Frequency of Intestinal Parasites among Immunosuppressed Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran

Intestinal parasites are important pathogens can cause mortality and morbidity among immunosuppressed patients and human immunodeficiency virus infection. There are few reports on the prevalence of intestinal parasites among cancer patients in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Khuzestan province ,Iran. In this cross sectional study, 200 cancer patients from different cities of Khuzestan province were referred to radiotherapy center of Golestan and Shafa Hospital in Ahvaz city from March 2013 to April 2014. A single stool sample was collected from each patient and were examined with direct smear observation using working Iodine, Normal saline and Sheather method using saturated sucrose. The correlation of the prevalence of the parasites with other categorical factors were analyzed with Chisquare test (χ2) and independent sample test. The overall frequency of intestinal parasites was 18.5% . Blastocystis huminis with 6% was the most prevalent parasites followed by Giardia lamblia, C.parvum, Isospora belli and strongyloides stercoralis with 3.5%, 3%, 0.5% and 0.5%, respectively. In 5% of subjects co-existence of Giardia with B.huminis and cryptosporidium were detected. 39 (19.5%) cases had diarrhea and intestinal parasites were significantly more common among patients with diarrhea (P< 0.05). There was significantly difference among patients having parasite with type of cancer (P= 0.008). Gastrointestinal cancer patients had higher frequency (24%). The results of this study highlight the importance of testing for intestinal parasites among cancer patients, especially those with diarrhea that need rapid diagnosis and treatment.