Detection of Microsporidia infections in the cancer patients of Thi-Qar province
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2021-02-09
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Abstract
The microspore parasite is one of the causes of diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as weight loss in cancer patients. The risk of infection with the microspore parasite, when it occurs, lies in immunocompromised persons, such as people with acquired immunodeficiency virus, and people who have undergone the replacement of vital organs such as the heart, liver or one of the kidneys, as well as infection with various types of malignant tumors (cancer). These patients suffer from a clear deficiency of immunity, which allows some types of opportunistic parasites, including the microsporidia parasite, to multiply in large numbers, which results in the development of the pathogenesis of the parasite and the emergence of symptoms that are usually not present in immune healthy people. Due to the importance of this disease and the increasing incidence of it in the world, many studies have been conducted that aim to determine the percentage of infection with the parasite and reach the identification and registration of new species using various diagnostic methods. In Iraq, studies on this parasite were very few and not parallel to its importance. The current study is the first in Dhi Qar Governorate, and its goal is to diagnose the microsporidia parasite in patients with cancerous tumors in Dhi Qar Governorate. The study included the different regions of Dhi Qar Governorate, where stool samples were collected from cancerous tumor patients suffering from diarrhea cases in the period from October 2020 to March 2021. 120 stool
samples were collected from patients of different ages and both sexes, they were examined by light microscope to diagnose intestinal parasites in the postgraduate laboratory in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine. Then the samples were dyed with different dyes, including Ziehl - Neelsen dye, and the results of the microscopic examination showed a low infection rate of 40 (33.3%), compared with the specialized dye for the parasite. 69.1%). It was found that there are statistically significant differences in the incidence rates according to gender, age and residence. Most of the injuries were 70 (73.6%) females than males 13 (52%), while the injuries in rural communities were 63 (75.9%) more. Of urban 20 (24%), the highest rate of infection is in the age group (70-79) 8 (80%), and the lowest rate is in the age group (40-49) 14 (53.8%). 83 pre-diagnosed samples were examined by microscopy by polymerase chain reaction in order to reach the diagnosis of the types of parasite microspores. The results of positive samples for the parasite showed 15 (18%) and 68 (81.9%) negative samples through which Encephalitozoonis intestinalis was recorded for the first time from patients with various types of cancer in Dhi Qar Governorate.