Abstract
This study aims to determine the prevalence rate of intestinal protozoan infection among children, in Duhok Province, North of Iraq, during the period between October 2022 to May 2023. A cross-sectional study was done among 740 children attending Hevi Pediatric Hospital, Duhok Province, Iraq. First, all collected stool samples were examined directly by preparing a wet stool smear for detection of the vegetative stage (Trophozoite) of both E. histolytica and G. lamblia. Then, all stool samples were preserved at - 22°C till used for identification of cysts of protozoa and oocysts of C. parvaum by the Telmman concentration stool method. The average child’s age was between 1-14 years in the current study. Out of the 740 stool samples collected, 205 (27.7%) were positive for intestinal protozoan infections, as follows: 160 children (78.0%) tested positive for E. histolytica, 35 children (17.1%) were positive for C. parvum, and only 10 (4.9%) were positive for G. lamblia. However, the results indicate a statistically significant difference between the prevalence of E. histolytica, C.parvum, and G. lamblia infections across different age groups. This result is significant at a P value < 0.05. The highest infection rates of intestinal protozoa, including E.histolytica, C. parvum, and G.lamblia, were reported in age groups between 5-9 years (53.75%, 25.0%, and 60.0%) respectively, then followed by age groups between 1-4 years (28.75%,20.0% and 30.0%) respectively, and finally followed by age group between 10-14 years (17.55, 8.6%, and 10.0%) respectively. The prevalence of amoebaisis and cryptosporidiosis was reported higher than in the other studies done in Iraq, while the prevalence of giardiasis was reported at a lower rate than the rate reported before in Iraq and Duhok mainly. These infections continue to pose a difficult public health issue and necessitate the implementation of stronger and more effective preventative measures. |
- Fletcher SM, Stark D, Harkness J, Ellis J. Enteric protozoa in the developed world: a public health perspective. Clinical microbiology reviews. 2012; 25(3):420-449.
- World Health Organization .The global burden of disease: (2004) update. WHO press, Geneva, Switzerland 2008.
- Levy K. Does Poor Water Quality Cause Diarrheal Disease? .The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2015; 93(5):899-900.
- Ortega YR, Eberhard ML, Kris H. Protozoan diseases: cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis and other intestinal. Parasitologists United Journal. 2008; 88 protozoan diseases. In: Heggenhougen K (ed) International encyclopedia of public health. Academic Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, pp: 354-366.
- Farthing MJG, Cevalls AM, Kelly P. (2009).Intestinal protozoa. In: Gook GC, Zumla A (eds) Manson's tropical disease, 22nd. WB Saunders, London. 2009; pp: 1375-1406.
- Fotedar R, Stark D, Beebe N, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J. Laboratory diagnostic techniques for Entamoeba species. Clinical microbiology reviews. 2007;20(3):511-32.
- Murad MA, Al-Saeed ATM, Mustafa AA. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Patients Attended Azadi Teching Hospital in Duhok City-Kurdistan Region/Iraq. Journal of Duhok University. 2019; 21(2):68-74.
- Salman AO, Mhaisen FT, Abdul-Rahman A, Al-Tae A. On the occurrence of some intestinal parasites among Diarrheic children attending a hospital in Al-Karkh Side, Baghdad City, Iraq. Biological and applied Environmental Research 2019; 3: 93-102.
- Kanabe LO, Darogha SNR. Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis among diarrheic children of Raparin Pediatric hospital, Erbil province-Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Cihan University-Erbil Scientific Journal. 2017; 2: 538.
- Bazzaz AA, Ouhood M, Shakir OM, Alabbasy RH. Prevalence of two gastrointestinal parasites Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia within Samarra City, Iraq. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology. 2017;8:399-410
- Zaki DM. Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia Lamblia Associated with Diarrhea in Children referring to lbn Al-Atheer Hospital in Mosul, Iraq. Archives of Razi Institute. 2022; 77(1):73-9
- Dhubyan Mohammed Zaki Z. Prevalence of Entamoeba histolyticaand Giardia Lamblia Associated with Diarrhea in Children referring to lbn Al-Atheer Hospital in Mosul, Iraq. Archives of Razi Institute. 2022; 77(1):73-79.
- Hooshyar H, Rostamkhani P, Arbabi M, Delavari M. Giardia lamblia infection: review of current diagnostic strategies. Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench. 2019; ;12(1):3-12.
- Siyadatpanah A, Sharif M, Daryani A, et al. Spatial distribution of Giardia lambliainfection among general population in Mazandaran Province, north of Iran. Journal of parasitic diseases. 2018;42(2):171-176.
- Omar AJ, Ismael SS. Detection of Pathogenic Strains of Entamoeba Histolytica in Children Using ELISA Technique in Duhok. Detection of Pathogenic Strains of Entamoeba histolytica in Children Using ELISA Technique in Duhok. Journal of US-China Medical Science 2011; 8 (2): 109-119
- Kia EB, Hosseini M, Nilforoushan MR, Meamar AR, Rezaeian M. Study of Intestinal Protozoan Parasites in Rural Inhabitants of Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran. Iranian Journal of Parasitology 2008; 3(1):21-25
- Haji HM, Bamarni SSI. Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia in Children in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Journal of Duhok University. 2023; 26(1), 274-280.
- Hegazi MA, Patel TA, El-Deek BS. Prevalence and characters of Entamoeba histolytica infection in Saudi infants and children admitted with diarrhea at 2 main hospitals at South Jeddah: a re-emerging serious infection with unusual presentation. Braz J Infect Dis. 2013;17(1):32-40.
- Klein SL. Hormones and mating system affect sex and species differences in immune function among vertebrates. Behavioural processes. 2000; 51(1-3):149-66.
- Ahmed HI, Salih Mero WM, Basheer Mohameed A. Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis and It's Associated Risk Factors Among Human Population in Zakho District, Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Science Journal of University of Zakho. 2022; 10(4), 153–158.
- Jameel AY, Issa AR, Amidy KSK, Mero WMS, Sabri MA, Khdihir MA. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites under Fingernails of Primary School Children in Zakho, Kurdistan Region. Science Journal of University of Zakho. 2017;5(1):25-7.
- Ismael, S. Prevalence of Trichomoniasis and Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Among Married Women in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Archives of Razi Institute. 2023.
|
