Dientamoeba fragilis Infection in Patients with Digestive and Non-Digestive Symptoms: A Case-Control Study
10.3347/kjp.2020.58.2.129
- Author:
Yousry A. HAWASH
1
;
Khadiga A. ISMAIL
;
Taisir SABER
;
Emad M. EED
;
Amany S. KHALIFA
;
Khalaf F. ALSHARIF
;
Saleh A. ALGHAMDI
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Saudi Arabia
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2020;58(2):129-134
- CountryRepublic of Korea
-
Abstract:
In most developing countries, Dientamoeba fragilis infection is an obscure protozoan infection. We aimed to determine a frequency and clinical importance of D. fragilis infection in Taif, Saudi Arabia. A 1-year case control study included patients with gastrointestinal (cases, n=114) or non-gastrointestinal symptoms (controls, n=90). The fecal samples were examined with the classical parasitological methods for intestinal protozoa, and by real time PCR for D. fragilis. The infection by D. fragilis was detected in 5.8% by PCR and in 4.4% patients by microscopy. The infection was identified more in control group (n=9) than in cases (n=3); a sole infection in 11 patients and mixed with Giardia in 1 patient. The other enteric parasites detected were Blastocystis sp. (8.3%), Giardia sp. (5.3%), Cryptosporidium sp. (2.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.4%), Entamoeba coli (0.9%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.4%). Our results tend to reinforce the need to increase awareness of D. fragilis infection in Saudi Arabia.
