Journal Article Epublish 25 citations
PubMed: 36136637 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7090226
Prevalence and Associated Factors of sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study.
Trop Med Infect Dis 7(9)
Authors: Cristina Matovelle, María Teresa Tejedor, Luis Vicente Monteagudo, Antonio Beltrán, Joaquín Quílez
Affiliations
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Aragon Institute of Health Sciences (IACS), CIBERCV, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- AgriFood Institute of Aragon (IA2), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Service of Microbiology and Parasitology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
- Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Abstract
sp. is known to be the most prevalent parasite in fecal samples of humans worldwide. In the present report, a case-control study (1:9.89 (≈10)) was performed, by analyzing data from 3682 patients who attended a public hospital in the northern area of Spain showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was performed in human fecal samples by means of optical microscopy. The prevalence of sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was 9.18% (338/3682). Most of the sp.-infected patients tested negative for protozoa and helminths, and were underweight and foreign-born (26.4%), mainly from Africa and Central/South America. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, anorexia, halitosis, plus relative eosinophilia, as well as co-infections with pathogenic bacteria were associated with sp. infection. Both type 2 diabetes and treatment with immunosuppressive medicines at the time of sp. detection were associated with a higher proportion of infected patients. This is the first case-control study of sp. in humans in northern Spain and may contribute to surveillance and intervention strategies by public health authorities.
MeSH
Infections, Microscopy, Signs And Symptoms, Pain, Case-Control Studies, Prevalence
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