A survey of intestinal parasites in a population in Qazvin, north of Iran

To study the distribution of intestinal parasites in a population in Qazvin city in north of Iran. A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with suspicious intestinal parasitic infections referred to the Zakaria Razi Laboratory in Qazvin, north of Iran, was conducted from April 21, 2009 to October 20, 2012. A total of 5 739 stool specimens from 4 053 (70.6%) males and 1 686 (29.3%) females were examined for intestinal parasites using direct wet mounting, formol-ether concentration and modified acid-fast staining techniques. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasite was 5.8% (3.7% in males and 2.1% in females). The distribution of intestinal parasites detected in stool specimens was as follows: 116 (2.0%) Entamoeba coli, 110 (1.9%) Giardia lamblia, 49 (0.85%) Blastocystis hominis, 30 (0.5%) Enodolimax nana, 12 (0.2%) Iodamoeba butschlii, 2 (0.03%) Trichomonas hominis, 9 (0.1%) Hymenolepis nana, 1 (0.01%) Strongyloides stercoralis, 1 (0.01%) Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and 1 (0.01%) Trichuris trichura. Parasites detected in cellophane tape specimens included 5 (0.08%) Enterobius vermicularis. In this regard, findings of this study can be used as a basis to develop strategies and preventive programs for targeting groups at greater risk of intestinal parasitic infections.