Author/Authors :
Rezaei Riabi, Tahereh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Haghighi, Ali Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Mirjalali, Hamed Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Mohammad Ali Gol, Sara Behbood Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Karamati, Ahmad Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Faculty of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Ghasemian, Mehrdad Imam Hossein Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Bahadori Monfared, Ayat Faculty of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Aghamohammadi, Elham Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Zojaji, Homayoun Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Aim: This study aimed to survey prevalence and clinical significance of Blastocystis among symptomatic and asymptomatic groups.
Background: Blastocystis is a prevalent microorganism that is found in intestine of human and majority of animals. However, most
studies have failed to establish correlation between the presence of the parasite and clinical manifestations.
Methods: from Dec 2016 to Jun 2017, 554 stool samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects referred to
Imam Hossein Hospital and Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. All samples were concentrated
using conventional formalin-ethyl acetate concentration and then were microscopically examined using Lugol’s iodine staining and
light microscope. The fresh stool samples were also cultivated in DMEM medium and were examined for growth of Blastocystis
every 48 hours with direct smear slides for 10 days.
Results: Blastocystis was observed among 93 (16.8%) of stool samples cultivated in DMEM. The findings represented that 64/398
(16.08%) and 29/156 (18.58%) of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients were infected with Blastocystis, respectively. In addition,
there was no significant correlation between presence of symptoms and carrying Blastocystis (P=0.528), although statistically
significant association was observed between presence of urticaria and carrying Blastocystis (P<0.05). Furthermore, a statistically
significant correlation between observing the parasite and different age groups was seen (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Blastocystis is a prevalent parasitic eukaryote among symptomatic and asymptomatic populations despite the higher
prevalence among symptomatic group that suggests the chance of infection with Blastocystis raises with age
Keywords :
Iran , Blastocystis , Prevalence , Age , Clinical manifestation
