Prevalence of Two Gastrointestinal Parasites <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> and <i>Giardia lamblia</i> within Samarra City, Iraq

Abstract

The prevalence of two gastrointestinal parasites the Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia parasites and their impact on some blood parameters, i.e. packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb%) and total protein (TP) of a total 780 patients (children and adults) admitted to Samarra General Hospital were assessed. Samples of fresh feces were collected in normal physiological saline and examined using Olympic microscopes. The frequency of the parasite E. histolytica was 12.8% (46.3% male and 53.6% female). The highest frequency of infection of E. histolytica (13.8%) was found at age group (1-5 years old) followed by <1 year old children while the lowest (7.4%) was at ages (>41 years old). The highest rate of infection (33.9%) was found in September and the lowest (2.2%) in January. Similarly, the general infection frequency of the parasite G. lamblia was 3.9% with the highest rate at ages 1-20 years old and the lowest rate was 7.3% for >50 years old. The monthly, highest rate of infection (5.2%) was in August and least (2.2%) in January (2.2%). The frequency of total protein (TPD) in the blood relevant to the presence of parasite E. histolytica and G. lamblia was 4.6% and 1%, respectively. It is concluded that the above two parasites are the most common gastrointestinal parasite in Iraq whose pathogenesis to be which is likely to escalate during the summer seasons and at low hygienic services environment. There has been an irrelevance neither to anemia nor total protein deficiency. It is recommended that Ministry of Health in Iraq should not share the global idea of defining the giardiasis as a neglected disease.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Most Endoparasites and Ectoparasites during Past Decade in Iraq

“…Nearly similar results were recorded in AL-Nasiria, AL-Karbala, Babil, Diwania, and Salahadin (9.38%, 9.8%, 10.1%, 10.3%, and 12.8% respectively, [Table 1]) according to (Saheb, 2017), (Al-Saqur et al, 2017;Saheb, 2017;Al-Saqur et al, 2016), and (Bazzaz et al, 2017) respectively.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Iraq during a Period from 2000-2020

“…Intestinal protozoan, helminthic or mixed infections are prevalent among all types of communities and population samples from both urban and rural prevalence rate of infection was higher among females in comparison to males. This may be due to fact that these females are housewives responsible for a house work, agricultural practices and animal breeding [14].…”

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“…Lactose intolerance may result from an active or severe case of giardiasis and may persist for several months even after the parasite (giardia lamblia) has been treated [19]. Giardia lamblia can cause anemia and malnutrition by preventing the absorption of iron, vitamins, minerals, proteins, lipids, and carbs during its reproductive cycle in the digestive tract of its host [20]. The most commonly infected individuals are children and newborns who are malnourished as a result of this protozoan, with weight loss and stunted growth being the most typical indications of their infection.…”