Detection of Some Protozoan Parasites That Infect the Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Stool specimens were collected from patients who presented for various medical complaints in out patient Laboratories (The Central Health Laboratories / Baghdad). Ever} specimen was examined by Conventional microscopic examination (CME) and tested by IgGELISA kit. Antibody against the Entamoeba histolytica, detected by ELISA. has the potential to become a valuable adjunct to blood diagnostics and make it more affective, although there is no replacement foe the microscopical examination because other potential pathogens could otherwise escape detection. Our study was conducted in AL-Yarmok Hospital and the Central Health Laboratories in Baghdad to identify the prevalence of E. histolytica and Giardia lamblia among patients who attended these twro clinics . General stool examination was carried out for each patient using direct method. The overall rates of protozoal infections with E.histolytica among all diarrheal cases were 40.6% ; 42.5% ;40% ;52.8% ; 47.5% ; 49.3 % and 46.1% in years between March 1999 to December 2006 respectively (except 2003), and for intection with G.lamblia were 22.3% ;20% ;15.6% ;13.6% ;23% ;17.2% and 23.4 % in years from March 1999 to December 2006 respectively (Except 2003). The highest rate of infection with E. histolytica was 52.8% in 2002 and for G.lamblia was (23.4) % in 2006 . The highest rate of infection (31 %) was among age group from birth to nine years old during the whole period of study. There was no significant difference between the two sexes, In our study all samples of stool had pus cells. E, histolytica was detected in 4(8%) stools by CME and 4(8 %) bv GELISA. Our results suggest that a single stool specimen examination will miss many pathogenic protozoan infections in symptomatic persons.