title: Distribution of Parasites Detected in Stool Samples of Patients Admitted to Our Parasitology Laboratory during a Three-Year Period between 2012 and 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parasitic diseases are among the major public health issues worldwide. A number of tests are available for diagnosis, but the sentivity and specifity of these tests are assumed to be insufficient. Nevertheless, the most common diagnostic method is microscopic examination. In this study, we aimed to introduce the distribution of parasites detected in stool samples of patients admitted to our laboratory on the basis of parameters such as, age, and gender during a 3-year period between 2012 and 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 6757 stool samples were included in the study. After macroscopic examination, wet mounts of all samples were examined under a light microscope using ×100 and ×400 magnification lenses. Wet mounts were prepared with physiological saline and Lugol's iodine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parasites were detected in 3.7% (252) of the samples, while no parasites were detected in 96.3% (6505) of the samples. The distribution of intestinal parasites was as follows: Blastocystis hominis (63.5%), Giardia intestinalis (26.2%), Taenia sp. (4.8%), Enterobius vermicularis (2.4%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.6%), and Hymenolepis nana (1.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the burden of intestinal parasites on public health is considered, they are still a major health issue in Turkey. The frequency of parasitic diseases can be reduced by the education of individuals and implementation of effective diagnostic methods, treatments, and preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Haydarpaşa Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Medikal Mikrobiyoloji Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye. mbselek@gata.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Mehmet Burak
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Selek
authors.forename: Bayhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bektöre
authors.forename: Ergenekon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baylan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özyurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016845:Blastocystis hominis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D004757:Enterobius; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia; D006801:Humans; D048189:Hymenolepis nana; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult