Dientamoeba fragilis in Gaza Strip: a Neglected Protozoan Para¬site

The aim of this study was to detect Dientamoeba fragilis by iron haematoxylin stain, as well as its prevalence, and association between D. fragilis infection and diarrhoea among pa­tients attending Al-Nuseirate Refugee Camp Clinic, Gaza Strip. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 children and adults with age ranges from (1 to 75) years old, attending Al-Nussirat Clinic, and who were complaining from clinical symp­toms, like diarrhoea and abdominal pain. 28 individuals were infected with D. fragilis with a prevalence of 8.8%. The detection of 28 cases infected with D. fragilis was proved using iron haematoxylin stain, but no case was detected by direct smear or formal-ether sedimentation technique. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (96.4%) and diarrhoea (71.4%) in patients with diantamoebiasis and this was statistically signifi­cant (P= 0.03). Co-infection between D. fragilis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was 50% and between D. fragilis and Giardia lamblia was 7.1%. D. fragilis was present in the patients stool samples and was detected and proved using iron haematoxylin stain.