Prevalence of intestinal helminths infection in patients reporting to the microbiological laboratory at Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria, during the years 2016-2017

July September 2019 85 JCPS Volume 12 Issue 3 Prevalence of intestinal helminths infection in patients reporting to the microbiological laboratory at Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria, during the years 2016-2017 Kanaan AL-Tameemi*, Amal Dayoub , Raiaan Kabakli 3 *Department of Microbiology, Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences, Tartous, Syria Department of Environmental Protection, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria Department of Basic Sciences, Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences, Tartous, Syria *Corresponding author: E-Mail: d_knaan@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The study was conducted with the aim of detecting intestinal helminth infection in those living in Lattakia Governorate, and to determine their species and prevalence through laboratory screening of stool samples for patients visiting the Microbiology Laboratory at Tishreen University Hospital Lattakia during the years 2016 2017. By investigating the presence of eggs in the stool samples, the results of the laboratory tests conducted on the stool samples showed a prevalence of helminth infection in the intestinal tract in the population of Lattakia. Seven species of intestinal parasitic worms were recorded due to the patients examined: 3 Species of Nematoda (Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Ancylostoma duodenale), and 4 Species of Platehelminthes: two species belong to the class Trematoda: Class: Paragonimus Westermani and Schistosoma mansoni, and two cases belonging to the class Cestoda: Hymenolepis nana. This study has recorded, for the first time, the infection with Ancylostoma duodenale and Schistosoma Mausoni in Syria. The overall prevalence of intestinal helminth infection was reported in patients who were referred to the Microbiology laboratory in Lattakia during the years 20162017 was 3.77%. The vast majority of those infected with only one species of intestinal worms, while registered two cases of infection multiplier: Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius Vermicularis. The study showed that Enterobius Vermicularis is the most common intestinal worms in the population in Lattakia (13.2%), followed by the Ascaris lumbricoides, then the stalagmites. The prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in Lattakia was higher among males than females, and prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was highest in winter and autumn of 2016-2017.