title: Intestinal parasitic infections in different groups of immunocompromised patients in Kashan and Qom cities, central Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with immunocompromising conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IPIs in different groups of immunocompromised patients, including hemodialysis patients (HD), renal transplant recipients (RTR), cancer and HIV/AIDS patients in comparison with healthy individuals in two central cities of Iran (Kashan and Qom).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, the stool samples of 135 HD, 50 RTR, 60 cancer patients, 20 HIV/AIDS patients and 120 healthy subjects were tested using direct-smear, formol-ether concentration, Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Agar plate method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall infection rate was 11.7% (31/265) in patient groups and 0% (0/120) in the control group. The frequency of parasites was 25% in HIV/AIDS patients, 11.9% (16/135) in HD, 12.0% (6/50) in RTR and 6.7% (4/60) in cancer patients. Blastocystis hominis (4.2%) and Giardia lamblia (3.0%) were the most prevalent parasites in patient groups. The infection rate was significantly higher in male (17.6%) than female (5.4%) patients (p = .002), but no statistically significant association was observed according to the age and educational levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a high prevalence of IPIs in immunocompromised patients. The results of this study suggest that periodic stool examinations for screening of IPIs should be included as a part of routine medical care in these patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hooshyar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.|c Infectious Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momen-Heravi
authors.affiliation: d Department of Statistics and Public Health, Faculty of Health , Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Gholam Abbas
authors.initials: SGA
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: e Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science , Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Intestinal parasites; cancer; hemodialysis; immunocompromised patients; renal transplant recipients