Prevalence and Genotype Analysis of Blastocystis hominis in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Context: Blastocystis hominis is a unicellular protozoan found commonly in the intestinal tract of humans and many other animals with multiple subtypes, which tend to be specific to the host. We aimed to apply a meta-analysis for studies of protozoan pathogens in order to obtain a general overview of the prevalence and genotype analysis of Blastocystis spp. in Iran.Evidence Acquisition: International electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Ovid, Google scholar, and national databases including SID, Iranmedex and Magiran were searched from 2003 to 2015 for studies that reported the prevalence of B. hominis in Iran. We calculated prevalence estimates with 95% CIs and assessed heterogeneity between studies using the I2 statistic and the Cochran Q test. Results:We included 40 eligible studies in this review. The pooled prevalence of Blastocystis hominis was 3% (95% CI: 3 -3). Conclusions: Unlike the world, a ST5 subtype of human cases is common and the reservoir seems to be cattle. ST2 has been found in birds in Iran. Further studies are needed to confirm these important findings and to clarify the possible pathogenesis and reveal whether this is an exception or the rule.

Prevalence and subtype identification of Blastocystis isolated from human in Shiraz city, southern Iran

“…in Iran was 3% between 2003 and 2015, and the results showed that prevalence of Blastocystosis had a decreasing trend in Iran. 8 The survived population, sample size, diagnostic method and personal and community hygiene could affect the prevalence of Blastocystis.…”

“…7 The prevalence rate of Blastocystis is 1.5%-20% in industrialized countries, while it is 30%-50% in developing countries. 8 Epidemiological studies have indicated that the prevalence of Blastocystis in human has been estimated from 0.5 to 54.4% in different parts of Iran. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Based on the sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU-rRNA) gene, at least 17 subtypes (STs) of Blastocystis have been identified in humans and animals.…”

“…8 Epidemiological studies have indicated that the prevalence of Blastocystis in human has been estimated from 0.5 to 54.4% in different parts of Iran. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Based on the sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU-rRNA) gene, at least 17 subtypes (STs) of Blastocystis have been identified in humans and animals. 15,16 ST1-ST8 and ST12 are found both in humans and animals; ST9 was particularly identified in humans, while ST10, ST11 and ST13-ST17 are identified only in animals and have not been found in humans.…”

A Survey on Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Infections in Patients Referred to the Public Hospital in Khoy, West Azarbaijan Province, Iran, 2014 - 2016

“…The prevalence of Blastocystis spp in developed countries is 1.5% -10% and 30% -50% in developing countries (18)(19)(20).…”

Assessment of Apoptosis Induction by Methanol Extract of Sea Cucumber in Blastocystis hominis Isolated from Human Samples Using Flow Cytometry and DNA Fragmentation Test

“…This parasite exists in the large intestine of human and other vertebrates. It is probably the most common intestinal protozoa in humans around the world and particularly in Iran (3,4). Its prevalence in developed countries is between 1.5 -20% and in developing countries it can reach to 30 -50% (5,6).…”