Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

A survey of prevalence of intestinal parasites among the expatriates and native Emirati people attending Ministry of Health hospitals in Sharjah, United Arab Emirate was performed during the year 2008 and 2009. Stool examination from 10,514 patients (64% expatriates and 36% native Emiratis) was performed. Eight hundred fourteen specimens of the 10,514 examined were found to be positive for intestinal parasites. The infection rates were 15.7% and 3.2% among the native and expatriate population respectively (odds ratio = 5.5). The rate of infection in males (58%) was higher than in females (42%). Overall, protozoa infections (92.2%) were higher than the helminth infections (7.8%). Entamoeba histolytica (71.8%) and Giardia lamblia (17.5%) were the commonest intestinal parasites identified. Among the helminths, Ancylostoma dudenale and Ascaris lumbricoides were the common ones. In comparison to helminthic infestations, protozoa infections were more common among the native Emirati population than the expatriate population. The high prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections among the local Emirati people clearly indicates that there is continuous ongoing transmission of various parasitic infections in the community.