Evaluation of risk factors associated to detection of Blastocystis sp. in fecal samples in population from Barcelona, Spain: a case-control study

Hidalgo, L García; Salvador, Fernando; Sulleiro, Elena; López, Isabel; Balladares, Martha; García, Elena Cano; Paz, Carmen; Sánchez-Montalvà, Adrián; Bosch-Nicolau, Pau; Sao-Avilés, Augusto; Molina, Israel

doi:10.1007/s10096-019-03532-z

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…identification among our study population was 27.8%. This rate is similar to those observed in other Spanish studies performed among adult patients, ranging from 17.3% to 35.2% [9,19,20]. However, Spanish studies performed among children showed prevalence slightly lower than in adults, ranging from 13% to 15% [21][22][23].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Recent travel has previously been described as a risk factor for Blastocystis sp. carriage, and could be a confounder when interpreting the results [9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, flatulence, bloating, dyspepsia, and other gastrointestinal symptoms), and cutaneous manifestations such as chronic urticaria [5,6]. Different factors have been suggested to be related with the presence of symptoms, such as the subtype, the parasite load, or factors associated to the host [7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blastocystis sp. Carriage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is the Association Already Established?

Salvador

Lobo

Goterris

et al. 2021

Biology

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Background: The aim of the present study is to describe the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. detection among asymptomatic subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome in order to evaluate the potential association between irritable bowel syndrome and the parasitic infection. Methods: Cross-sectional study where adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria were included. A control group was formed by asymptomatic subjects older than 18 years. Exclusion criteria were: immunosuppressive condition or having received any drug with demonstrated activity against Blastocystis sp. within the last 6 months before study inclusion. Epidemiological and clinical information was collected from all included participants. Two stool samples were obtained from all participants: one sample for microscopic examination and one sample for Blastocystis sp. PCR detection. Blastocystis sp. infection was defined by the positivity of any of the diagnostic techniques. Results: Seventy-two participants were included (36 asymptomatic subjects and 36 patients with irritable bowel syndrome). Thirty-five (48.6%) were men, and median age of participants was 34 (IQR 29–49) years. The overall rate of Blastocystis sp. carriage was 27.8% (20/72). The prevalence assessed through microscopic examination was 22.2% (16/72), while the prevalence measured by PCR was 15.3% (11/72). When comparing the presence of Blastocystis sp. between asymptomatic subjects and IBS patients, we did not find any statistically significant difference (36.1% vs. 19.4% respectively, p = 0.114). Conclusions: regarding the occurrence of Blastocystis sp., no differences were found between asymptomatic participants and patients with irritable bowel disease irrespective of the diagnostic technique performed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Recent travel has previously been described as a risk factor for Blastocystis sp. carriage, and could be a confounder when interpreting the results [9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blastocystis sp. Carriage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is the Association Already Established?

Salvador

Lobo

Goterris

et al. 2021

Biology

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“…In Europe, similar rates of infection to those in Poland were reported in France (18.1%) and Spain (17.35%) [77,89] and in many countries outside Europe, such as Australia (19.1%) [90], Malaysia (18.5%) [87], Iran (14.5%) [39], Thailand (9.96%) [91], and the United States (7.19%) [92]. In Europe, higher values were observed only in Italy (34.13%; people with and without symptoms) [93] and in asymptomatic individuals in Cyprus (27.8%) [94], Belgium (30%) [95], and Ireland (56%) [42], which confirms that Blastocystis infections can be asymptomatic in many people.…”

Section: The Prevalence Of Blastocystis In Humans In Polandsupporting

confidence: 70%

Epidemiology of Blastocystis Infection: A Review of Data from Poland in Relation to Other Reports

Rudzińska,

Sikorska

2023

Pathogens

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Blastocystis is a common gut protist of humans and various animals worldwide, with a high level of genetic diversity. Neither its zoonotic potential and transmission routes nor its pathogenicity are fully known. This fact, and the fact that Blastocystis is the most abundant eukaryote in human faeces, raises the question of its relevance to public health. Here, we summarise (in relation to other reports) the results of studies on the prevalence and genotypic variation of Blastocystis, which were carried out in animals, humans, and in water environments in Poland. In humans, the prevalence ranged between 0.14 and 23.6%, in some animals reached 58.97%, and in water environments was 5.1%. Seven subtypes were identified in humans (ST1-ST4, ST6, ST7, and ST9), of which ST3 was the most common. Among animals (wild, livestock, and pet animals), eleven STs were identified, with differential host specificity. Humans and animals shared ST1, ST2, ST3, ST6, and ST7, while ST1 and ST3 were present in humans, animals, and water sources. These observations indicate the possibility of Blastocystis transmission between animals and humans. Further studies should be continued in search of the sources and transmission routes of Blastocystis in order to prevent the spread of infections among humans and animals.

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“…The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was estimated at about 17% in the adult population [ 32 ] and from 3 to 7% for G. intestinalis in asymptomatic individuals [ 33 ]. However, data on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the general population could be highly biased and underestimated for several reasons: (i) intestinal infections with protozoa are not a compulsory notifiable disease in Spain which makes difficult to assess the burden of these infections in the country; (ii) reliable epidemiological information is restricted to certain geographical areas, whereas only incomplete or outdated information is currently available from most parts of the country; (iii) prevalences of human blastocystis and giardiasis in Spain have been mainly studied in specific populations such as children, immigrants, or hospitalized people; and (iv) a significant percentage of infections may be asymptomatic which can mask many cases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intestinal parasitic infections and their potential risk factors among prison inmates in Valencia, Spain

Muñoz-Antoli,

Irisarri-Gutiérrez,

Acosta

et al. 2023

BMC Infect Dis

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Background Despite the fact that prison inmates are a population at higher risk than other groups of suffering from intestinal parasite infections in relation to their living conditions, information about these diseases in prison environments is still scarce. Herein, we analyze the status of intestinal parasite infections in a Spanish prison. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 528 inmates was conducted from April to June 2022 among inmates at Centro Penitenciario Picassent (Valencia, Spain). Stool specimens were examined using the direct wet mount technique, the formol-ether concentration technique, and the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. We used STATA 16.1 for data analysis. We consider a p-value less than 0.05 significant at a 95% confidence level. Results Of the 528 inmates (471 men and 57 women; a mean age of 41.94 years) enrolled in the study, 83 (15.7%) were infected. Only six species of protozoa were detected. The gut potential microeukaryotic pathobiont Blastocystis sp. was the predominant parasite, accounting for 37 (44.6%) of the infections. Gut parasite amebas (6.6%) and pathobionts (5.3%) were more prevalent than flagellates (2.3%). The prevalence of infection with pathogenic species (8.9%) was similar to that of non-pathogenic species (8.7%). Infection among men (15.2%) was higher than in women (0.6%) (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the country of birth (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.18–0.52) and the time spent in prison (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.06–3.14) were statistically significant associated to intestinal parasite infections (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.028, respectively). Conclusion This study found low levels of intestinal parasite infections in the CPP which could be indicative of the implementation of sanitary measures in prison environments in Spain. The less time spent in prison favor the risk of having infection while the Spanish nationality of inmates could reduce the risk of infection. The main recommendation would be to introduce routine parasitological tests upon foreigners entering prison.

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Evaluation of risk factors associated to detection of Blastocystis sp. in fecal samples in population from Barcelona, Spain: a case-control study

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

Blastocystis sp. Carriage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is the Association Already Established?

Blastocystis sp. Carriage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is the Association Already Established?

Epidemiology of Blastocystis Infection: A Review of Data from Poland in Relation to Other Reports

Intestinal parasitic infections and their potential risk factors among prison inmates in Valencia, Spain

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