ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim: To detect the infection rate of Blastocystis hominis in children less than 10 years old with diarrhea in Diyalaby polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, to determine the subtype of Blastocystis hominis by sequencing the product of the positive result, and to determine the association between Blastocystis hominis infection and different factors such as gender, age, the level of mother education and the presence or absence animals in their houses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children with diarrhea at Al-Batool Teaching Hospital in Diyala governorate, during the period from November 2020 to April 2021, a total of 100 children 55 males and 45 females, then, stool samples were collected and examined by conventional polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Results: The rate of infection with the parasite Blastocystis hominis was 8%, 8 out of 100. The infection was higher among females 62.5% than to males 37.5%, while the positive result was higher in the age group less than two years 75%, the highest percentage occur with patient whose mothers were incomplete primary and primary education was reached 37.5% and 25%; respectively and the study showed the highest percentage was with those who kept animals at homes was 75%. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: According to the genetic analysis of the sequence of eight samples that were positive for Blastocystis hominis parasite using the conventional polymerase chain reaction and they were back to the subtypes 3.