Intestinal parassitosis in Reggio Emilia during 2007: critical analysis of results

• Main Authors: Carlotta Guidetti, Carlo Capatti, Lidia Ricci, Luigi Vecchia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2009-06-01
• Series: Microbiologia Medica
• Subjects: parassitosi intestinali, protozoi, elminti, immigrati
• Online Access: http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/mm/article/view/2541

In 2007 were analyzed in 2032 samples from 1970 subjects: coprparassitologiacal standard examination was performed in 1916 of the subjects and scotch-test in the remaining 54. Of the 1970 subjects examined, 81, equivalent to 4.1%, resulted positive for one or more parasites (both pathogens and / or of questionable pathogenicity). Pathogenic parasites were found in 38 subjects, equivalent to 46.9% of the total positive: in 20 cases (24.7%) cysts of Giardia intestinalis were found in 7 cases (8.6%) it was Enterobius vermicularis, in another 5 (6.2%) there was Hymenolepis nana, in 2 (2.4%) Trichuris trichiura, in 1 (1.2%) Ancylostoma / necator, in 1 (1.2%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum, in 1 (1.2%) Dipylidium caninum, and in 1 (1.2%) Ascaris lumbricoides. Protozoa of doubtful pathogenicity, either alone or in combination with pathogens,were found in 54 subjects: Blastocystis hominis in 30 cases (36.9%), Entamoeba coli in 15 (18.8%), Endolimax nana in 10 (12.3%), Entamoeba histlytica dispar in 4 (4.9%), Iodamoeba butschlii in 1 (1.2%), Entamoeba hartmanni in 1 (1.2%).These data represent only a first frame of the possible scope of the phenomenon, both in terms of diagnostic possibilities and in terms of real etiological significance in order to qualify the diagnosis, and to ensure careful monitoring of the phenomenon.We also wanted to evaluate retrospectively the existing diagnostic potential before embarking on some organizational and procedural changes in the field of diagnostic parasitology.