Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among patients referred to Kashan Reference Laboratory in 2007-2011

Intestinal parasitic infections are still a healthy problem in many developing countries, although intestinal parasitic infection has reduced in recent years, it is still prevalent in many regions of Iran. This study was carried out in order to determine fauna and prevalence of human intestinal parasites in patients referred to Kashan Reference laboratory in 2007-2011. Methods and Materials: Stool samples of patients were examined by Formalin-Ether concentration and direct smear methods, Microscopic results were recorded and analyzed according to demographic data. Totally 6348 persons (53% female and 47% male) were examined which among these 7.6% were infected to at least one parasitic infection. Rate infections to intestinal parasite were: Giardia lamblia 2.7 %, Blastocystis sp 2.5%, Entamoeba coli 1.9%, Iodomoeba butshili 0.2%, Dientamoeba fragilis 0.2%, Chilomastix mesnili 0.2%, Entamoeba histolytic a/E. dispar 0.16%, Entamoeba hartmanni 0.13%, Endolimax nana 0.09%, Trichomonas hominis 0.05%,and Hymenolypis nana 0.02%. The high and low prevalence of infectionwas 10.5% and 3.6% in 40-50 and 1-10 year- old groups respectively. Prevalence rate in male (8.6%) was higher than female (6.7%).One parasite was seen in 93%ofinfected persons and 7% were infected with more than one parasite simultaneously (maximum 4 species). This study showed that intestinal helminthic infection is rare but intestinal protozoa are more prevalent in Kashan region. This finding is in agreement with other studies in central region of Iran. More effort should be done to control or eradicate enteric protozoan infection.