Author/Authors :
ASHRAFI, Keyhan Dept. of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , SAADAT, Farshid Dept. of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , O’NEILL, Sandra School of Biotechnology - Faculty of Science and Health - Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland , RAHMATI, Behnaz Dept. of Microbiology - School of Medicine - Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , AMIN TAHMASBI, Hadid Dept. of Microbiology - Faculty of Science - Azad University of Lahijan, Iran , PIUS DALTON, John School of Biological Sciences - Queen's University Belfast - Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, Northern Irland , NADIM, Abolhassan Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Iran , ASADINEZHAD, Mohsen Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics - School of Medicine - Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , REZVANI, Mahmood Dept. of Communicable Diseases Control - Guilan province Health Center, Rasht, Iran
Abstract :
Background: The largest global outbreaks of liver fluke disease (Fascioliasis) in humans, caused by species of the ge-nus Fasciola, have occurred in Guilan Province of Iran, affecting more than 15000 people. Although, different aspects of fascioliasis have been the subject of various researches during last two decades, nevertheless no community-based study has been performed in endemic regions of Guilan. The aim of present study was to obtain the basic information needed to develop future control strategies.
Methods: Fecal and blood samples were collected from 1,984 volunteers in the Bandar-Anzali district, the region where previous epidemics occurred. Fecal samples were examined by Kato-Katz and formalin-ether methods for the presence of Fasciola eggs. Sera samples were analyzed by ELISA to detect anti-cathepsin L antibodies.
Results: Twenty-seven (1.36%) individuals were seropositive, 9 (0.45%) individuals were egg positive (mean egg count 50.7 (±30.36) eggs per gram of faeces) and 30 individuals (1.51%) were positive using both methods. No statistical association was observed between infection and age, gender, location, occupation, educational status and dietary hab-its. The prevalence of intestinal parasites is also included.
Conclusion: Human fascioliasis is hypoendemic in this region and recommends a passive case-finding approach, ef-fective primary prevention measures, health education through mass media and effective veterinary public health measures for control of human disease.
Keywords :
Fasciola hepatica , Human fascioliasis , Epidemiology , Endemicity , Control , Iran
