Comparative study on gastrointestinal parasites among different tribes settled in Quetta, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Very little information on parasitic infection exists in Pakistan, particularly in the Province of Balochistan. An attempt has been made on a faecal survey of different ethnic groups settled in Quetta. A total of 4,147 faecal samples were collected, examined and processed through different methods and techniques for the preservation and observation of parasites ova, cysts and trophozoites. The recorded result showed that 57.99% persons suffered from either protozoan or helminthic infections. Three species of pathogenic and four species of non-pathogenic parasites were observed. Among protozoans, the highest incidence was E. coli 3b. 57, followed by G. lamblie 16.29 and E. histolytica 14.01. Helminthic infection was lower than protozoan and the highest incidence was of H. nora 11.16 followed by A. lumbricoides 6.25, E. vermicularis 2.30, T. saginata 1.25, H. diminuta 0.85, A. duodenale 0.20 and T. trichiura 0.16. Mixed infection among protozoan and helminthic was also observed. Blastocystis hominis with the incidence of 2.33, H. diminuta, T. saginata are reported for the first time from this province during the investigation. Incidence of parasitic infection according to tribes was observed. An attempt was also made to consider the role of age, sex, unhealthy environment and other socie-economic conditions or variations obtained among these incidences