Investigation of Head Lice and Intestinal Parasites in Primary and Secondary School in Sivas.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and head lice in primary school-aged children and to determine a possible relationship between the co-occurrence of ecto-endoparasites. Methods: The study were conducted in three schools in the center of Sivas: Sivas Karsiyaka Primary School, Kilavuz IMKB Primary School, and Karsiyaka 27 June Middle School. The presence of head lice and intestinal parasites was investigated in a total of 563 children aged 6 to 17, with 294 girls and 269 boys. Classroom teachers and students were provided with information about intestinal parasites, head lice, and methods of transmission and prevention, and a questionnaire was administered. During the head lice examination, students were inspected with a comb, and samples with nits were examined under a microscope in the laboratory. Cellophane tape and stool samples obtained from the participants were examined on the same day using the native-lugol, flotation, and trichrome staining methods under a light microscope (x10, x40, x100). Results: Five hundred sixty-three children were evaluated for head lice and 15 (2.6%) were found to be positive. During the examination, only nits were found in 11 students (1.9%), and both adult lice and nymphs were seen in 4 students (0.7%). Head lice were found positive in 2 out of 269 boys (0.7%), while 13 out of 294 girls (4.2%) positive (p<0.05). As a result of stool examination in children, Entamoeba coli was found in 11 (1.95%), Giardia intestinalis in 4 (0.71%), Blastocystis sp. in 14 (2.48%), Enterobius vermicularis in 8 (1.42%) and Taenia spp. in 2 (0.35%). Head lice infestation and Taenia spp. were found to coexist in 2 (0.35%) children. Conclusion: In conclusion, although there has been a noticeable decrease in head lice and intestinal parasites among primary school-aged children in Sivas province, these conditions are still present, as evidenced by previous studies conducted in our region.

Investigation of the Precence of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in Patients Who Undergone Endoscopy and Colonoscopy

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in the samples taken during the procedure from patients who underwent endoscopy and/or colonoscopy with different prediagnoses, and in the stools of the same patients, by ELISA and direct microscopy methods. Methods: A total of 88 patients' endoscopic and colonoscopic pre-washed materials, which consisted of 49 individuals who belong former group and 39 individuals to the next group, were, respectively, obtained, and the stool samples were also included to study from the same group. All the specimens were immediately transferred to the parasitology research laboratory within the same day and stored C until for the next step of ELISA applications. Results: All the samples were examined by direct microscopy and ELISA method. In the examinations performed using the ELISA method; E. histolytica was detected in 2 (2.3%) stool samples, and G. intestinalis was found in 4 (4.5%) stool samples. In the colonoscopic wash/swab samples of the patients who underwent colonoscopy, 6 (6.8%) G. intestinalis, 1 (1.1%) Cryptosporidium spp. detected. No parasites were detected by ELISA in any of the stool samples or endoscopic washing/swab samples of the patients who underwent colonoscopy. No parasites were detected in stool and wash/swab samples by the direct examination method. When the incidence of G. intestinalis in washing/swab samples taken from patients who underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy was statistically compared, the difference was found to be significant (p<0.05). When the incidence of G. intestinalis in the stools of patients who underwent endoscopy was compared, the difference between genders was found to be significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with gastrointestinal complaints and undergoing endoscopy and colonoscopy, investigation of the presence of parasites by stool examination with direct microscopy may be insufficient. In addition to the direct examination of the stool sample, it is thought that the investigation of parasite antigens in the wash/swab materials that can be easily taken during the endoscopy and colonoscopy procedure is necessary and critical in the diagnosis.