A total of 1700 male food handlers, above 20 years of age who came
for health clearance certificate were the subjects of the present study. Health
assessment questionnaire was filled out on each person including dietry
habits, water supply, history of diarrhoea! disease. Clinical examination and
stool samples collection in 3 alternative days were performed. The food
handlers were divided into symptomatic (700) and saymptomatic (1000).
Different concentration methods as well as test tube culture for Strongy/oides
larvae were done. Samples were preserved in PVA, trichrome stained slides
were examined for protozoal parasites. Nineteen percent had intestinal
parasites, G. lantblia, E. histolytica, A.. lumbricoides, S. mansoni, A.
duodenale, T. trichura, H. nana, St stercoralis, FL vernzicularis and mixed
infection & non-pathogenic; E. coli, L Butschlii, C. niesnilli, E. nana, T.
hominis and mixed infection. Blastocystis hotninis was recovered from stools
of 8.5% of symptomatic and 4% of asymptomatic. 2.4% symptomatic and 2%
asymptomatic had B. hontinis significant infection. B. hotninis was
considered significant if > 5 organisms per HPF was counted. Significant
- 471 -
infection was higher among symptomatic than asymptomatic persons with
detectable faecal leucocytes especially eosinophils. The authors
recommended that physicians as well as diagnostic parasitologists should be
aware of the potential clinical significance of B. hominis especially, when
present alone in significant number, otherwise positive cases must be
considered as carriers and followed up for any ill effects |
