Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study

Matovelle, Cristina (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Tejedor, María Teresa (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Monteagudo, Luis Vicente (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Beltrán, Antonio (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Quílez, Joaquín (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Blastocystis sp. is known to be the most prevalent parasite in fecal samples of humans worldwide. In the present report, a case–control study (1:9.89 (≈10)) was performed, by analyzing data from 3682 patients who attended a public hospital in the northern area of Spain showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was performed in human fecal samples by means of optical microscopy. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was 9.18% (338/3682). Most of the Blastocystis sp.-infected patients tested negative for protozoa and helminths, and were underweight and foreign-born (26.4%), mainly from Africa and Central/South America. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, anorexia, halitosis, plus relative eosinophilia, as well as co-infections with pathogenic bacteria were associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. Both type 2 diabetes and treatment with immunosuppressive medicines at the time of Blastocystis sp. detection were associated with a higher proportion of infected patients. This is the first case–control study of Blastocystis sp. in humans in northern Spain and may contribute to surveillance and intervention strategies by public health authorities.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7090226

Año: 2022

Publicado en: TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 7, 9 (2022), 226
ISSN: 2414-6366

Factor impacto JCR: 2.9 (2022)

Categ. JCR: PARASITOLOGY rank: 12 / 37 = 0.324 (2022) - Q2 - T1
Categ. JCR: TROPICAL MEDICINE rank: 9 / 24 = 0.375 (2022) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: INFECTIOUS DISEASES rank: 67 / 96 = 0.698 (2022) - Q3 - T3

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 4.1 - Immunology and Microbiology (Q3) - Medicine (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.825 - Immunology and Microbiology (miscellaneous) (Q2) - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health (Q2) - Infectious Diseases (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A16-20R

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Parasitología (Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú.)
Área (Departamento): Área Genética (Dpto. Anatom.,Embri.Genét.Ani.)
Área (Departamento): Área Sanidad Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)
Área (Departamento): Área Tecnología de Alimentos (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)