Prevalence Rate of Giardia lamblia / Helicobacter pylori Co-infections in Khartoum State - Sudan

Abstract

The study was aimed to determine the prevalence rate of Giardia lamblia/ Helicobacter pylori co-infections in Khartoum state, Sudan. A cross-sectional study was carried out during the period between May to December 2015. A total of 100 subjects were included in this study, the age was ranging between 1-80 years, the mean age was 29± 19 years old. Stool samples were taken from all subjects included in the study. Clinical and parasitological data were obtained and recorded. Out of 100 subjects, 14 (14%) were positive for G. lamblia, by using direct wet mount, and 22 (22%) were positive by using formal ether concentration technique (FECT) (p=0.000), 30 (30%) were positive for H. pylori when detected by using H. pylori antigen test in stool. The study showed that the prevalence of G. lamblia was higher in females (17.5%) than in males (8.1%) (p=0.193). In contrast H. pylori prevalence was higher in males (35.1%) than in females (27%) (p=0.390). The prevalence rate of G. lamblia was higher, (50%) in the age group >66 years old by using direct wet mount (p=0.053), also the prevalence rate of H. pylori was higher, (50%) in >66 years old (p=0.424). According to education levels, the high infection rate of G. lamblia was reported among those with low and high education levels (50%) (p=0.019), while the highest infection rate of H. pylori was (66.6%) among those with low education (p=0.023). The highest infection rate of G. lamblia according to occupation was found among the students (50%) (p=0.160), while H. pylori was found to be higher in house wives (36.6%). The study showed that G. lamblia was affected by previous infection (p=0.019), while H. pylori was not affected by previous infection (p=0.752). The study revealed that the prevalence rate of G. lamblia and H. pylori co-infections were (5%), (9%) by using direct wet mount and formal ether concentration technique respectively. This study indicated that the prevalence rate of G. lamblia and H. pylori in the study area were (14%), (30%) respectively, and co-infection was (5%), with no significant value for co-infection (p=0.615).