Akbar Noorbakhsh; Iraj Mohammadpour; Meisam Khazaei; Gholamreza Ghazipour; Ali Soleimani; Mohammad Hossein Motazedian
Abstract
Background: Intestinal parasitic infections pose a significant public health challenge in developing countries, with children being particularly susceptible. The prevalence of these infections varies across communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among ...
Read More
Background: Intestinal parasitic infections pose a significant public health challenge in developing countries, with children being particularly susceptible. The prevalence of these infections varies across communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among students in 12 primary schools on Kish Island, Iran, and to evaluate the infection status of family members of infected students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 443 students aged 7‒12 years in Kish Island, southern Iran, from May 2016 to 2017. Stool samples from 179 boys (40.4%) and 264 girls (40.4%) across 12 primary schools were examined for evidence of parasitic infections using direct wet mount, formalin ethyl acetate, and trichrome stain methods. Modified Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining was used to detect coccidian parasites. Conventional PCR was also employed to identify the genotype of Giardia lamblia. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 5.2%. The highest incidence rate was found in Entamoeba coli (2.0%), followed by Giardia lamblia (1.6%). The prevalence rate of infection was significantly correlated with the type of drinking water (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections between males and females (P>0.05). In this study, the genotypes of Giardia lamblia were molecularly characterized by studying the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene. This study represents the first molecular characterization of G. lamblia in children on Kish Island, with sequence analysis revealing assemblage B (BIII 100.0%).Conclusion: This study indicates a low prevalence of parasitic infections in a sensitive population (children) on Kish Island. The prevalence of Giardia lamblia, a more pathogenic parasite, was quite low in our study. This cross-sectional study was conducted on all island residents; no significant difference was observed among them.
Mohsen Kalantari; Qasem Asgari; Khadijeh Rostami; Shahrbano Naderi; Iraj Mohammadpour; Masoud Yousefi; Mohammad Hassan Davami; Kourosh Azizi
Abstract
Background: Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were identified in female university students referred to Valie-Asr hospital of Mamasani from Azad and Payame-Noor Universities, using serological and molecular methods. Methods: Based on the prevalence and characteristics method, 504 serum samples were collected ...
Read More
Background: Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were identified in female university students referred to Valie-Asr hospital of Mamasani from Azad and Payame-Noor Universities, using serological and molecular methods. Methods: Based on the prevalence and characteristics method, 504 serum samples were collected from female university students, during 2015, and evaluated by Enzyme-Linked Immun-Sorbent Assay (ELISA), Modified Agglutination Test (MAT), and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based on B1 gene for detection of Toxoplasma gondii. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software. Results: Out of 504 studied female students, 27 (5.36%) and 36 (7.14%) cases were found to be positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by MAT and ELISA, respectively. Moreover, 5 (0.99%) cases were found to be positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM. PCR detected the Toxoplasma DNA in 58 out of 504 (11.51%) samples. Conclusions: Findings of the current study revealed that Toxoplasma was a common infection among female university students in Mamasani district in Fars province. Seronegative individuals are at risk for the disease, as well as congenital toxoplasmosis in later stages of their life. Preventive measures should be taken to reduce the rate of infection.
