AN ANALYSIS OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFESTATION IN DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infestation is a common condition indeveloping as well as developed countries. According to
WHO Global Burden of Disease 2004 report,
approximately 150.9 million of world population has
high intensity infection by intestinal nematode while
37.7 million people alone from south East Asia are
infected.1 Among developing countries like Pakistan,
intestinal parasitic infestation is mainly an ailment of
children due to poor personal hygiene. Adults, however,
acquire the illness due to social and socioeconomic
reasons compounded by the lack of elementary
education about common human parasitic diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A descriptive non-interventional study was carried out
in the Department of Pathology, Combined Military
Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan from 1st June 2007
till 31st May 2008. The objectives of the study were to
determine the prevalence and spectrum of intestinal
parasitic infestation among the population of District
Dera Ismail Khan. Subjects of all age and either gender
were included in the study that was referred by the
physicians for screening of intestinal parasites. Children
were defined as individuals less than 12 years of age.
Those on anti-parasitic medication were excluded from
the study. A total of 1713 non-duplicate subjects were
included during this period. The results were analysed
using SPSS-10.
All the stool specimens were processed within
15 minutes of submission to the lab. The fresh stool
samples from these subjects were examined by saline
preparation for identification of trophozoite forms and
worms. Ova and cysts of parasites in the stool were
identified by Formal ether concentration technique. The
vegetative and cyst forms of parasites along with the
ova were first screened by the lab technician and later
confirmed by the microbiologist.
RESULTS
Out of total 1713 stool samples processed during the
study period, a total of 356 samples were positive for
intestinal parasites. None of the subject had two or more
than two parasitic infestation. Taenia saginata was the
most frequently observed parasite with 270 positive
samples (15.76%). Giardia lamblia (both vegetative and
cyst forms) was the second most common parasite with
53 positive samples (3.09%). H. nana, Ancylostoma
duodenale, and Entamoeba histolytica (vegetative form
only) were the rest of the parasites identified with
descending frequencies of 23, 5 and 3 positive samples
respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides was the least
frequently observed parasite with only 2 stool samples
showing the ova of the said parasite. The results are
shown in Table-1.
Table-1: Spectrum and percentage of parasites
isolated
Parasite SPP Total Male Female Children %
Taenia saginata 270 208 35 27 15.76
Giardia lamblia 53 36 5 12 3.09
H. nana 23 19 3 1 1.34
A. duodenale 5 3 2 - 0.29
E. histolytica 3 3 - - 0.17
Ascaris lumbricoides 2 2 - - 0.11
Total 356 271 45 40 20.78
Mainly male subjects had intestinal parasitic
infestation (n=271) compared to females (n=45). The
result was statistically significant (p<0.005) despite the
fact that the total number of specimens submitted to the
lab were almost comparable in number for both male
and female subjects.
References
WHO. The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update. Geneva:
World Health Organization; 2008.
Hussain SM, Raza MI, Naeem S. Prevalence of intestinal
parasites in Northern Areas of Pakistan (Baltistan Division
Skardu). Biomedica 1997;13(2):60-4.
Malik TM, Baig ZF. Frequency and pattern of intestinal
parasitic infestation in upper Neelum valley. Pak Armed
Forces Med J 2006;56:342-6.
Khan A, Sultana A, Dar AMK, Rashid H, Najmi SAA. A
study of prevalence, distribution and risk factors of intestinal
helminthic infestation in district Bagh (Azad Kashmir). Pak
Armed Force Med J 2004;54:243-8.
Tanwani AK, Qazi SA, Hashimoto K, Khan MA. Intestinal
parasites in stool samples from children at the Children's
Hospital Laboratory, Islamabad. Pak Paed J 1995;19(2):61-4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. Taeniasis
[online]. Last Modified: 12 May 2008 (Accessed on 9 Jan
. Available at: http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/
Taeniasis.htm
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