Digestive parasites in Sfax [south of Tunisia]: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

It's a retrospective study dealing with 30573 stool exams and 5844 scotch tape tests done in the parasitology-mycology laboratory of Sfax hospital [Tunisia] during 1997 to 2006. 26.6% of stool exams were positive. Third of parasitized patients were children. Protozoa were found in 96.5% Flagellae [54.3%] dominated by Dientamaeba fragilis [30.3%] and Giardia lamblia [17%]; Amoeba [41 .9%] with E histolytica/E dispar in 2.2% of cases. Cryptosporidium parvum was found in 17 cases; Microsporidium sp in 2 HIV positive and Isospora belli in one case. Helminths found in 3.5% were represented by Enterobius vermicularis [49%], Hymenolepis nana [31.4%], Strongyloides stercoralis [0.3%], Taenia saginata [0.3%] and Ankylostoma duodenale [one case]. The social movements occurring in Sfax characterized by rural migration and installation of young persons working in the market gardening could maintain the parasitism frequency