Geospatial analysis and epidemiological aspects of human infections with <i>Blastocystis hominis</i> in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran

Asfaram, Shabnam; Daryani, Ahmad; Sarvi, Shahabeddin; Pagheh, Abdol Sattar; Hosseini, Seyed Abdollah; Saberi, Reza; Hoseiny, Seyede Mahboobeh; Soosaraei, Masoud; Sharif, Mehdi

doi:2019.41.0.e2019009

Epidemiol Health > Volume 41; 2019 > Article

Original Article

Epidemiology and Health 2019;41: e2019009-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019009 Published online March 28, 2019.

Geospatial analysis and epidemiological aspects of human infections with Blastocystis hominis in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran

Shabnam Asfaram^1,2

, Ahmad Daryani^1,3

, Shahabeddin Sarvi^1,3

, Abdol Sattar Pagheh^1,2

, Seyed Abdollah Hosseini^1,2

, Reza Saberi^1,2

, Seyede Mahboobeh Hoseiny⁴

, Masoud Soosaraei^1,2

, Mehdi Sharif^1,3

¹Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
²Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
³Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran
⁴Geographic Information System Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran

Correspondence Mehdi Sharif ,Email: msharifmahdi@yahoo.com

Received: February 8, 2019 Accepted after revision: March 28, 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Blastocystis hominis is a very common large intestinal protozoan with global prevalence in humans and non-human hosts. No precise statistics exist regarding the geographical distribution of Blastocystis that would enable the identification of high-risk communities. Therefore, the current research aimed to characterize the spatial patterns and demographic factors associated with B. hominis occurrence in northern Iran.
METHODS:
The current study was performed among 4,788 individuals referred to health centers in Mazandaran Province, from whom stool samples were obtained. Socio-demographic data were gathered using a questionnaire. Samples were examined by a direct wet mount, the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, and trichrome staining. Moran local indicators of spatial association and a geographically weighted regression model were utilized to analyze the results.
RESULTS:
Generally, the infection rate of Blastocystis parasites was 5.2%, and was considerably higher in the age group of 10-14 years (10.6%) than in other age groups (p=0.005). Our data showed important associations between the occurrence of B. hominis and age, residence, job, contact with domestic animals, anti-parasitic drug consumption, and elevation above sea level (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
The current study characterized for the first time the infection rate and risk of B. hominis in the north of Iran, and produced a prediction map. It is expected that this map will help policymakers to plan and implement preventive measures in high-risk areas and to manage already-infected patients.

Keywords: Blastocystis hominis, Geographical information system, Epidemiology, Iran