Frequency of intestinal parasites in adult cancer patients in Mexico

Approximately 28% of the Mexican population has intestinal parasites. Oncologic patients receiving chemotherapy should have a coproparasitoscopic study to avoid disseminated parasitic infections. The frequency of intestinal parasites, including Cryptosporidium and Isospora, was evaluated in 100 diarrheic (DS) and 100 formed stools (FS) from adult patients recently diagnosed with cancer, using wet mounts stained with Kinyoun, saccharose and ZnSO4 procedures stained with Lugol's iodine. Seven patients with DS and three with FS had more than one parasite. Pathogenic intestinal parasites were seen in 26% of DS and 15% of FS. Of the frequent parasites, Entamoeba histolytica was found in 12 DS and in 2 FS (p = 0.01), Giardia lamblia in three DS and six FS and Hymenolepis nana in eight DS and 10 FS. Other pathogenic parasites were found only in DS: Cryptosporidium sp. in five patients, Ascaris lumbricoides in two, Strongyloides stercoralis in two and Isospora sp. in one. Cryptosporidium and Isospora were only identified by wet mounts stained with Kinyoun while other parasites were identified by flotation procedures. Since six (3%) of our patients had coccidia, the laboratory must perform special techniques for their detection. In epidemiologic settings where there is a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections the coproparasitoscopic studies should be performed and antiparasitic treatment provided before starting chemotherapy.