Blastocystis spp.: frequency and subtype distribution in iron deficiency anemic versus non-anemic subjects from Egypt.
Many helminthic and protozoal infections have been implicated in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) but few reports have suggested a link between Blastocystis sp. infection and IDA. Herein, we investigated the frequency and the association of the Blastocystis sp. genotype with IDA. Two-hundred and six stool samples were examined for Blastocystis sp. Samples were obtained from 96 cases with a confirmed diagnosis of IDA and 110 matched non-anemic controls. The prevalence of the parasite was significantly higher in the IDA group (54.2%) when compared to controls (17.3%) and was 34.5% in all study subjects. Thus, a relationship between Blastocystis sp. infection and IDA was confirmed. PCR amplification of isolates from cases with IDA and controls using subtype-specific sequenced-tagged site primers found that subtype 3 was the most common (83.3%), followed by subtype 1 (16.7%), and both had similar prevalence in both groups. Therefore, there was no correlation found between the Blastocystis sp. genotype and the occurrence of IDA.
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. kamal_hala@hotmail.com
Hala K
HK
El Deeb
Seham
S
Khodeer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000469:parasitology*; D016844:Blastocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult