Prevalence of [ Entamoeba histolytica / E. dispar ] in three regions of south-east Baghdad

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of [Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar] in three regions of southeast of Baghdad. During the period from March, 2009 to February, 2010, a total of 300 fecal sample were collected ( in a private lab.) from male and female patients of different ages suffering intestinal disturbances. They resided in Al-Ameen, Al-Baladiyat and Al-Nahrawan. Watery and loose fecal samples that contain mucus and blood were directly examined by direct wet mount using saline solution and buffered methylene blue. The remaining portions of these fecal samples as well as the samples with soft and formed consistency were centrifuged then stained Lugol's iodine solution to obtain wet preparations. A total of 67 samples were infected with [Entamoeba histolytica / E. dispar] (22.3%). The differences due to the age range were significant (P < 0.05) and higher rate was observed in age range of 6 – 10 years, whereas the lowest was in the range of 19 years and over. The effect of region and season on the prevalence of infection lacked significance. Infection rate in males was higher than in females (25.6% , 18.6%, respectively) with non-significant difference (P > 0.05). Significant differences were observed between number of infected males and females of Al-Baladiyat region, as well as between females of all groups. Infected patients of the four age ranges of Al-Ameen area showed significant differences. Similar differences were noticed between infected males of the age groups.