Prevalence Rate of Intestinal Coccidian Parasites among Immunocompromised Patients in Khartoum State

Abstract

This study was conducted in radiation-isotope centre (RICK) in Khartoum state, where stool samples were taken from 50 patients presented with leukemia and cancer other than leukemia. Stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal coccidian parasites by direct wet preparation, formal ether concentration technique and modified 3 ZN staining technique. The results showed that 5 (10%) of the presented patients have intestinal coccidian parasites. The study demonstrated that the prevalence rate of C. parvum (8%) was found higher than the rate of I. belli (2%) in immunocompromised patients. The study revealed that the prevalence rate of C. parvum among males (8%) and females (8%) was equal, and the prevalence rate of I. belli among males patients (4%) was higher than female patients (0%). The highest prevalence rate of C. parvum (20%) and I. belli (10%) was reported among the 16-25 years age group, while the lowest (0.0%) was reported among the below 15 and above 45 years age groups for C. parvum and the rest of the groups for I. belli. The result showed that the prevalence rates of C. parvum were 12 % and 0 % among the patients of cancer other than leukemia and patients of leukemia respectively. However, the prevalence rates of I. belli were 6 % and 0 % among the leukemia, and cancer other than leukemia patients respectively. The study revealed that the sensitivity and specificity rates of the formal ether concentration technique were 60% and 100% respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity rates for the modified ZN staining technique were 100% and 95.7% respectively.