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Volume 7
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Article

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study

by
Cristina Matovelle
1,2,
María Teresa Tejedor
3,4,*,
Luis Vicente Monteagudo
3,5,
Antonio Beltrán
2,6 and
Joaquín Quílez
5,7
1
Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
2
Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
3
Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
4
Aragon Institute of Health Sciences (IACS), CIBERCV, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
5
AgriFood Institute of Aragon (IA2), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
6
Service of Microbiology and Parasitology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
7
Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(9), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090226
Submission received: 5 August 2022 / Revised: 29 August 2022 / Accepted: 1 September 2022 / Published: 3 September 2022
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Abstract

Blastocystis sp. is known to be the most prevalent parasite in fecal samples of humans worldwide. In the present report, a case–control study (1:9.89 (≈10)) was performed, by analyzing data from 3682 patients who attended a public hospital in the northern area of Spain showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was performed in human fecal samples by means of optical microscopy. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was 9.18% (338/3682). Most of the Blastocystis sp.-infected patients tested negative for protozoa and helminths, and were underweight and foreign-born (26.4%), mainly from Africa and Central/South America. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, anorexia, halitosis, plus relative eosinophilia, as well as co-infections with pathogenic bacteria were associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. Both type 2 diabetes and treatment with immunosuppressive medicines at the time of Blastocystis sp. detection were associated with a higher proportion of infected patients. This is the first case–control study of Blastocystis sp. in humans in northern Spain and may contribute to surveillance and intervention strategies by public health authorities.
Keywords: Blastocystis sp.; gastrointestinal symptoms; intestinal protozoa; relative eosinophilia; Spain Blastocystis sp.; gastrointestinal symptoms; intestinal protozoa; relative eosinophilia; Spain

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MDPI and ACS Style

Matovelle, C.; Tejedor, M.T.; Monteagudo, L.V.; Beltrán, A.; Quílez, J. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7, 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090226

AMA Style

Matovelle C, Tejedor MT, Monteagudo LV, Beltrán A, Quílez J. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022; 7(9):226. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090226

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matovelle, Cristina, María Teresa Tejedor, Luis Vicente Monteagudo, Antonio Beltrán, and Joaquín Quílez. 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study" Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 7, no. 9: 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090226

APA Style

Matovelle, C., Tejedor, M. T., Monteagudo, L. V., Beltrán, A., & Quílez, J. (2022). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 7(9), 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7090226

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