Prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers attending public health laboratories in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

Background: Infections by intestinal pathogens especially protozoans and helminths are considered to pose a real health problem, particularly in the tropics. They cause considerable morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries. The high prevalence of these infections is closely correlated with poverty, poor environmental hygiene, and impoverished health services. This study aimed to detect prevalence and frequency of parasitic infections among food handlers in Khartoum Sudan. Methods: Three hundred and fifty Food-handlers, attending public health laboratories in Khartoum, Sudan, for an annual medical check-up, were screened for intestinal parasites by four laboratory techniques viz. direct faecal examination, formal-ether concentration, Baermann technique and agar culture method. Results: The infection rate was 23.7% by Formol-Ether Concentration technique, followed by direct saline stool preparation (7.1%). Out of 83 positive samples the infection rate among different nationalities was as follows: Sudanese 68 (81.9%), Ethiopians 13 (15.7%), Syrians 2 (2.4%) and Egyptians 0 (0%). Intestinal parasites were more prevalent among males (73; 25.1%) than female food handlers (10; 16.9%). Three protozoans, nematodes, two tap worms and one trematode worm were detected among infected population: their frequency were as follows: Entamoeba histolytica (7.4%), Entamoeba coli (6.86%), Giardia lamblia (6%), Schistosoma mansoni (1.40%), Necator americanus (1.43%), Hymenolepis nana (0.68%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.68%), Taenia saginata (0.57%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.57%) and Trichostrongylus species (0.29%). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of protozoan infections among food handler in Khartoum state, Sudan was 20.26% while the helminthic infections was 5.97%. Formol-ether concentration technique is better for detection of intestinal parasites than the direct faecal smear technique. Likewise, Barmann’s technique confirms detection of nematodes worms especially hookworms.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Salmonella, Shigella, and Intestinal Parasites among Food Handlers in Motta Town, North West Ethiopia

“…e parasitic infection prevalence 27.6% (95% CI: 21.5-32.9) lies between the low carriage rate of 3.7% and the high rate of 83.3% in different areas of the world [14,37]. is prevalence of parasitic infection among food handlers was in agreement with the findings of other studies conducted in Ethiopia like Gondar town 29.1% [38] and 25% [39], Haramaya 25.2% [40], in Khartoum state, Sudan 30.5% (64), 23.7% [41] in Kenya, and Eldoret town 30.4% [11]. e higher prevalence rate of parasites was reported in Ethiopia from Bahir Dar 41.1% [42], Addis Ababa 45.3% [36], Mekelle 52.4% [4], Arba Minch 36% [43], Wolita Sodo 41% [28] and 33.7% [44], Yebu town 44.1% [13], Gambia 46.3% [45], and Swat Pakistan 83.3% [14]when compared with the present study.…”

Burden and factors influencing intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

“…These results underscore the potential for food handlers to transmit intestinal parasites to consumers, emphasizing the importance of implementing screening and mass drug administration programs to curb the spread of infections within food establishments. However, lower prevalence rates were observed in other studies, ranging from 14.5 to 25.3% in different parts of Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Sudan (11,(31)(32)(33)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53). The disparity in prevalence rates across these locations could be influenced by several factors such as the level of awareness regarding intestinal parasites and their transmission, the educational background of food handlers, and the stringency and effectiveness of regulatory enforcement in the food industry could greatly impact the prevalence of such infections.…”

Bacterial Foodborne Diseases in Sudan: A Review

“…Parasitic causes of foodborne diseases are detected using direct fecal examination, in which Lugol solution is used to identify undifferentiated protozoan cysts. Concentration techniques such as formaldehyde, floatation, and Biermann's technique help to diagnose larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm (56). Real-time PCR and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) combined with partial sequences were used to investigate viral foodborne diseases such as hepatitis E (57).…”