METHODS: A total of 473 faecal samples were collected: 256 (54.1%) and 217 (45.9%) samples were obtained during the wet (October-November 2014) and the dry season (June 2015), respectively. All fresh faecal samples were subjected to molecular analysis for subtype and allele identification.
RESULTS: Of the 473 samples, 42.6% and 37.8% were positive for Blastocystis ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Prevalence of Blastocystis ST1 was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season (Z = 2.146, P
METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 3776 stool cups was distributed to 26 schools throughout the country. 1760 (46.61%) responded. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in both rural and urban areas was 13.3%, with Blastocystis sp (10.6%) being the most predominant, followed by Trichuris trichiura (3.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.5%) and hook worm infection (0.9%). Only rural school children had helminthic infection. In general Perak had the highest infection (37.2%, total, n = 317), followed by Selangor (10.4%, total, n = 729), Pahang (8.6%, total, n = 221), Kedah (6.2%, total, n = 195) and Johor (3.4%, total, n = 298). School children from rural schools had higher infection (13.7%, total, n = 922) than urban school children (7.2%, total, n = 838). Subtype (ST) 3 (54.3%) is the most predominant ST with persons infected with only ST1 and ST3 showing symptoms. Blastocystis sp infection significantly associated with low household income, low parent's education and presence of symptoms (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: It is critical that we institute deworming and treatment to eradicate the parasite especially in rural school children.
METHOD: The presence of Entamoeba species was examined in 504 fresh fecal samples, collected randomly from 411 humans and 93 dogs using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying 16 s ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Data was analyzed using appropriate statistical analysis.
RESULTS: The microscopy data showed an overall occurrence of Entamoeba species of 26.3% (108/411) and 36.6% (34/93) in humans and dogs respectively. In humans, the most common species was a single infection of E. dispar (26.5%; 13/49), followed by E. histolytica and E. moshkovskii, (20.4% for each species respectively). Double infection of E. dispar + E. moshkovskii was detected at 10.2%, followed by E. dispar + E. histolytica (8.2%) and E. moshkovskii and E. histolytica (6.1%). 8.2% of the samples had triple infection with all three species. In animals, E. moshkovskii (46.7%) was the most common species detected, followed by E. histolytica, and E. dispar, at 20.0% and 13.3% respectively. Double infection with E. moshkovskii + E. histolytica and a triple infection were found in 2 samples (13.3%) and 1 (6.7%) sample respectively. Risk factor analysis showed that members of the community who used untreated water were more prone to be infected with Entamoeba.
CONCLUSION: This study provides information on the species-specific occurrence of Entamoeba infection, the potential risk factors and their zoonotic potential to humans. This is the first report to describe the molecular occurrence of Entamoeba species in dogs in Malaysia. The presence of pathogenic Entamoeba species implies that dogs could be a reservoir or mechanical host for human amoebiasis. Further studies need to be conducted to better understand the transmission dynamics and public health significance of Entamoeba species in human and animal hosts.