Assessment of the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among patients at the Laboratory of Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin in the years 1983–2012

Introduction: Intestinal parasitoses are among the most common parasitic diseases in Poland. The aim of this study was to assess their prevalence in patients of the Laboratory of the Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology (LDBMP) of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin (PMU) in the years 1983–2012.

Materials and methods: The analysis concerned the results of parasitological surveys conducted between 1983–2012 in 9760 patients. Parasitological diagnosis was performed by standard faecal examination method (direct swab) and/or perianal swab.

Results: During the study period, 486 cases of infection with intestinal parasites were recorded. The mean prevalence of intestinal parasites was 4.98%, and the percentage of infected patients ranged from 8.8% in 1993 to 0% in 2002. The most frequently detected parasitic species were: Entamoeba coli (1.52%), Giardia lamblia (0.95%), Blastocystis spp. (0.89%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.79%), and Taenia saginata (0.36%). In the period 2003–2012 the most prevalent parasites were Blastocystis spp., E. coli, and E. vermicularis. An increase in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections from 2009–2012 was associated with an increase in the prevalence of Blastocystis spp.

Conclusions: The prevalence of intestinal parasites among the patients of the LDBMP in the years 1983–2012 was lower in comparison with other Polish regions. The high prevalence of 2 protozoan species – potentially pathogenic Blastocystis spp. and non-pathogenic E. coli – among intestinal parasites detected in the years 2003–2012 may indicate improvement in the epidemiological situation regarding intestinal parasitoses in patients of the LDBMP in comparison to the 1980s and 1990s