[Human intestinal parasitosis: role of Dientamoeba fragilis in human infections]

The Authors report prevalences of intestinal parasitosis among home children and adults during 2002-2004, as in O&P as in acute or prolonged diarrhoea, with particular attention to the role of Dientamoeba fragilis, because often undervalued. Among 3139 subjects, 116 cases of dientamoebiasis (3.7%) and 62 of giardiasis (2.0%) were observed; not typical pathogenic protozoa were reported in 71 cases (2.3%); helminths were identified only in 8 cases (0.5%). Particularly, inside O&P group D. fragilis prevailed in 5.2% of cases (7.8% in adults and 0.5% in children) and G. duodenalis in 2.7% (3.5% and 1.3% respectively); inside acute diarrhoeas D. fragilis prevailed in 1.6% (3.9% and 0.3%) and G. duodenalis in 0.6% (1.3% and 0. 1%); inside prolonged diarrhoeas D. fragilis prevailed in 3.5 % (2.6% and 5.4%) and G. duodenalis in 3.9% (5.8% in adults and never in children). D. fragilis was more often observed among adults (6.3% of all) than among children (0.6%), like G. duodenalis (3.1% versus 0.6%). So, 107 strains of D. fragilis (92.2%) and 53 strains of G. duodenalis (85.5%) were identified in adults. D. fragilis was more frequent among females (24/39 cases, 61.5%, in the last year) while G. duodenalis was more frequent in males (13/23 cases, 56.5%). The Authors conclude underlining the importance of a permanent stain, as Giemsa stain, for a good and complete diagnosis of protozoal intestinal infections, particularly for D. fragilis.