Study the frequency of intestinal parasitic infection in patients referred to central laboratory of Great Dezful hospital in 2010 and 2011

Intestinal parasitic infections are still a major health problem in semi- developing countries. The aim of the present study was studying the frequency of intestinal parasites in patients referred to the central laboratory of Great Dezful hospital. Methods and Materials: This was a retrospective cross sectional study and the results were collected from the medical records central laboratory of Great hospital in Dezful. Stool samples of 10326 patients were examined macroscopically for any proglottids or adult worms and using direct smear method for protozoa and ova of helminthes. 5224 (50.6%) patients were male and 5102 (49.4%) were female. 643 (6.2%) out of 10326 patients were infected with protozoa and helminthes. The rate of infection with Giardia lamblia was 3.2%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 2%, Entamoeba coli 0.3%, Trichomonas hominis 0.3%, Blastocystis hominis 0.2%, Hymenolepis nana 0.09%,, Strongyloides stercoralis 0.04%, Enterobius vermicularis 0.04%, Iodamoeba butschelli 0.03% and Taenia saginata 0.03%. In- spite of advancements in hygienic facilities and significant reduction of parasitic infection, some of the parasites that were transferred directly such as G.lamblia, S.stercoralis, E.vermicularis, H.nana and those that were transferred through cow meat such as T.saginata are still prevalent in this region.