Status of intestinal parasitic infections among rural and urbanpopulations, southwestern Iran

摘要

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections in the urban and rural areas of Shushtar County, southwest Iran. Methods: A total of 1008 fecal samples were analyzed by direct smear examination, formalin-ether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen and trichrome staining; furthermore, PCR was used to distinguish Trichostrongylus and hookworm species based on 28S rRNA gene. Results: Totally, 16.0％ cases tested positive, either with a pathogenic or a non-pathogenic parasite. Protozoa were detected in 14.0％, helminths in 1.0％, protozoa and helminth co-infections were detected in 0.3％, and co-infections of two protozoa were detected in 0.7％of cases. The most common protozoa and helminths were Giardia duodenalis (7.7％) and Trichostrongylus spp. (0.5％), respectively. Among five microscopy Trichostrongylus positive cases, Trichostrongylus culbriformis was successfully identified in three isolates by sequencing. In the rural areas, the prevalence of parasitic infection was higher (9.8％) than that in the urban areas (6.2％). A significant association was found between educational level, type of drinking water, animals contact, hand-washing, and clinical symptoms. Conclusions: This study indicates that intestinal parasitic infections remain as a public health priority in Shushtar County. It seems that drinking water and environmental sanitation are the main risk factors of parasitic infections in rural areas.