Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Inhabitants and Tribes of Chelgerd,

Introduction: Although a notable development in treating and controlling of parasitic infections in recent years has occurred but, these infections are still counted as important problems in many countries. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the inhabitant and tribe populations who were referred to central health care of Chelgerd, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from April 2008 to October 2009 in Chelgerd, Iran. A total of 655 samples of feces from inhabitants and tribes were collected and each sample was examined by Direct smear, formolethyl acetate concentration and Trichorom staining. results: Out of 655 stool samples, 367(56%) patients revealed at least one intestinal parasite (pathogenic /non-pathogenic protozoa/ helminth), 233(67.7%) in tribes and 134(43%) in inhabitants. There was significant difference between infected inhabitants and infected tribes (p=0.001). Although the intestinal parasitic infections were more in female than male it was not statistically significant (p=0.52). There was no significant difference in various age groups. Common intestinal parasitic infections which were detected in both the populations were Giardia intestinalis (28.2%) and Blastocystis hominis (27.5%). conclusions: We found that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was higher in the tribe than inhabitant populations. Prevalence of intestinal protozoa infections was much higher than the helminthic infections. These findings reflect poor sanitary conditions in this region. They should be educated and provided better facilities to get rid of intestinal parasitic infections. Nader PeStehChiaN1, MahNaz Nazari2, ali haghighi3, MaNSour Salehi4, hoSeiNali YoSefi5 ̧ NaSer KhoSravi6 of study was carried out upon the inhabitant and tribe populations with various complaints of gastrointestinal disorders from April 2008 to October 2009 in Chelgerd, Iran. This area is surrounded by the Zagros Mountains. Temperature in spring and summer is temperate and in winter is very cold (0oC-20oC). In spring, tribe societies migrate from Khuzestan province (south of Iran) to Chelgerd city (southwest of Iran). The people who live in this region are generally engaged in animal husbandry and agriculture. A total of 655 stool samples were studied from April 2008 to October 2009. Stool samples from 311 inhabitants and 344 tribes, who visited Chelgerd central health care, Iran were collected and examined by three parasitological methods in Chelgerd laboratory. This study was approved by Medical School Council of Isfahan University of medical sciences. StatiStiCal AnAlysIs The data were analysed by SPSS software through descriptive statistics, frequency tables, and chi-square test. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. collection of stool samples Six hundred and fifty five fecal samples were randomly collected in three days. Inclusion criteria in this study were patients with abdominal pain, fever, tenesmus, diarrhea and dysentery . Some of them had only one symptom and some others had more than one symptom. An informed consent form was signed by participants (in cases under 18-year-old, it was signed by their parents). In order to get more information about intestinal parasitic infections, they were asked to fill out a questionnaire form about age, life style, locality (tribes, inhabitant) and gender. The stool samples which were contaminated with urine or soil were excluded from the study.