Prevalence of some enteric protozoa in humans in Behera Governorate

A total of 300 human stool specimens were collected and an interview using a pre-designed questionnaire was carried out to collect the following data including; sex, age, health status, residence and history of animal contact. Samples were subjected to routine parasitological examination for detection of diagnostic stages of Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique, direct microscopy examination of stool suspension in physiological salt solution and microscopic examination of a direct saline (wet) mount technique. It was recorded that the incidence of C. parvum, G. duodenalis and E. histolytica was 15.3, 12 and 7%, respectively. Sex based incidence revealed that the incidence of previous enteric protozoa was higher in males than in females with statistical non-significant association between these incidences. Also, age based incidence revealed that the highest incidence of C. parvum was observed in the age group (20y - < 40y) (28.4%) followed by the age group (˂ 20 years) (14.6%) while the highest incidence of G. duodenalis was observed in the age group (˃ 60 y) (22.7%) followed by the age group (˂ 20 years) (13.5%) and finally, the highest incidence of E. histolytica was observed in the age group (˃ 60 y) (20.5%) followed by the age group (40y - ˃ 60y) (7%) with statistical significant association between these incidences. In addition, the effects of health status, residence and the type of animal contact were investigated.