Microscopic examination after concentration techniques for Blastocystis sp. detection in serial faecal samples : How many samples are needed?
Not, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Salvador, Fernando (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Goterris, Lidia (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Sulleiro Igual, Elena (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
López, Isabel (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Balladares, Martha (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
García, Elena (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Paz, Carmen (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Sánchez-Montalvá, Adrián (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Bosch-Nicolau, Pau (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Sao-Avilés, Augusto (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)
Molina Romero, Israel (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron)

Date:	2020
Abstract:	Blastocystis sp. is one of the most frequently observed intestinal parasites in humans. It is suggested that sensitivity of classical parasitological tests for the Blastocystis sp. diagnosis increases when increasing the number of investigated samples, although there is a lack of information. The aim of the study is to evaluate the sensitivity of classical parasitological tests for the Blastocystis sp. diagnosis depending on the number of investigated samples and to determine risk factors associated to high parasite burden. Retrospective study where patients in whom three consecutive stool samples were examined for parasitic diagnosis through microscopic examination at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) from January to April 2019 were included. To determine risk factors associated to high parasite burden, a case-control study was performed including patients with at least one positive stool sample for Blastocystis sp. : cases were those patients with only one or two positive stool samples, and controls were those with all three stool positive samples). Clinical records were reviewed from included patients to collect clinical and demographic information. In 2771 patients three consecutive stool samples were examined for parasitic diagnosis, with an overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. detection of 23. 3%. The proportions of positive cases depending on the number of investigated samples were: 22. 3% when taking into account the first sample, 22. 9% when taking into account the first and second samples, and 23. 3% when taking into account the three samples, with no statistically significant differences among them. For the case-control study we finally included 63 cases and 133 controls. No differences were found regarding clinical and demographic characteristics among groups. Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection was high in our study (23. 3%). The sensitivity of classical parasitological methods for Blastocystis sp. diagnosis did not increase when increasing the number of investigated samples, and no risk factors associated to high parasite burden were identified.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Blastocystis sp ; Enteric protozoan ; Microscopic examination ; Sensitivity
Published in:	Parasite Epidemiology and Control, Vol. 9 (january 2020) , ISSN 2405-6731

DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00137
PMID: 32055721

5 p, 322.3 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles