Summary

This study conducted to investigate the incidence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection and to determine the relationship between intestinal parasitic infection with some hematological and immunological parameters among children who are lying and visiting the children’s hospital in the holy Kerbala province from December 2017 to November 2018. Children ages from one to 15 years. The number of samples of the examined faeces was 2541 tested using direct smear method in addition to the method of flotation using saturated NaCl solution.

The results showed that the percentage of total intestinal parasitic infection was 18.93% (481 infected). The percentage of males infected was higher than (20.42%) that of females (17.16%). In the current study recorded five species of intestinal parasites, three of which were protozoa;  Entamoeba  histolytica (14.60%), Giardia  lamblia (3.90%) and Trichomonas  hominis (0.16%) and two helminths (one species from Cestoda, Hymenolepis nana 0.59% and other from Nematoda,  Enterobius vermicularis 0.08%.

The results showed that the month of March 2018 recorded the highest percentage of infection with intestinal parasites (23.41%) and the lowest percentage was in July 2018 (15.11%).The results also showed that the age group 1 – > 5 years recorded the highest incidence of intestinal parasitic infection where was 20.34%, and the incidence of individual intestinal parasites was more common than double intestinal infections. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the sex of children with intestinal parasites and the percentage of intestinal parasites, percent age of  infection during the study months, age groups of infected children, type of infection, and double intestinal parasites.

In order to conduct the hematological and immunological study, 59 infected children selected with 30 males, 29 females, and 31 Healthy  group with 20 males and 11 females. The blood and serums of these children obtained and examined by a blood analyzer for the hematological parameters and ELIZA method for immunological parameters.

The results of the hematological parameters study showed a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in RBCs, Hb and PCV, Significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in WBCs, Neutrophils, Basophils, Eosinophils and PLT, While there were no significant differences in other blood parameters (MCV, MCH, MCHC, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes) Among infected children with intestinal parasites compared with Healthy group.

The results of the immunological study showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the concentration of antibody IgE, interleukin-5 and histamine in infected children with intestinal parasites compared to Healthy group.

The results of the present study showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the concentration of  interleukin 5 and an in significant increase in the concentration of histamine in both male and female children infected with intestinal parasites compared to males and females of Healthy group.

The results of the study showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the IgE concentration in both 1 – > 5 and 10-15 age groups of the infected children with intestinal parasites compared to the Healthy group and an insignificant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the 5 – >10 age group of the infected children with intestinal parasites compared to the Healthy group.

We conclude from the results of the present study that the total infection of intestinal parasites in children attending and hospitalized in the Children’s Hospital in the holy province of Karbala did not exceed 20%. The prevalence of parasite mutant parasites was more than other intestinal parasites in the holy city of Karbala. This parasite is the most common parasite in this region. The infection of intestinal parasites was influenced by the majority of epidemiological criteria such as sex, months of the year and age groups of the study sample. The present study also concluded that intestinal parasites have a significant impact on most blood and immunological parameters in infected children.