Publication Details
Abstract
A gastrointestinal infection can significantly disrupt the metabolism of antioxidants and minerals. This study aimed to assess the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) in patients with intestinal parasite infections. This study also evaluated minerals such as zinc, copper, and selenium. The study included collecting 227 stool samples from patients with chronic diarrhea who came to Samarra General Hospital and some private laboratories, whose ages ranged from 16 to 59 months during the period between the beginning of June 2025 and the end of November 2024. The results of the study indicate that the percentage of intestinal parasite infection was 37.9% of the total 227 samples, while 91% of the samples tested negative for the presence of the parasite. Furthermore, the most prevalent intestinal parasite was E.histolytica (59.3%), followed by G.lamblia(26.7%), and the lowest prevalence was Trichomonas. Hominis(1.2%). The present study showed decrease level of SOD, CAT, Zinc, Copper, Selenium in patients with intestinal parasite (13.31 ± 1.23, 35.97 ± 3.55, 52.90 ± 3.55, 491.89 ± 78.99, 211.49 ± 33.48), as compared with control (16.87 ± 1.14, 47.39 ± 1.79, 73.66 ± 5.59, 822.19 ± 86.24, 415.32 ± 78.06) at p-value <0.001, while increase GPX in patients with intestinal parasite (1.67 ± 0.36) as compared with control (0.84 ± 0.20) at p-value <0.001. The present study concluded prevalence rate of intestinal parasite in diarrheal patients. In addition, the female more infected than male. Furthermore, the older age more infected than younger. Among the detected parasite, E.histolytica more prevalent than other parasite. The present study also concluded a significant decreas level of antioxidants and minerals in patients with intestinal parasite, while increase GPX in patients with intestinal parasite.