Blastocystis hominis infections among patients in Duhok City / Kurdistan Region – IRAQ

Abstract

A total of 610 patients of different age and sex attending the central Laboratory / Shilan Private Hospital and Hevi Pediatric Hospital – Duhok Governorate suffering from gastroenteritis sumptomes were investigated by direct stool examination. The samples were collected from 350 children and 260 adults during the period from April to November 2010. All stool samples were examined microscopically by the direct method for identification of B. hominis and for the presence of other intestinal parasites. The number and percent of infection rate with B. hominis among the examined samples (610) was 31(5.08%) in both of adults and children groups, while the infection percent among children and adults were 14(4%) and 17(6.5%) respectively. Regarding to the children, the age group > 1 - 10 year showed the Highest rate of infection 12(5.02%) and the lowest rate was in children up to one year was 1 (1.07%). The number and percent of infection among adults were 5(10.41 %) among age group of > 30 – 40 year and the lowest were 4(7.01 %), 2( 7.40 %) among age groups < 20 – 30 year, < 40 year respectively. The number and percent of the infection among males were 9 (4.63%) while among females were 3 (3.19%) among children. The number and percent of the infection among males were 10 (7.29%) while among females was 7 (5.69%) among adults. The vacuolated type was only recorded from all examined stool samples during this study. Out of 610 stool samples examined 166 (27.21%) were positive with Other intestinal protozoa. The number and the percent of infection were 59 (22.69%) among adults and 107 (30.57%) among children. The most prevalent pathogenic intestinal parasites were Entameba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. The abdominal pain and distention were the most frequent symptoms associated with B. hominis infection followed by diarrhea.