Intestinal Parasites: Incidence and Etiology in over 1,000 Patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh

Abstract

T-lymphocyte phenotypes and human leukocyte antigen-DR expression (HLA-DR) expression in skin lesions and draining lymph nodes of zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major were studied. T lymphocytes were the dominant cells in the lymphocytic preponderance type of lesion. They were lowest when the parasitized macrophage was the dominant cell or when the reaction consisted of an equal admixture of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells. Both inducer/helper and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were present in varying proportions. The latter were thought to be suppressor rather than cytotoxic cells. Their late appearance in the host reaction was believed to play a major role in halting the inflammatory response. Low levels of cells expressing the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype and the continued presence of antigen in macrophages was associated with persistence of the lesions even when parasites were largely eliminated after specific antileishmanial therapy. Such lesions healed after local or systemic steroid therapy. The majority of cells in the dermal infiltrate were HLA-DR positive. Keratinocytes also expressed HLA-DR antigen.AM El-Hassan, R Kubba, YM Al-Gindan, AS Omer, MK Kutty, MBM Saeed, Lymphocyte

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Food Handlers in Al-Medinah

“…Thus, parasites with simple life cycles, such a G. lamblia, and E. histolytica, are expected to have a worldwide distribution and higher incidence. This has been shown not only in this study but also in those reported in the literature [6,8,10,12]. We found the highest incidence of parasites in expatriates from Sri Lanka, Philip pines, India, Bangladesh and other countries where optimal conditions of temperature and humidity are most favorable for the survival, development and transmission of parasites, both with simple as well as complex life cycles.…”

“…Thus, parasites with simple life cycles, such a G. lamblia, and E. histolytica, are expected to have a worldwide distribution and higher incidence. This has been shown not only in this study but also in those reported in the literature [6,8,10,12]. We found the highest incidence of parasites in expatriates from Sri…”

“…Several reports showed incidence and etiology of fecal parasites in different patient populations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al-Khobar, and Abha [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Some of these have dealt with pediatric or adult populations, Saudis or randomly selected expatriates, food handlers or domestic staff, or patients in specialized care institutions.…”

“…These people may have varying parasitic loads depending on their country of origin. Several studies in the past have looked at the incidence of parasites in various parts of Saudi Arabia [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], but not in Al-Medinah. In this paper we present our findings on the incidence and etiology of parasitic infestations among normal food handlers from different nationalities in Al-Medinah over a period of eighteen months.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Patients in the Abha Region

“…7 In another hospital-based study in Riyadh, 22.9% of the patients had pathogenic parasites and many more commensals. 8 It thus appears that the parasite rate varies from country to country, and even among different parts and different populations of the same country. The parasite prevalence rates of Abha, which is situated at a high altitude (2500 to 3000 meters), have not been adequately documented.…”