Incidence of cyclosporiasis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in western Turkey

摘要

Background: This study was designed to investigate the distribution of cyclosporiasis between October 2003 and October 2004 and the relationship between [i]Cyclospora[/i] infection and seasonal as well as patient factorsin western Turkey.Material/Methods: Stool samples from 4660 immunocompetent patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and 326 immunocompetent patients with allergic symptoms from western Turkey were examined between October 2003 and October 2004 using wet preparation, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration,Trichrome stain, and modifi ed Kinyoun’s acid-fast staining methods.Results: Twenty-three patients were found to be infected with [i]Cyclospora[/i] oocysts. Parasites such as [i]Cryptosporidium,Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Blastocystis hominis[/i] and others were also observed. The incidence of cyclosporiasis was higher in summer and early autumn and most of the Cyclosporainfectedpatients were without diarrhea.Conclusions: Clinicians with patients from Turkey and abroad who have intestinal symptoms after visiting the country should be aware that [i]Cyclospora[/i] infections could be considered as a possible cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of diarrhea in immunocompetent patients during the summer period in Turkey.