International Journal of
Medicine and Medical Sciences

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Med. Med. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9723
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJMMS
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 535

Full Length Research Paper

Asymptomatic intestinal protozoan infections among inhabitants in Mexico City, Mexico

Takeshi Yoda
  • Takeshi Yoda
  • Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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Takeshi Suzue
  • Takeshi Suzue
  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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Tomohiro Hirao
  • Tomohiro Hirao
  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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Akira Yoshioka
  • Akira Yoshioka
  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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Jarot Jazek Escobar Jimenes
  • Jarot Jazek Escobar Jimenes
  • Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Tetsuo Yanagi
  • Tetsuo Yanagi
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
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Kazuo Minematsu
  • Kazuo Minematsu
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
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Kensuke Goto
  • Kensuke Goto
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
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Jephtha Christopher Nmor
  • Jephtha Christopher Nmor
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
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Hiroshi Tachibana
  • Hiroshi Tachibana
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan.
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Yasuyuki Rakue
  • Yasuyuki Rakue
  • School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Noriko Sakano
  • Noriko Sakano
  • Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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Nobuyuki Miyatake
  • Nobuyuki Miyatake
  • Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University Miki, Kagawa, Japan.
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  •  Accepted: 12 July 2011
  •  Published: 30 July 2011

Abstract

 

Intestinal protozoan is still an important public health problem. We aimed to gain insight into the dynamics of intestinal protozoan infection with a view to describing the prevalence of intestinal protozoan in asymptomatic individuals in Mexico City, Mexico. The study population was primarily both in and out patients from four different hospitals who were referred for routine stool examination.  Faecal specimens (510) were collected over a 3-weeks period from asymptomatic individuals. Specimens were tested for a range of protozoan infection using microscopic and partly Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Seven known intestinal protozoan were identified from 54 faecal specimens, a total carriage rate of 10.6%. Blastocystis hominiswere present in 22 specimens (4.31%), Entamoeba coli in 18(3.53%), Entamoeba disper in 8(1.57%), Entamoeba hartomanni in 2(0.39%), Giargia lambia in 2(0.39%),Iodoamoeba in 2(0.39%), and   Endolimax nana in 1(0.2%). 10(2%) person were infected with two or more protozoa concurrently. These protozoa were all non-pathogenic, but are capable of discharging their cysts thus placing these asymptomatic carriers as potential distributors of intestinal protozoan infection. Considering the public health implication of asymptomatic carriers of intestinal protozoan infection, establishment of sustainable and regular de-worming programme in Mexico City coupled with health education messages on good hygienic practices are strongly recommend.

 

Key words: Blastocystis hominis, Mexico, Entamoeba, protozoan fecal.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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