High Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasites Research Articles

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated factors among patients with HIV/AIDS at the anti-retroviral treatment clinic of Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections remain very common, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of immune-compromised patients, such as HIV/AIDS patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated factors in people living with HIV/AIDS at an ART clinic in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, southwest Ethiopia.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to September 2021. A total of 191 adult people living with HIV/AIDS participated in this study. Data on socio-demographic, clinical, and other risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and processed using a direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration, and modified Ziehl-Nelson staining techniques. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 25 software.ResultsAmong 67 adult individuals living with HIV/AIDS, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 35.1%. Specifically, 31.5% (45/143) of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 45.8% (22/48) of ART-naïve patients were infected. The distribution of intestinal parasites was as follows: protozoa were found in 14.7% of ART-treated patients and 22.9% of ART-naïve patients; helminths in 15.4% of ART-treated patients and 16.7% of ART-naïve patients; and opportunistic parasites in 1.4% of ART-treated patients and 6.25% of ART-naïve patients. Significant associations with a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites were observed for a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.77; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.01–13.15; p = 0.04), consumption of unwashed raw vegetables (AOR = 3.29; 95% CI: 1.23–8.86; p = 0.02), and residing in rural areas (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.27–4.32; p = 0.01).ConclusionThe findings indicate that a significant proportion of adults living with HIV/AIDS are affected by intestinal parasites, with a notably higher prevalence among ART-naïve patients compared to those on ART. Factors such as a low CD4 count, consumption of unwashed raw vegetables, and rural residence are associated with increased risk of intestinal parasite infections. These results underscore the importance of improving hygiene practices and access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, to reduce the burden of parasitic infections among individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from River Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Fish and fish products are significant sources of nutrients for humans. Parasites of fish are of concern since they often produce a weakening of the host’s immunity thereby increasing susceptibility to secondary infections. This study was conducted with aimed to examine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites infecting fish. Field study was conducted during the period from September to November 2022. A total of 200 fish samples (Clarias gariepinus) were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Result show that, total number of fishes infected 60(30.0%) out of which 26(26.26%) males and 34(33.66) female. Two helminths one each from Cestode and Nematode were isolated from the infected fishes. The Cestode and its prevalence were Diphylobothrium latum (5%) and nematode Procamallanus spp. (3.33%). The protozoa recovered included: Hexamita spp., Protoopalina spp. and Microsporidia with 60.00%, 23.33% and 18.34% respectively. The majority of the parasites were found in the intestine. Fish specimens that were lighter in weight 10 -200g had less infection (12.5%) but those found with parasites weighed between 201-400g (42%). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the infection between male and female Clarias gariepinus and with age on the prevalence and intensity of the gastrointestinal parasite. Wild fish (Clarias gariepinus) in River Nasarawa have a high prevalence of intestinal parasites, therefore it is recommended to avoid open defecation that finally is washed down to rivers and streams hence affecting the aquatic organisms and to properly cook wild fish obtained from River Nasarawa before consumption for safety.

Burden and factors influencing intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

Intestinal parasitic infections pose significant global health challenges, particularly in developing countries. Asymptomatic infections often present a considerable burden with food handlers serving as potential carriers. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of these parasites varies across regions, and accurate data in the study area is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers working in hotels and restaurants in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study collected stool samples from food handlers alongside a structured questionnaire gathering socio-demographic and hygiene practice information. Stool specimens were screened for intestinal parasites using direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. The collected data were checked for completeness, entered into EpiData software version 3.1, and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was deemed statistically significant if the p-value was less than 0.05. A total of 257 food handlers working in hotels and restaurants in Gondar City participated in the study. Of these, 33.5% (86/257) were found positive for one or more intestinal parasites, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 28.0-39.5%. The study identified nine types of intestinal parasites, with E. histolytica/dispar (8.2%, 21/257) and Ascaris lumbricoides (6.6%, 17/257) being the predominant parasites, followed by hookworm (3.5%, 9/257) and S. mansoni (2.3%, 6/257). The prevalence of mixed infections was 9.3% (24/257). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasitic infection and the educational level of food handlers. In this study, a high prevalence of intestinal parasites was detected indicating poor hygiene practices of the food handlers at the study site. Even the prevalence of mixed infections was high. Regular training, strict adherence to personal hygiene and food-handling practices, and routine inspections and medical checkups for food handlers are crucial.

Assessment of Welfare in Transhumance Yak Hybrids (Chauris) in the Lower Himalayan Region of Nepal

In order to develop a yak/chauri-specific welfare assessment protocol, we sent a set of 31 potential welfare measures to 120 Nepalese experts and asked them to identify the measures that they thought would be useful and propose additional useful measures. Eighty-three experts responded, with 13 measures being identified by >50% of respondents as likely to be useful. These thirteen measures plus one new measure (hematology) were included in an assessment protocol that was tested in the second phase of this study in five chauri herds in two districts in northern Nepal. Animal-based evaluations along with sampling for mastitis, intestinal parasites, and hematology were undertaken during or just after morning milking. Resource- and record-based measures were assessed through structured interviews, with verifications on-site where possible. No chauris exhibited poor body conditions, skin injuries, significant locomotion issues, or significant subclinical mastitis. Fecal testing suggested a high prevalence of intestinal parasites at the herd level, while blood testing suggested no evidence of hematological abnormalities. However, for both results, we need more data to use these effectively as measures of welfare. The resource-based assessment revealed significant challenges across all resources, and veterinary services were reported as being inadequate. A high estimated annual mortality rate (10–21%) needs further investigation. This protocol provided a useful start towards developing a welfare assessment protocol for yak/chauri and identified issues that need addressing to optimize chauri welfare.

Agricultural practices and intestinal parasites: A study of socio-environmental risk factors associated with leafy vegetable production in La Plata horticultural area, Argentina

Foodborne diseases now represent one of the most important public health problems. The objectives were to analyze the leafy vegetables and crop soil to detect parasitic species and evaluate the factors that increase the risk of parasitic contamination in the productive units in La Plata horticultural area. The study included 261 leafy vegetable and 87 crop soil samples that were processed using washing, sedimentation, and flotation techniques. Socio-environmental characteristics and agricultural practices were surveyed, and a generalized linear model was used to assess the change in parasitic prevalence with different predictor variable. The 58.6% of leafy vegetable and 31.0% of crop soil samples contained parasitic species, the most prevalent being Blastocystis sp. and oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. Risk factors were the limited access to health, dirt roads, children and dogs circulating in crops, field cultivation, furrow irrigation and lettuce cultivation. The high prevalence of intestinal parasites in the vegetable crops was mainly associated with the conditions of structural precariousness in the production units. These results elaborated with the participation of the population, provide valuable knowledge for the planning of epidemiological programs that include environmental health as a fundamental nexus in health campaigns.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Children Accessing Medical Healthcare at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Aim: This work was conducted between the period of April 2022 and March 2023 to investigate the prevalence and predisposing factors of enteric parasites among children accessing medical healthcare at the Federal Medical Center keffi, Nasarawa State.
 Study Design: The study was a cross-sectional study. 
 Methodology: Fresh stool specimens were collected into sterile bottles from children aged 1-15 (246 males and 194 females) who accessed medical healthcare at the Federal Medical Center keffi, Nasarawa State between the period of April 2022 and March 2023. Information such as age, gender, and drinking water sources were obtained from the subjects through a structured questionnaire. The stool specimens were observed visually for colour, consistency, and presence of blood, pus, and adult worms while the concentration of the eggs, cysts, and larvae of the intestinal parasites was carried out using the formol ether method and viewed with X10 and X40 magnifications of the binocular microscope. Data obtained from this study were analyzed using the chi-square test by the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version (21.0). Values obtained were considered significant at 95% probability.
 Results: An overall prevalence of 27.26% was obtained in the study participants with a total of five species of intestinal parasites identified. The parasites include; Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Trichomonas hominis. Entamoeba. histolytica was the most prevalent (15.45%) while S. stercoralis was the least prevalent (1.36%). In this study, males recorded a higher prevalence of Entamoeba. histolytica (16.49%) than females (14.63%) likewise for E. coli (5.14%) and (4.07%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.55%) and (1.22%) respectively. In contrast, females recorded a higher prevalence of Giardia lamblia (2.85%) than males (2.58%) and Trichomonas hominis (3.25%) and (1.03%) respectively. The prevalence of intestinal parasites varied significantly among the age groups, with the age group 1-5 years being the most susceptible to E. histolytica (45.71%). Children who drank river water had the highest prevalence of parasitic infection (57.14%) while those who drank borehole water had the lowest majority (14.29%).
 Conclusion: The high prevalence of intestinal parasites observed in this study in relation to the sources of drinking water of the subjects suggests a major predisposing factor to intestinal parasitic infections. Therefore, the provision of potable drinking water and public enlightenment on proper hygiene practices in the study area is of great importance.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in street dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) with highlights on zoonosis in Lalitpur, Nepal.

The presence of intestinal parasites influences the growth and well-being of canids. Additionally, infected dogs and their faeces with considerably higher eggs/oocysts released per gram (epg/opg) of zoonotic parasites contribute to parasitic spillover to humans, domestic animals and sympatric wildlife. The current study aimed to reveal the prevalence of intestinal parasites (protozoa and helminths) and to list the zoonotically significant parasites in free-roaming street dogs in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. Fresh faecal samples (n=332) were collected from feral dogs of varying ages and sexes and transported to the research laboratory. The copro microscopic examination was carried out via direct wet mount, formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation, saturated salt flotation, acid-fast staining and sporulation techniques. Coproscopy revealed an overall 95.7% (318/332) prevalence rate with 23 diverse species of intestinal parasites (10 protozoa and 13 helminths). Among them, 5 protozoa and 11 helminths possessed zoonotic potential, and their overall prevalence was 92.5%. Helminth's overall prevalence was double that of the protozoa (87.7% vs. 43%). Polyparasitism was dominant over mono parasitism (79.5% vs. 16.3%), and co-infection of up to seven species of parasites at a time was recorded. Urban street dogs harboured a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites that varied with age and sex. Since most of the reported parasites are zoonotic, dog density and parasitic richness indicate a greater spillover risk to humans and domestic animals. Furthermore, this study also provides appropriate 'baseline' data for assessing effective control measures against parasitic infestations among street dogs and controlling their transmission to humans.

Prevalence Ratio Estimation of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Factors Among Meat Sellers in Ilorin Kwara State Nigeria

Background: Foodborne diseases are a significant public health issue globally, with approximately 30% of the population in developed countries suffering from diarrheal diseases caused mainly by foodborne microbial pathogens. In developing countries, food handlers, including meat sellers, are the primary determinants of food contamination due to poor regulatory systems for food hygiene. This cross-sectional study determined intestinal parasites’ prevalence and associated factors among meat sellers in Nigeria. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 139 meat sellers in four markets in Ilorin, Kwara State, were selected. Stool samples were collected from each participant using a clean and dry stool container. The stool samples were analyzed using direct smear saline and formal-ether concentration techniques. The parasites were identified and counted under a microscope. The primary outcome was the presence of one or more intestinal parasitic species in stool samples. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-Square test, and binary logistics regression. Results: Of the 139 meat sellers in this study, 74(53.2%) were females, while 65(46.8%) were males. Most participants (43.9%) were in the age group 31-40 years compared to the age group 51-56 years (9.4%), with the least participants. The participants’ education levels varied, with those with primary education (46.8%) being the highest, followed by those with tertiary education (31.7%). Based on religion, 37 (26.6%) participants were Christians, while 102 (73.4%) were Muslims. 59.7% of the meat sellers haboured one or more intestinal parasites. The odds ratio for gender indicates that when holding all other variables constant, a female is 1.7 times more likely to have a parasite than a male. The odds ratios of those with primary and secondary education levels are 1.4 and 1.7, respectively, suggesting that despite the level of education, they were more likely to habour intestinal parasites. The age group did not significantly affect the presence of intestinal parasites (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of intestinal parasites among meat sellers in Ilorin. The findings highlight the importance of implementing preventive measures and promoting awareness to reduce the burden of intestinal parasites in this community. In addition, large-scale screening and mass drug administration are recommended...

Survey of intestinal parasites in swine farms raised in Western Nepal.

Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus), an important domestic livestock, are generally affected by helminth and protozoan parasites. Rearing pigs in rural regions in Nepal is a common practice for subsistence farming. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in pigs raised in Western Nepal. A total of 200 faecal samples from commercial and smallholder farms were examined by wet mounts, flotation, sedimentation and staining techniques. The results revealed that overall 86.5% of samples were found shedding oocysts or eggs of one or more GIPs. Three species of protozoa [Eimeria sp. (26%), Entamoeba coli (25.5%) and Coccidia (29%)] and nine species of helminths parasites (Ascaris suum (32.5%), Trichuris suis (30%), strongyle-type nematode (27.5%), hookworm (26%), Fasciola sp. (17.5%), Physaloptera sp. (17.5%), Strongyloides sp. (17.5%), Metastrongylus sp. (8%) and Oesophagostomum sp. (5.5%)] were identified. Female pigs were found to have higher protozoan infection than males, but such a difference was not noticed with regard to helminth parasites. Strongyles and Oesophagostomum infection were higher in commercial farms compared to smallholder farms, whereas the prevalences of E. coli and other protozoans were higher in smallholder farms. Among the contextual factors evaluated for association, weight and gender of pigs, and annual income and gender of managers/caretakers were significantly (p<0.05) associated with the prevalence of GIPs in pigs. The overall prevalence of certain helminths such as strongyle-type nematode and A. suum was significantly (p<0.05) associated with the weight of pigs after adjusting other contextual factors. This study detected relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasites in domestic pig facilities. Molecular epidemiological studies are essential to verify the exact zoonotic potential of parasites carried by pigs in the region. An effective periodic monitoring of GIPs of pigs needs to be carried out to minimize their further dissemination.

PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOA, HELMINTHES, AND COCCIDIAN INFECTIONS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THALA’A DISTRICT AT AMRAN GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Background and objectives: The prevalence of intestinal parasite infection, which can range between 18% and 90%, is one of the most frequently reported diseases in Yemen and poses a serious health issue for schoolchildren. In Thala’a District, Amran Governorate, Yemen, the study's main goal was to ascertain the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection among primary school students. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2022 among 400 schoolchildren, in the age groups 7-12 years. All the children were residents of the city of Thala’a. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites according to standard laboratory methods. Results: The children's ages ranged from 7 to 12 years, with a mean±SD of 9.52 ± 2.9 years. The results showed that 136/400 (34%) of the tested children were positive for intestinal parasite infection with a higher prevalence of specific intestinal worms (50.4%) than protozoa (33.3%) and coccidian infection (16.3%). The rate of infection alone was also higher than that of multiple parasitic infections (19.3% vs. 14.8%). The highest number of intestinal parasites was 50/400 (12.5%) for Ascaris lumbricoides, and 49/400 (12.25%) for Entameba histolytica followed by 9.8% for Giardia lamblia, 11.5% for Entrobius vermicularis, 6.5% for Cryptosporidium species, 6.5% for Hymenolepis nana, 2% for Schistosoma mansoni, and 0.8% for Trichuris trichiura. Considering the associated factors, boys had a higher infection rate than girls (50% vs. 24.2%) with an OR of 2.6, CI =1.7–3.9 (p &lt; 0.001). A higher rate was also recorded in older children (41%) with an odds ratio of 1.6 (p=0.03). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in Thala’a city, and various control measures are required to control and prevent intestinal parasites among school children. Peer Review History: Received: 3 March 2023; Revised: 22 April; Accepted: 27 June 2023, Available online: 15 July 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Rola Jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, rola@aauj.edu Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg Dr. Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, drwadhsheikh1974@gmail.com

PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES, MALNUTRITION, ANEMIA AND THEIR RISK FACTORS AMONG ORPHANED CHILDREN IN SANA'A CITY, YEMEN

Background: Intestinal parasites infection, malnutrition, and anemia are endemic among children living inpoor and developing low-income countries, particularly Yemen. Aims: The current study aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites, malnutrition, and anemia and their risk factors among orphaned children in Sana'a city, Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the orphanage between September 2020 and November 2023. One hundred and ninety-five (195) stool and blood samples were collected from orphan children aged 7-15 years. Intestinal parasites were examined using the formal ether concentration technique and hemoglobin was assessed using a Sysmex hematology analyzer. Result: Out of 195 specimens, 77(39.49%) were positive for parasite infection. The high rate of infections was among subjects aged between 10-12 years (43.9%), at primary schools (42.9%), didn’t have a history of parasite infection (48.9%), between 102-118 cms in height (48.6%), 11-30 kg in weight (49.4%), and underweight (40.1%) non-statistical differences (P &gt; 0.05). The most predominant parasite was Entamoeba histolytica (17.4%), followed by Giardia lamblia (10.3%), Hymenolepis nana (6.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (3.6%). The prevalence of anemia was 19% and statistically significant with parasitic infection (P = 0.000) but not significantly to risk factors (P&gt; 0.05). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of intestinal parasites, anemia and malnutrition among the participating children, and this affects their health and life. Therefore, the implementation of control and prevention programs including improvement of health status, regular deworming practices with medication, health education, provision of appropriate food, and iron supplementation is required to reduce the incidence of malnutrition and anemia associated with intestinal parasitic infection. Peer Review History: Received: 20 February 2023; Revised: 16 March; Accepted: 18 April 2023, Available online: 15 May 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Emmanuel O. Olorunsola, Department of Pharmaceutics &amp; Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Nigeria, olorunsolaeo@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in a clinical analysis laboratory in southern Brazil: a retrospective study

The population’s living conditions, basic sanitation, hygiene, and poor socioeconomic status, are determining factors for diseases´ transmission, such as intestinal parasitic infections which constitute one of the main public health problems in Brazil. These diseases are considered endemic in several areas of the country, presenting a wide geographic distribution, varying according to environmental conditions and parasites´ species. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in individuals attending a clinical analysis laboratory in a municipality located in Southern of Brazil. A retrospective study was carried out through the analysis of 2,247 reports of parasitological stool examination from individuals who attended a clinical analysis laboratory located in Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, from September 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2020. Parasitic structures were found in stool samples from 181 (8.1%) individuals. The protozoans Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli were the most prevalent parasites, being present in 58.0% and 29.8% of individuals, respectively. A higher prevalence of intestinal parasites was observed in women (52.5%), aged 21 to 60 years old (62.4%). Biparasitism or polyparasitism was present in 7.2% (13/181) of individuals and only 31.7% (713/2247) of samples collected three fecal samples for examination. The low prevalence of intestinal parasites found in the present study may be an indicator of improvements in sanitary, environmental, and health education conditions. KEY WORDS: Parasitic diseases; helminths; parasites; protozoans.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Cats from the Kvarner Region in Croatia

Abstract Intestinal parasites of dogs and cats may affect their health with a significant zoonotic risk to public health. Therefore, establishing an efficient control program should pass through the determination of the diversity, prevalence, and pathogenicity of those parasites. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats and proceed to infection comparisons between young and adult animals. The detection of parasites in fecal samples was determined using flotation and immunofluorescent methods across 320 dogs and 64 cats from the Kvarner region in Croatia. The prevalence was calculated for each detected parasite in its host. Differences in prevalence between young animals and adults were analyzed. Parasites were detected in 32 dogs and 34.4% of cats. In total, 12 different genera were detected; Giardia spp. was the most prevalent parasite in both species, infecting 24.7% and 18.8% of investigated dogs and cats, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxocara cati had a prevalence of (18.4%) and (6.3%), respectively. Prevalences of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Cystoisospora spp. were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher in puppies compared to adult dogs. Pentatrichomonas hominis (P. hominis) was detected in one puppy. In addition to the first report of P. hominis, a relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats in the Kvarner region of Croatia was recorded, posing a potential zoonotic risk.

Intestinal Parasites in School-Aged Children of Rumuodogo, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: This epidemiological survey was carried out to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in School aged Children.&#x0D; Place and Duration of study: The study was carried out in Rumuodogo Community in Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State, Nigeria between the months of March to June 2019.&#x0D; Methodology: Microscopic examination of stool samples from 200 school-aged pupils between the ages 3-18 years was carried out using formol-ether concentration and direct wet mount, and stained iodine. Demographic as well as epidemiological data were obtained using a questionnaire.&#x0D; Results: The finding reveals an overall prevalence of 49.5%. However, there was a significant difference in the parasite prevalence values between the age groups (P = 0.01). The common intestinal parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides 19.5%, Ancylostoma duodenale 9.5%, Trichuris spp. 6%, Strongyloides spp. 4.5%, Enterobius spp. 1%, Taenia solium, 1.5%, Taenia saginata 1%, Entamoeba histolytica 4.5%, Giardia lamblia 4% and Schistosoma mansoni 2%. The prevalence of intestinal parasites infections with respect to the available and use of toilet facility revealed that Pit toilet users had the highest prevalence of 62 (56.9%) while no infection was recorded among users of water closet toilet. When age groups were compared, the result showed that age group 3-6 years were significantly more infected than the other age groups (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between other age groups. The findings however, showed that age groups 6-10 years had the highest prevalence of 55.6%. Maximum of seven children had multiple infections. The male female ration was 62:37 while the percentage for males was 43.2% and 50% for females.&#x0D; Conclusion: Intestinal parasitic infections are associated with reduced development of children manifested by a reduced physical fitness which may result from vitamin deficiencies, inducing intestinal bleeding, and protein energy malnutrition. Therefore, the high prevalence of intestinal parasites recorded in this study calls for an intensified effort in the control of the infections. Regular deworming of children and environmental sanitation should be carried out to further reduce the prevalence.

Hygiene practices and factors influencing intestinal parasites among food handlers in the province of Belgarn, Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between socio-demographic status, and hygienic habits among food handlers with intestinal parasitic infections. It was a cross-sectional study in which 112 participants were recruited, from Belgarn province of Saudi Arabia. The descriptive analysis was used to evaluate demographic data and categorical variables. The association between sociodemographic characteristics and Relative Risk regression analysis was performed for each investigated factor. p-value of <0.05, was assumed to be statistically significant. One hundred and twelve food handlers with a mean age of 33.5 ± 9.2 years were included in this study. The food handlers were from 15 different countries (11 Asians and four Africans). The majority of the food handlers were cooks (87, 77.7%), and waiters and dish washers (24, 21.4%). Among them, 106 (94.6%) used uniforms, and gloves at work. In hand washing practices, 104 (92.9%) wash their hands with soap before handling and preparing food and eight (7.1%) wash without soap, 98 (87.5%) wash with soap before meals and 14 (12.5%) wash without soap, 105 (93.8%) wash with soap after visiting toilets and seven (6.2%) wash without soap. Twenty-five (42.3%) of infected food handlers are not used to trim their fingernails. Intestinal infection was observed in 59 (52.68%) participants with mean age (32.5 ± 8.1 years) for infected participants. In this study, food handlers had a high prevalence of intestinal parasites. Although some of the food handlers had a high level of education, the infection with intestinal parasites was detected. In addition to regular screening for intestinal parasites among food handlers, there is a need for educational programs on proper hygiene habits, modes of transmission and prevention of the infection.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Food Handlers of Food and Drinking Establishments in Woldia Town, North-East Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Food handlers should be screened periodically for intestinal parasitic infections, and they should be treated to reduce intestinal parasite transmission to consumers through contaminated foods and drinks. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers in Woldia town, North-East Ethiopia. A community-basedcross-sectional study was conducted among food handlers in Woldia town, North-East Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics and intestinal parasite-associated risk factors. Microscopic examination of a stool sample was performed using wet-mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software packages. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors. In all comparisons, P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers in Woldia town was 14.3%. Six different intestinal parasites were detected. The majority of the parasites identified were helminthic infections 37/52 (71%). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most dominant parasite (7.7%), followed by E. histolytica/dispar (2.7%) and G. lamblia (1.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that intestinal parasitic infection had a statistically significant association with food handlers' habits of hand washing without soap after latrine use (P < 0.01), swimming habit (P=0.03), and using a common knife (P < 0.01). This study revealed a relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers in Woldia town. Strict and standard hygienic and sanitary practices should be implemented by food handlers. Moreover, food handlers should be screened for intestinal parasitic infection, and health education should be given periodically.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and its Predisposing Factors among Patients Sent for Stool Examination at Ambo General Hospital, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Back ground: Intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infection in the world. In Ethiopia there is a high prevalence of intestinal parasites due to lack of personal hygiene and poor environmental conditions. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites and predisposing factors among patients who sent for stool examination at Ambo general hospital Ambo Town, West Shewa zone. Methodology: A cross- sectional parasitological study was conducted August 22, 2021- August 31, 2021 G.C to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and its portion formula was used to determine a total sample size and convenient sampling technique was used. After ethical approval taken, patients data was collected by face-to face interviewing and recording method. Stool samples was examined by using direct saline and formal ether concentration techniques. Collected data was analyzed manually, checked and edited to determine the related risk factors of the intestinal parasites. Result and Conclusion: There was high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in the study in which 63.1% of them were found to be positive for at least single intestinal parasite. Total of seven intestinal parasites were identified. From the identified species G.lambilia was the most common 110(52.9%) followed by E.histolytica 42(20.2%), A.lambricoids 16(7.7%), Hook worm 12(5.8%), Tina species 10(4.8%), T.trichuria 10(4.8%) and S.mansoni 10(4.8%). Recommendations: Educate the patients and inform the concerned bodies about the risk factors and prevention. This finding from the study could be used as base line data and further investigation should be done to know the problem of intestinal parasitism more in the area by the others.

Gastrointestinal parasites in bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in aquaculture production units in the Mexican central highlands.

In Mexico, intensive production of bullfrogs is one of the most important aquaculture activities, due to growing demand for their meat. Frogs can be hosts for several parasites that negatively affect their development and health. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of intestinal parasites in bullfrogs in aquaculture production units. Eighteen bullfrogs aquaculture production units were selected, and 20 animals (n=360) from each farm. Fecal samples were obtained by mucosal scraping and processed using the concentration method. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 70.5%, and all farms had frogs infected by some species of parasite. Two species of parasites were identified: Eimeria sp. and Strongyloides sp. Significant differences were found regarding parasite prevalence between males and females (73.8% vs 58.8%) and regarding tibia length (5.5 vs 6.1 cm) and weight (168 vs 187 g) between parasitized and non-parasitized frogs. In conclusion, the present study showed a high prevalence of intestinal parasites, and morphometric alterations (weight, snout-cloaca length, radio-ulna length, tibia length and distance between parotid glands) were identified in the parasitized animals. These results provided useful information that will enable establishment of adequate control measures to help minimize the adverse effects of these parasites.

Intestinal parasites and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundInvestigating the association between infectious agents and non-communicable diseases is an interesting emerging field of research. Intestinal parasites (IPs) are one of the causes of gastrointestinal complications, malnutrition, growth retardation and disturbances in host metabolism, which can play a potential role in metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients and the association between IPs and diabetes. MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted from January 2000 to November 2022in published records by using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases as well as Google scholar search engine; Out of a total of 29 included studies, fourteen cross-sectional studies (2676 diabetic subjects) and 15 case-control studies (5478 diabetic/non-diabetic subjects) were reviewed. The pooled prevalence of IPs in diabetics and the Odds Ratio (OR) were evaluated by CMA V2. ResultsIn the current systematic review and meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients was 26.5% (95% CI: 21.8–31.7%) with heterogeneity of I2 = 93.24%; P < 0.001. The highest prevalence based on geographical area was in Region of the Americas (13.3% (95% CI: 9.6–18.0)).There was significant association between the prevalence of intestinal parasites in diabetic cases compared to controls (OR, 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06–2.78). ConclusionIn line with the high prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients, significant association was found however, due to the limitations of the study, more studies should be conducted in developing countries and, the prevalence of IPs in diabetics should not be neglected.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites and Enteric Bacterial Infections among Selected Region Food Handlers of Ethiopia during 2014-2022: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Food-borne disease due to intestinal parasites (IPs) and enteric bacterial infections (EBIs) remain a major public health problem. Food handlers, individuals involved in preparing and serving food, working with poor personal hygiene could pose a potential threat of spreading IPs and EBIs to the public. The aim of this study was to examine the overall prevalence and risk factors of IPs and EBIs among food handlers in four selected regions of Ethiopia. Scientific articles written in English were recovered from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and other sources from Google Engine and University Library Databases. “Prevalence,” “Intestinal Parasites,” “Enteric Bacterial Infections,” “Associated Factors,” “Food Handlers,” and “Ethiopia” were the search terms used for this study. For critical appraisal, PRISMA 2009 was applied. Stata software version 16 was used to perform the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated using Cochran's Q, inverse variance (I2), and funnel plot asymmetry tests. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled burden of IPs and EBIs and its associated factors among food handlers, along with the parallel odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). For this meta-analysis, a total of 5844 food handlers were included in the 20 eligible studies. The overall pooled prevalence of IPs and EBIs among food handlers in four selected regions of Ethiopia was 29.16% (95% CI: 22.61, 35.71), with covering (25.77%) and (3.39%) by IPs and EBIs, respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia lamblia, and hookworm were the most prevalent IPs among food handlers with a pooled prevalence of 7.58%, 6.78%, 3.67%, and 2.70%, respectively. Salmonella and Shigella spp. were the most prevalent EBIs among food handlers with a pooled prevalence of 2.78% and 0.61%, respectively. A high prevalence of IPs and EBIs among food handlers was observed in Oromia (38.56%; 95% CI: 29.98, 47.14), while a low prevalence was observed in the Tigray region (19.45%; 95% CI: 6.08, 32.82). Food handlers who had not taken food hygiene training (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: −0.34, 1.69), untrimmed finger nail (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.99), lack of periodic medical checkup (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.41, 2.64), lack of handwashing habits (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 0.53, 3.41), and eating raw vegetables and meat (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 0.92, 4.34) were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of IPs and EBIs. The prevalence of IPs and EBIs was high in the selected Ethiopian region (Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray) food handlers along an increasing prevalence trend from 2014 to 2022. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of proper health education and training regarding personal hygiene, hand washing, food handling, medical checks, as well as raw vegetable and meat safety.