Prevalence ofDientamoeba fragilisamong patients consulting complementary medicine practitioners in the British Isles: Figure 1

Abstract

A high prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis is reported in faecal samples collected from patients attending complementary medicine practitioners in the British Isles. Specimens were collected directly after passing into sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF). During two observation periods in 2002-04 and 2005-07, a D fragilis prevalence of 14.6% (n = 543) and 16.9% (n = 421), respectively, was recorded. These results confirm a surprisingly high prevalence of D fragilis among a selected population. Clinical information was only available for half of the patients with D fragilis; 50% of requests with clinical information reported gastrointestinal symptoms. For further work on its pathogenic role and prevalence among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, immediate collection in SAF should be considered the optimal sampling modality for UK based laboratories.

Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis in patients fulfilling irritable bowel syndrome criteria

“…Approximately 25% of these stated intestinal symptoms, ranging from acute gastroenteritis to chronic intestinal symptoms, while similar in proportion did not report having intestinal symptoms. It is also noteworthy that over half of the D. fragilis positive samples were found in combination with B. hominis as previously observed (Stensvold et al 2007;Schuster and Jackson 2009;Stark et al 2005;Norberg et al 2003). B. hominis is a common human intestinal parasite that is commonly found in stool on examination.…”

A Review of the Clinical Presentation of Dientamoebiasis

“…13 In contrast to many pathogenic protozoa, which have a high prevalence in developing regions of the world, high prevalence rates of D. fragilis have been reported from countries where high levels of health standards are to be expected: 4.5% prevalence from Italy, 14 6.3% from Belgium, 9.4% from the United States, 15 11.7% from Sweden, 16 and 16.9% from the British Isles. 17 Several reports have also identified D. fragilis as the most common pathogenic protozoan found in stool when appropriate diagnostic methods are used. 18 , 19 Diagnosis of D. fragilis has traditionally relied upon microscopy of fixed fecal smears.…”

Repeated Dientamoeba fragilis Infections: A Case Report of Two Families from Sydney, Australia

“…1,4 Recent studies have shown the organism to be widespread with relatively high prevalence rates ranging from 8.9% to 16.8% in developed regions of the world. [8][9][10] Gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to Dientamoeba infection most commonly include diarrhoea and abdominal pain, with chronic infection often reported. 4,11,12 Numerous studies have shown antimicrobial therapy targeting and eliminating D. fragilis will result in marked clinical improvement for patients suffering from dientamoebiasis.…”