Prevalence and molecular identification of protozoan intestinal parasitic infections in cancer patients and a control group.

Autor: Bahadorizadeh L; Department of Internal Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Khanaliha K; Research Center of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. khanaliha.kh@iums.ac.ir., Ghorbandoust S; Department of Internal Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Bokharei-Salim F; Departments of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Minaeian S; Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Khodakarim N; Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Hazrat Rasoul Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Ghalamkari M; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Salemi B; Student Research Committee, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC infectious diseases [BMC Infect Dis] 2024 Nov 27; Vol. 24 (1), pp. 1355. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 27.
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-10235-0
Abstrakt: Background: Parasitic infections, especially opportunistic infections, are important issues for immunocompromised patients, including cancer patients. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections was investigated in Iranian cancer patients and a control group using microscopic and molecular methods.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 158 individuals with gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal cancers from hospitals affiliated with the Iran University of Medical Sciences, alongside 158 healthy individuals included in the control group. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct and concentration methods. The modified acid-fast staining method was used to detect coccidian parasite infections. DNA was extracted from the patients' samples, and PCR and sequencing were performed.
Results: The overall prevalence of protozoan infections was higher in the cancer patients (31.6%) than in the control group (12.0%), with the difference between the two groups being statistically significant (P = 0.0001). The study identified Blastocystis hominis as the most common protozoan, with a prevalence of 22.8%, followed by Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Chilomastix mesnili, with rates of 2.5%, 1.3%, 1.3%, and 0.6%, respectively, in the cancer patients. Cystoisospora belli and Cryptosporidium sp. were found as opportunistic infections in 2.5% and 0.6% of the cancer patients, respectively. Blastocystis hominis, with a prevalence of 9.5%, followed by Giardia lamblia at 1.3%, were the most common parasitic infections in the control group. A statistical difference was found for Cystoisospora belli (P = 0.044) and Blastocystis hominis (P = 0.0013) between the cancer patients and the control group. Cryptosporidium sp. was confirmed as Cryptosporidium parvum, and Cystoisospora belli was confirmed by PCR sequencing.
Conclusion: Chemotherapy, aside from corticosteroids, increases susceptibility to intestinal Protozoan infections in patients with hematological malignancies, particularly those with lymphoma and leukemia. The results indicated a higher risk of intestinal Protozoan infections, including opportunistic infections, in the cancer patients than in the control group. Cystoisospora belli and Cryptosporidium parvum were found to cause diarrhea in hematological malignancy patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences code number (IR.IUMS.REC.1401.734) in accordance in accordance with Helsinki Declaration and Guidelines. The consent has been obtained from all participants. All patients participated in this study were informed about the study procedures and agreed to participate in this study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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