Publication Details
Abstract
Diarrhea is characterized by increased stool frequency or the passage of watery stool more than three times in 24 hours. Entamoeba histolytica is a global gastrointestinal parasite that causes amebiasis, a common cause of diarrhea in humans. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of E. histolytica in stool samples from children with diarrhea in Nasiriyah City, Thi-qar Province, Iraq. From August 2022 to May 2023, a total of 2,639 stool samples were collected from children under seven years old. Microscopic examination and PCR techniques were used to analyze the samples. The results showed that 16.33% of the samples tested positive for E. histolytica using microscopic examination, while 83.67% tested negative. Among the positive samples, the highest percentage of infected patients (18.81%) was found in females, and the lowest percentage (14.66%) was found in males. The rural area had the highest percentage of infected patients (16.40%), while the urban area had the lowest percentage (16.22%). In terms of age groups, the highest percentage of infected patients (16.92%) was in the 6-7 years age group, and the lowest percentage (15.40%) was in the 0-1 years age group. PCR analysis of 90 samples showed that 74.44% tested positive for E. histolytica, while 25.56% tested negative. These findings provide insights into the prevalence of E. histolytica among diarrheic patients in the study area during the specified time period.