Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo
Volume 59, 2017

Intestinal parasitic infections among expatriate workers in various occupations in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Article) (Open Access)

Dafalla A.I.A. , Almuhairi S.A.S.O. , AlHosani M.H.J. , Mohamed M.Y. , Alkous M.I.A. , AlAzzawi M.A. , Abakar A.D. , Nour B.Y.M. , Hasan H. , Abuodeh R.O. , ElBakri A.*
  • a Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • b Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • c Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • d Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • e Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • f Sharjah Public Health Clinic, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • g University of Gezira, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Department of Parasitology, Wad Medani, Sudan
  • h University of Gezira, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Department of Parasitology, Wad Medani, Sudan
  • i University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • j University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • k University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent throughout many countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite carriers among 21,347 expatriate workers, including food handlers and housemaids attending the public health center laboratory in Sharjah, UAE. Stool sample collection was performed throughout the period between January and December 2013. All samples were examined microscopically. Demographic data were also obtained and analyzed. Intestinal parasites were found in 3.3% (708/21,347) of the studied samples (single and multiple infections). Among positive samples, six hundred and eighty-three samples (96.5%) were positive for a single parasite: Giardia lamblia (257; 36.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (220; 31.1%), respectively, whereas mono-infections with helminths accounted for 206 (29.1%) of the samples. Infection rates with single worms were: Ascaris lumbricoides (84; 11.9%), Hookworm (34; 4.8%), Trichuris trichiura (33; 4.7%), Taenia spp. (27; 3.81%), Strongyloides stercoralis (13; 1.8%), Hymenolepis nana (13; 1.8%), and Enterobius vermicularis (2; 0.28%), respectively. Infections were significantly associated with gender (x2 = 14.18; p = 0.002) with males as the most commonly infected with both groups of intestinal parasites (protozoa and helminths). A strong statistical association was noted correlating the parasite occurrence with certain nationalities (x2= 49.5, p <0.001). Furthermore, the study has also found a strong statistical correlation between parasite occurrence and occupation (x2= 15.60; p = 0.029). Multiple infections were not common (3.5% of the positive samples), although one individual (0.14%) had four helminth species, concurrently. These findings emphasized that food handlers with different pathogenic parasitic organisms may pose a significant health risk to the public. © 2017, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Helminths Sharjah Hygiene Protozoa Intestinal parasites Intestinal parasitic infections expatriates

Index Keywords

parasitology helminth parasitosis United Arab Emirates sex ratio occupational disease human middle aged statistics and numerical data Parasites Occupational Diseases Animals ethnology animal Cross-Sectional Studies parasite Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor prevalence isolation and purification Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult Feces intestine infection Sex Distribution Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic age distribution retrospective study public health food handling
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041717796&doi=10.1590%2fS1678-9946201759082&partnerID=40&md5=2232c0b8da47e1d8f0aa9697413459bb
DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946201759082
ISSN: 00364665
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English