Seroprevalence of Fascioliasis in Patients Referred to the Reference Laboratory in Urmia, Northwest Iran

Iran is one of the most important foci of human fascioliasis. West Azerbaijan Province is known for its traditional rural livestock husbandry, supported by many rivers. This environment could facilitate the transmission of fascioliasis between animals and humans. Thus, the present study investigated the seroprevalence of fascioliasis in patients referred to the Reference Laboratory in Urmia, Northwest Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 919 sera were collected from patients referred to the Reference Laboratory of Urmia University of Medical Sciences from January to June 2023. The samples were examined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA) to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. Demographic information and symptoms of the participants were collected through a questionnaire.

Of 919 sera tested, 532 (57.9%) and 387 (42.1%) were women and men, respectively. Among 919 subjects, three (0.326%) were seropositive for fascioliasis. Of the three positive cases, two were women aged 31 and 79 years, and one was a 60-year-old man; all were rural residents. All three positive cases had livestock around them in the village. Because of the small number of positive cases, further statistical analysis was not performed.

The present findings suggest the presence of human fascioliasis in the Urmia District, West Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Iran, especially in rural areas, with a low prevalence. Therefore, the health care systems require educating the residents of the villages about fascioliasis, the route of its transmission, and strategies required for prevention.