Prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis by morphological and molecular methods in eastern Iran

Abstract

Background and objectiveMicrosporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens. The parasite can infect a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts among all over the world. The current study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis by staining and molecular methods in South Khorasan province of Iran. Materials and methodsFrom December 2019 to December 2020, 720 stool samples were stained by specific Weber Modified Trichrome (Chromotrope 2R) to detect Microsporidia spores. The DNA extraction was done by Kit and To amplify the SSU rRNA gene of Microsporidia Spp, the nested PCR was used with genus specific primers. Finally data analyzing were performed by chi square (X2) test, using SPSS software. ResultsFrom 720 stool samples, 25 (3.47%) samples were microscopically positive for intestinal Microsporidia infection. Out of 25 positive samples of Microsporidia in microscopic method, 22 samples were positive in PCR method. In this study, most of the molecularly approved patients were referred to the hospital (68.00%) and were in the age range of 30 to 50 years (40.80%). 92.00% of patients also had gastrointestinal symptoms and were infected in the summer (40.00%), (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThis study was the first evaluation of the prevalence of Microsporidia in South Khorasan province. Microsporidia infection is prevalent in the public population of eastern Iran. Statistical analysis of the results showed that factors such as education, age, gastrointestinal symptoms and season can be risk factors associated with parasitic infections.