examined by direct wet smear, formalin ethyl-acetate concentration and agar plate culture. Trichrome staining and modified acid-fast staining were used as confirmatory tests for intestinal amoeba and flagellates and cryptosporidium spp., respectively. Data were analyzed with Chi-Square and Fisher exact tests using SPSS. Results: 8.06% of participants were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. The prevalence of mixed parasitic infections was 0.87%. The most prevalent IPIs were caused by Trichostrongylus spp. (3.13%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (1.5%), Giardia lamblia (1.3%), and Entamoeba coli (1.0%), Blastocystis hominis (0.86%), E. histolytica/dispar (0.53%), Endolimax nana (0.26%), Iodamoeba butschlii (0.13%), Trichuris trichiura (0.07%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.07%), Hook worm (0.07%) and E. hartmani (0.07%). Statistically, the prevalence of IPIs showed significant differences regarding the age groups, education status, occupation (P<0.001), and the habit of eating raw vegetables (P<0.007), whereas, the differences were insignificant with regard to sex (P=0.924) and water supply (P=0.088). Conclusion: The prevalence of IPIs, especially soil-transmitted helminthes (STHs) has sharply decreased in northern Iran. Excluding Trichostrongylus spp. and S. stercoralis, other intestinal parasites only produce a marginal and unnoticeable health problem in this area, today.


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