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Molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis spp. in children referred to Qods hospital in northwest of Iran

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Abstract

Blastocystis sp. is a polymorphic intestinal parasite in humans and animals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution, especially in developing countries with poor sanitation, exposure to animals, and improper disposal systems. The aim of this study was to identify the subtypes of Blastocystis sp. among children of Qazvin, northwest Iran. Totally, 864 stool samples were collected from the children referred to Qods hospital in Qazvin, Iran. Fecal specimens were investigated by formalin-ethyl acetate concentration method and trichrome staining as well as cultivation of all samples in clotted fetal bovine medium. DNA extraction of culture-positive specimens and PCR amplification of 18S ribosomal RNA gene region was performed. The sequences detected were compared with reference genes in the GenBank, and the sequences further deposited in the GenBank database. Data analysis was performed by Chi square test while a p value of < 0.05 was considered as significant. Of 864 isolates, 4.1% (36/864) were positive for Blastocystis sp. with infection rate insignificantly higher among the females than males. The highest infection rate was estimated at 6.8% in 6–9 years old age group with abdominal pain as the most common (33%) gastrointestinal sign. No statistically significant difference was found between the variables and Blastocystis infection. Molecular analysis clarified the presence of three subtypes of Blastocystis including ST1 (56%), ST2 (28%), and ST3 (16%) of among specimens with ST1 as the predominant subtype. A significant association between intestinal signs and the subtypes was not found. Considering ST1 as the predominant subtype, it seems that zoonotic transmission is a main route of human infections with Blastocystis sp. in the area studied.

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Acknowledgements

This study was part of an M.Sc. thesis in Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. The project was financially supported by the Deputy for research and technology of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 118).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, 34197-59811, Iran

    Soheila Rahimi Niaraki, Elham Hajialilo, Asma Delshad, Peyman Heydarian & Mehrzad Saraei

  2. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Soheila Rahimi Niaraki & Asma Delshad

  3. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Elham Hajialilo, Peyman Heydarian & Mehrzad Saraei

  4. Department of Microbiology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Safar Ali Alizadeh

  5. Department of Social Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Mahmood Alipour

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  1. Soheila Rahimi Niaraki
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  2. Elham Hajialilo
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Correspondence to Mehrzad Saraei.

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Niaraki, S.R., Hajialilo, E., Delshad, A. et al. Molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis spp. in children referred to Qods hospital in northwest of Iran. J Parasit Dis 44, 151–158 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-019-01177-5

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