Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica among schoolchildren in Dilla town, Gedeo zone, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: To measure the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) infections and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Dilla town, Gedeo zone Ethiopia. METHODS: A total of 501 schoolchildren were recruited by random sampling. Microscopically positive samples for E. histolytica cysts were further characterized using the E. histolytica II antigen detection kit. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze associations between E. histolytica infections, age, sex and study setting. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of E. histolytica was 13.17%. Hand washing before eating, hand washing after defecation, mother's occupation, and awareness about amebiasis were the factors associated with parasite prevalence. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of E. histolytica in the study population was high. Health promotion campaigns to create awareness about health and hygiene are clearly needed.

Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infections among elementary school children and associated risk factors from Southern Ethiopia.

Intestinal parasitic infections are distributed virtually throughout the world, with high prevalence rates in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world as well as in Ethiopia. Children between age groups of 5-10 years are at the highest risk of infection. The intestinal nematode Ascaris lumbricoides infects approximately 25% of the world's population annually. Hence, this study was the first attempt to assess the prevalence and associated factors of A. lumbricoides infection among the school children from Offa district, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April, 2020 in three selected elementary school. Data were collected through questionnaires and stool samples examination. The overall prevalence of A. lumbricoides was noted as 41.4% and was the leading cause of intestinal parasitoids followed by Schistosoma mansoni (27.6%), Trichuris trichiura (18.1%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (4.1%). Children age group between 5 and 10 years found more susceptible to the infection. Eating habits like unwashed raw vegetables (P = 0.035), absence of toilets (P = 0.000), children who defecate in open field (P = 0.041), drinking unprotected water (P = 0.034), toilet without cover (P = 0.027), lack of hand washing before meal and after defecation (P = 0.000), (P = 0.048) were the key factors significantly associated with A. lumbricoides infection. The present study showed that A. lumbricoides was a major health problem among school children and requires annual de-worming to control morbidity associated with intestinal parasites.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of Entamoeba histolytica infection among school children from three primary schools in Arsi Town, West Zone, Ethiopia.

Entamoeba histolytica is one of the major pathogenic intestinal parasites and is amongst the leading causes of diarrheal illness in children. Around 500 million people are infected worldwide, while 75,000 die of the disease annually. E. histolytica is associated with moderate to severe diarrhoea and increased mortality among children in African countries and negatively affects child growth and development. Malnutrition is also an important contributor to the prevalence of E. histolytica in Ethiopia. It is mostly associated with poor hygiene, poverty, illiteracy, lack of access to potable water, and a hot, humid tropical climate. Thus, the present investigation was aimed to assess the prevalence rate and associated factors of E. histolytica among schoolchildren in Arsi Town, West Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1st to May 1st, 2020. A total number of 334 students were selected from three governmental elementary schools in the west zone using a systematic sampling method. A structured questionnaire was adopted to identify environmental, socio-demographic, and behavioral factors. Microscopically positive samples for E. histolytica cysts were further characterised using an E. histolytica II antigen detection kit. The statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS software. A univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of E. histolytica was 19.8%. Hand washing habits before eating [AOR = 0.32; 95% CI (0.12, 0.84)], hand washing habits after defecation [AOR = 0.396; 95% CI (0.165, 0.946)], and ameba awareness [AOR = 0.35; 95% CI (0.142, 0.889)] were factors associated with parasite prevalence. The findings of this study could assist the government in targeting infected areas, improving sanitation to prevent E. histolytica transmission, and implementing effective control measures in these rural communities, particularly among youngsters, who represent the nation's future.

Screening for opportunistic intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients, attending the services of medical care in three different hospitals, Southern Ethiopia

Background and study aim: Diagnostic examination of stools for opportunistic intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients is given less attention than it should be. The suspected opportunistic intestinal parasites such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayentanensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Isospora belli and the symptom of explosive watery diarrhea they cause as well as others including Strongyloides stercoralis are the threat against the well-being of HIV/AIDS patients. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the indispensable necessity to free HIV/AIDS patients (who are under medical care in 3 different hospitals, Southern Ethiopia), from opportunistic intestinal parasites using diagnostic examination of stools followed by prompt curative treatment during every safety time interval. Patients and methods: Fresh stools samples from a total sample size of 710 HIV/AIDS patients were taken and examined in the parasitology laboratory, Dilla University, for the suspected intestinal opportunistic parasites. The methods employed to identify the intestinal parasites included observations in : wet mount, formalin-ether concentration technique, and permanent slide preparation as well as Baermann apparatus method for Strongyloides stercoralis. Result: Out of 710 HIV/AIDS patients examined 196 were found to be positive for 6 different species of the suspected intestinal parasites (infection rate of these parasites in the population of HIV/AIDS patients of the 3 different hospitals being The six species of parasites isolated from fresh stools samples were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Entameba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Balantidium coli, and Trichuris trichiura. Conclusion: Reasonably planned successive safety time intervals must be attended continuously by HIV/AIDS patients without interruption to utilize the services of medical care in order to avoid/ neutralize the potential opportunistic infections and reinfections; otherwise, the fulminant death can turn to be true. The safety and well-being of those HIV-infected patients who attend all the medical services & advices provided by clinical experts is not different from that of HIV-noninfected individuals without any trace of exaggeration