title: Blastocystis hominis among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.
abstract: Blastocystis hominis is now getting acceptance as an agent of human intestinal disease. B. hominis in stool samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was evaluated as a possible cause of gastro-intestinal troubles. B. hominis was found in 106 (10.1%) out of 1050 individuals examined from six villages and one city in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate. The highest infection rate was in Manshayt El-Badawy village (25.47%), whereas Talkha City showed the lowest rate (4.73%). Age group 10-20 years had higher infection (13.3%). In twenty-three symptomatic patients, B. hominis represented the only causative parasitic agent. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea (30.4%), abdominal pain (26.1%), flatulence (21.7%). vomiting (13.1%) and fatigue (8.7%). High concentrations of B. hominis were found in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones with statistical significant difference (8.2 cells/100 x field versus 3.8 respectively). The mean number of B. hominis was significantly high in patients complaining of diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Atef M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Shazly
authors.forename: Aida A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Magied
authors.forename: Samar N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: El-Beshbishi
authors.forename: Hala A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Nahas
authors.forename: Mahmoud A H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.forename: Mohamed S M
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Monib
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence