ABSTRACT
Students who are working in research or educational laboratories of parasitology, as well as health care workers providing care for patients, are at the risk of becoming infected with parasites through accidental exposure. The main purpose of this study was to identify potential positive cases of intestinal parasitic infections among students who took practical parasitology courses compared with students who did not take any practical parasitology courses in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran, in 2013-2014. A total of 310 subjects from various majors were invited to voluntarily participate in the study. Various demographic data were collected using questionnaires. Three stool samples were collected from each individual on alternate days. Saline wet mounts [SWM], formalin-ether sedimentation test [FEST], Sheather floatation test [SHFT] and trichrome and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining methods were used to diagnose the presence of intestinal parasites. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites [IPs] among the students was 11.93%. There was a significant difference between majors in the infection with IPs [P < 0.05]. The most frequently observed IPs were Blastocystis hominis [4.51%] and Giardia intestinalis [3.54%]. The results of this study showed that the transmission of pathogenic parasites in the educational course of practical parasitology could occur and must be taken into careful consideration
ABSTRACT
Immunodeficiency virus [HIV] may lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] in human. Parasites are one of the most important causes of infectious diseases in patients with AIDS. The prevalence of these parasites varies based on the condition of host's immune system and the stage of disease [HIV/AIDS]. To compare the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal parasites a cross-sectional study was carried out on 306 HIV positive and AIDS patients in Khorramabad city. After selecting the samples by census and availability sampling methods, planned questionnaires were completed and three stool samples were collected from patients. Then direct smear, formalin-ether concentration techniques and modified acid fast [Kinione] and modified trichorome staining methods were carried out on all samples during 2006-2007. Moreover the relationship between different variables and infection by intestinal parasites were examined. For description and statistical analysis t-test and Chi-square test were used. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV-positive and AIDS patients was 19.6% and 50% respectively. There was a significant relationship between HIV /AIDS and species of intestinal parasites [P< 0.001]. Higher prevalence of intestinal parasites in patients with AIDS compared to HIV-positive individuals indicates higher immune system deficiency and more susceptibility to intestinal parasitic infections [specially opportunistic parasites] and reflects the necessity of prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment programs for these patients