A Retrospective Detecting of Gastrointestinal Protozoan Parasites and their Prevalence at General Shekhan Hospital, Shekhan District, Duhok, Iraq

Globally, intestinal parasites cause of a considerable amount of illness and death. Parasites in the gut are a serious public health concern in poor countries. Infections with intestinal parasites are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Low-quality drinking water and unclean personal and environmental conditions are often associated with them. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites from patients who attended Sherkhan General Hospital, Shekhan District, Duhok, Iraq. The study conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis from January to November 2023. Overall, 228 recorded stool samples for eleven months were included in this study, and direct wet stool examinations were done for all stool samples to record intestinal protozoan stages. 228 stool samples were reported for eleven months between January and November 2023. Of them, 90 (39.47%) were recorded positive for intestinal protozoan parasites. The highest infection rate was found in September (8.3%), while the lowest rate of intestinal parasites was in November (0.0%). Regarding gender, the infection rate with parasitic infection was higher in males (22.3%) than in females (17.1%). Regarding a total of 228 samples the most prevalent age group aged <10 years (6.7%), the moderate one was in ages between 10-30 years (8.8%), and the lowest was in ages >30 years (3.9%). Finally, this study recorded that the most common gastrointestinal protozoan parasites were Giardia lamblia (21.1%) and Entamoeba histolytica (17.1%). Infections can be prevented and controlled by practicing epidemiological surveillance, keeping oneself clean, and improving environmental cleanliness