Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Rural Inhabitants of Hamadan City, Iran, ۲۰۱۲

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections, particularly in the rural areas, are one of the most important indices of the hygiene status and sanitation level of the society. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the intestinal parasitic infections among rural inhabitant of Hamadan City, Iran, ۲۰۱۲. Patients and Methods: A total of ۲۲۸ fecal samples were collected from ۵۰ families in seven villages that were directly and indirectly involved in raising livestock and other domestic animals in spring of ۲۰۱۲. The demographic data were collected by interview and included age, sex, educational level, place of keeping animals, direct or indirect contact with animals, and occupation. Fecal samples were concentrated using formol-ether sedimentation technique and examined by iodine-stained wet mount method. Indistinguishable samples were assessed by trichrome staining method. Results: Among ۲۲۸ samples, ۸۰ (۳۵.۱%) were diagnosed with parasitic infection, which separately included ۴۳ cases of Entamoeba coli (۱۸.۹%), ۳۲ Blastocystis hominis (۱۴%), ۱۶ Endolimax nana (۷%), nine Iodamoeba butschlii (۳.۹%), five Giardia lamblia (۲.۲%), two Taenia species (۰.۹%), two Hymenolepis nana (۰.۹%), one Chilomastix mesnili (۰.۴%), one Trichuris trichiura (۰.۴%), and one Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (۰.۴%). No significant difference in infection rate was observed with regard to indirect or direct contact with livestock. Coinfection of E. coli and B. hominis, E. coli and I. butschlii, and E. nana and G. lamblia were statistically significant. Interestingly, no Ascaris lumbricoides ovum was seen in this population. Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of some infections with intestinal parasites is high in the Hamadan City. Considering that most of the parasites are nonpathogenic, pathogenic ones have been reduced generally in comparison to the previous reports. Nevertheless, the existence of Taenia species and H. nana could not be ignored.