Abstract
Background: Intestinal parasitic infections, particularly in the rural areas, are one of the most important indices of the hygiene status
and sanitation level of the society.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the intestinal parasitic infections among rural inhabitant of Hamadan City,
Iran, 2012.
Patients and Methods: A total of 228 fecal samples were collected from 50 families in seven villages that were directly and indirectly
involved in raising livestock and other domestic animals in spring of 2012. The demographic data were collected by interview and
included age, sex, educational level, place of keeping animals, direct or indirect contact with animals, and occupation. Fecal samples
were concentrated using formol-ether sedimentation technique and examined by iodine-stained wet mount method. Indistinguishable
samples were assessed by trichrome staining method.
Results: Among 228 samples, 80 (35.1%) were diagnosed with parasitic infection, which separately included 43 cases of Entamoeba coli
(18.9%), 32 Blastocystis hominis (14%), 16 Endolimax nana (7%), nine Iodamoeba butschlii (3.9%), five Giardia lamblia (2.2%), two Taenia species
(0.9%), two Hymenolepis nana (0.9%), one Chilomastix mesnili (0.4%), one Trichuris trichiura (0.4%), and one Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.4%).
No significant difference in infection rate was observed with regard to indirect or direct contact with livestock. Coinfection of E. coli and B.
hominis, E. coli and I. butschlii, and E. nana and G. lamblia were statistically significant. Interestingly, no Ascaris lumbricoides ovum was seen
in this population.
Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of some infections with intestinal parasites is high in the
Hamadan City. Considering that most of the parasites are nonpathogenic, pathogenic ones have been reduced generally in comparison to
the previous reports. Nevertheless, the existence of Taenia species and H. nana could not be ignored.