Investigation of Intestinal and Blood Parasites in People Returning to Turkey with a History of Traveling Abroad During the Pandemic

• Published in: Türkiye parazitolojii dergisi Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 108 - 113
• Main Authors: Ekici, Abdurrahman, Gürbüz, Esra, Ünlü, Ahmet Hakan, Yıldız, Rahmi, Aydemir, Selahattin, Halidi, Ahmed Galip, Ödemiş, Nuriz, Karakuş, Sinan, Yürektürk, Şehriban, Çiçek, Mutalip, Yılmaz, Hasan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey Galenos Publishing House 01.06.2022; Galenos Yayinevi
• Subjects: Blood parasites; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Giardia; Hematuria; Hygiene; intestinal and blood parasites; Intestinal parasites; Intestine; Pandemics; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Plasmodium; Plasmodium falciparum; Protozoa; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Tropical diseases; Turkey; Iraq; Iran; Sudan; Intestinal and blood parasites; Plasmodium falciparum; Schistosomiasis Schistosoma mansoni
• ISSN: 1300-6320; 2146-3077
• DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2021.02886

To investigate intestinal and blood parasites in people who have a history of traveling abroad during the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic and returning to Turkey. In this study, 104 patients with gastrointestinal system and/or fever complaints who had traveled abroad during the pandemic period and returned to Turkey were included. Parasitic agents were investigated by taking blood and stool samples from the patients. Additionally, urine samples were obtained from patients with hematuria or dysuria with the suspicion of schistosomiasis. A direct microscopic examination, the Crypto-Giardia immunochromatographic test, and ELISA methods were used in the examination of the stool samples. In order to detect species, blood samples were examined by preparing both the rapid diagnostic test and thick drop and thin smear preparations. One or more parasite species were detected in 38 (38.5%) of 104 patients included in the study. While intestinal parasites were detected in 16 (32%) of 50 patients who traveled to Iran and 16 (33.3%) of 48 patients who traveled to Northern Iraq, blood parasites were not found. was detected in all 5 of the patients with a history of traveling to Sudan. was detected in 1 patient who traveled to the African continent. It is vital to take precautions to prevent parasitic diseases, such as malaria and schistosomiasis, during travels to African countries. During travels to neighboring countries of Turkey, such as Northern Iraq and Iran, hygiene should be paid attention to, so as to prevent contracting intestinal parasitic diseases. In addition, it was concluded that people who plan to travel abroad should have information about the endemic parasitic diseases of the country that they are going to.