Study of intestinal protozoan in immunocompormised elderly patients in health care centers of Rasht city (2017)

Intestinal parasitic infections are important threats of immunocompromised patients, especially elderly persons under chemotherapy or those on hemodialysis. Given the presence of patients and ecologic conditions for regeneration and growth of intestinal parasites, the present research aimed at identifying intestinal parasites in these groups of patients, compared with the control group

In this descriptive cross sectional study, 290 stool samples were collected (80 samples from hemodialysis patients, 80 samples from chemotherapy patients and 130 samples from the control group) from March to September 2017. Samples were tested by direct, formalin-ether methods for protozoa and ova of intestinal parasites and Ziehl-Neelsen staining methods for Cryptosporidsium.

The overall parasitic infection rate was 6.5% (19/29). The infection rate in hemodialysis was 10%, chemotherapy 8.7%  and 3% in control groups. The infectivity rates between groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The most prevalent parasites were Blastocystis hominis (3.7%), E.coli (1%), Enolimax nana (0.64%), Idomba butchili (0.64%) and Giardia lambelia (0.34%). Statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between parasitic infections and gastrointestinal symptoms and accommodation (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant association was observed according to age and education levels.

Although most of observed protozoan in present study were not pathogenic, but intestinal pathogenic protozoan are transmitted through the oral – fecal route like non-pathogenic parasites thus, infection with other parasite types is also possible in the future. Therefore periodic stool examinations in special parasitological laboratories should be included as part of routine medical care.