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The prevalence of intestinal parasites in the province of Izmir, Turkey

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Abstract

Stool samples of a total of 2,047 people in Izmir province were examined by wet mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and trichrome staining methods with an aim to reveal the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Izmir together with related personal and environmental risk factors. Geographical mapping showing the density and variation of the species of intestinal parasites in Izmir was done after all maps were scaled, and the coordinates were determined with GeoMedia5.0®. The prevalence of the intestinal parasites was found to be 25.6 % in Izmir, with a variation between the districts. Blastocystis hominis was the leading parasite, and the prevalence of parasites was higher in children compared to adults; however, the difference was statistically insignificant. There was also no significant difference between the parasite prevalence and sex, marital status, education, income, frequent eating outside, and habitual raw meat eating. Significant differences were found between the parasite prevalence and crowded families, early immigrants, individuals with no social security, and people living in close contact with their livestock. The parasites were found to be less common among individuals who had been drinking bottled water and living in a house with a sewage system. The results demonstrated a correlation between the intestinal parasites and environmental conditions in our study group. We further plan to expand the study group to cover all regions of Turkey.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Research Fund Accountancy of Ege University (Reg: 04 TIP 018) and presented in the 5th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, between May 24–28, 2007 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The experiments performed in the study comply with the current laws of Turkey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    Hande Dagci, Naser Reza Azizi, Cengiz Yurdagül & Mucide Ak

  2. Department of Parasitology, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey

    Özgür Kurt

  3. International Pediatrics Hospital, Ministry of Health Moris Sinasi, Manisa, Turkey

    Mete Demirel

  4. Vocational School of Health Services, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

    Ipek Östan

  5. Department of Public Health, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    Aliye Mandiracioglu

  6. Department of Microbiology, Gulhane Military School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Tanyüksel

  7. Department of Soil Science, Ege University School of Agriculture, Izmir, Turkey

    Ece Eroglu

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  1. Hande Dagci
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Correspondence to Hande Dagci.

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Dagci, H., Kurt, Ö., Demirel, M. et al. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in the province of Izmir, Turkey. Parasitol Res 103, 839–845 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1065-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1065-6

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