Dataset Information

Prevalence and subtype identification of Blastocystis isolated from humans in Ahvaz, Southwestern Iran.

ABSTRACT: Aim:The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis and its relation with demographic data and symptoms in humans referred to medical centers in Ahvaz 2014-2015. Background:Infections with intestinal parasites are one of the most important threats to human health worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Blastocystis sp. is a common parasite of humans with a vast variety of non-human hosts. We aimed to study the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in individuals referred to medical laboratories in Ahvaz city, southwest Iran. Methods:From September 2014 to September 2015, 618 stool samples were collected from 16 medical laboratories in Ahvaz, and examined using direct wet mount, formalin-ether concentration, a modified version of the Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique, and cultivation in xenic HSr + S medium. Subtypes of positive Blastocysts sp. were obtained using the "barcoding" method. The results were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16, with Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Results:Totally, 325 (52.6%) of the referred individuals were men and 293 (47.4%) were women. Blastocystis sp. was observed in 146 (23.6%) samples. Co-infections with other intestinal parasites were found in 32 (5.17%) cases. Out of the 146 positive isolates, 20.83%, 20.83% and 58.34% belonged to ST1, ST2, ST3 respectively. Conclusion:Blastocystis sp. was quite common in the study population, with a carrier rate corresponding to nearly one in every four individuals. The subtype distribution identified in the present study was largely identical to that reported from other studies in Iran, with ST3 being the most common.

SUBMITTER: Salehi R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5660275 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Prevalence and subtype identification of <i>Blastocystis</i> isolated from humans in Ahvaz, Southwestern Iran.

Salehi Roya R Haghighi Ali A Stensvold C Rune CR Kheirandish Farnaz F Azargashb Eznelloah E Raeghi Saber S Kohansal Cobra C Bahrami Fares F

Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench 20170101 3

<h4>Aim</h4>The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis and its relation with demographic data and symptoms in humans referred to medical centers in Ahvaz 2014-2015.<h4>Background</h4>Infections with intestinal parasites are one of the most important threats to human health worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Blastocystis sp. is a common parasite of humans with a vast variety of non-human hosts. We aimed to study the ...[more]

PMID: 29118941

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Project description:Blastocystis sp. is a commonly reported intestinal parasite with a worldwide distribution. Phylogenetic analyses describe at least 17 subtypes for this parasite, and nine of them have been found in humans. However, the prevalence and some epidemiological characteristics of this parasitic infection in rural communities are not well known. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence, subtypes, and epidemiological factors related to Blastocystis sp. Infection in children from of a small rural community in the central area of Panama. For this, 66 fecal samples from children (1 to 12?years old), were initially analyzed for the presence of parasites by a formalin-ethyl acetate/concentration method. Molecular detection and identification of Blastocystis sp. subtypes were carried out by amplification and sequencing of a partial fragment of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Using data from a questionnaire, analyses of epidemiological conditions potentially associated with Blastocystis sp. transmission were also conducted. Microscopic diagnostics showed that 33.3% (22/66) of the analyzed samples presented entero-parasites. Among them, Blastocystis sp. was the most prevalent, with 21.2% (14/66), followed by the E. histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex 4.5% (3/66), Giardia lamblia 1.5% (1/66) and Strongyloides stercoralis 1.5% (1/66). PCR-based analyses detected a prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection of 74.2% (49/66) in apparently healthy children. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two different subtypes of this parasite: ST1 with 42.2% (28/66) infected, and ST3 with 31.8% (21/66) infected. In addition, recent diarrhea was significantly associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. None of the other risk factors evaluated was statistically associated with infection. These results highlight the need to further investigate clinical, epidemiological, and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. infections in this community.

Dataset Information

Prevalence and subtype identification of Blastocystis isolated from humans in Ahvaz, Southwestern Iran.

Publications

Prevalence and subtype identification of <i>Blastocystis</i> isolated from humans in Ahvaz, Southwestern Iran.

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