Geoparasites in rural Dakahlia Governorate, apreliminary based study for development of the community-based intervention programs

ABSTRACT

A prospective study was carried out to detect the rural prevalence and intensity of geoparasites in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. A total of 1070 soil samples were collected; 571 [53.4%] were infected with one or more parasites. Only 24% of samples were infected with one parasite, 16.4% and 13% with two, and more than two parasites respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The geoparasites in a descending order of their prevalence were E. histolytica cysts [9.2%], Toxocara eggs [9.1%], Giardia cysts [7.9%], Cryptosporidium oocysts [6.1%], Trichostrongvius eggs and larvae [5.6%], isospora oocysts [4.3%], Acanthamoeba cysts [4.1%], Naegleria cysts [3.6%], Dust mites [2.7%], H. diminuta eggs [2.7%], Strongyloides free living adults, rhabditiform and filariform larvae [2.3%], H. nana eggs [1.7%], S. mansoni eggs [1.2%], Ascaris eggs [0.6%], Ancylostoma larvae [0.5%], Taenia eggs [0.4%], Trichocephalus eggs [0.4%] and F. gigantica eggs [0.2%]. The prevalence of parasitic infections was significantly higher [P < 0.001] in fields [63.4%] than streets [47.7%] and indoor-yards samples [35.3%]. The intensity of infections was significantly higher [p< 0.001] in streets than fields and indoor-yards [18.1, 9.7 and 1 parasite / 10gm of soil respectively]