Trichostronyliasis Outbreak in North of Iran

Background: Nematodes of Trichostrongylus genus are mainly parasites of herbivores, although human infections in sporadic form ‎ have been reported worldwide‎. Herein we reported an outbreak of trichostrongyliasis in Qaemshar city in Mazandaran province, north of Iran from May to June ۲۰۲۰.  Methods: The investigation was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study on an outbreak occurred in Qaemshahr city in the north of Iran. The diagnosis of trichostrongyliasis cases was confirmed by hypereosinophilia and existence of Trichostrongylus ‎ eggs in the stool. Results: Trichostrongyliasis ‎ diagnosed in twelve patients. The age range of patients was ‎۱۰-۷۸ years old. ۸۳.۵% of the patients were female and ‎۷۵% of them lived in the rural area.  ‎ The most common ‎ signs and symptoms of patients were abdominal pain‎ ۹۱.۶%, diarrhea ۸۳.۳%, ‎vomiting ۴۱.۶%, nausea ۵۰%, anemia ‎‎‎‎۸.۳% and chill ‎ ‎۱۶.۶% respectively. ‎ These patients undertook a course of treatment consisting of antihelminth ‎drug ‎for adult ‎and albendazole for children.‎ Symptoms of trichostrongyliasis ‎ improved completely after therapy‎. Conclusions: Our study indicated that trichostrongyliasis may be a major parasitic aetiology for gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain among rural residents in endemic areas with outbreak presentations.

Keywords:

Trichostronyliasis , Outbreak , rural area