First Use of the KU-F600 Automated Analyzer for Descriptive Epidemiology of Blastocystis Sp. in Erbil, Iraq.

Blastocystis is a common protozoan parasite of the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and potential pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. in Erbil province, Iraq, using the KU-F600 Automated Feces Analyzer (AFA).Notably, this is the first study to use this device in Iraq. A total of 580 fecal specimens were collected from patients attendending Mehrabani Surgical Hospital. Samples were tested using the KU-F600 AFA, which incorporates AI-based examination of microscopically identified parasites. demographic and clinical data were collected through questionnaires. All the statistical calculations were performed by GraphPad Prism 10. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 50.3%. No significant associations were observed with gender, age, or place of residence. However, contact with animals (p = 0.0038) and a history of prior infection (p = 0.0197) were identified as significant risk factors. Diarrhea and abdominal pain were the most frequently reported symptoms, although the differences were not statistically significant. The most frequent co-infecting parasites identified were Giardia lamblia (10.6%) and Endolimax nana (10.3%). The Vacuolar form was most prevalent (43.1%) followed by cystic (36.9%), mixed (13.5%) and amoeboid (6.4%) forms. The high prevalence of Blastocsytis sp. and its significant association with animal contact underscore the need for increased public health awareness in Erbil. The KU-F600 automated analyzer provided descriptive epidemiological insights; however, diagnostic performance requires validation against reference methods such as microscopy and PCR.