Seasonal Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis among Patients Attending Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Abstract

We investigated the seasonal prevalence of Blastocystis hominis and overall protozoan infection among patients attending Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, from February 2000 to February 2001. The result showed that the highest prevalence of B. hominis (1.9%) and overall protozoan infections (2.8%) was in the rainy season (high levels of infection in July-September). Signifi cant differences in the prevalence of B. hominis infection were found between the rainy and cool seasons (p < 0.05). Helminthic infections were also found in this study. In any further study, seasonal variations in fecal contamination of water sources for drinking, food preparation and washing, should be investigated.

Keyword: Blastocystis hominis; seasonal prevalence