Prevalence of Hymenolepis nana Infection in Aswan Governorate and Associated Risk Factors Assessment

Abstract

Hymenolepis nana infections are among the most important global socioeconomic and health problems worldwide notably in developing countries with hot temperature and dry climates. This study aimed to estimate the linkage between the prevalence of H. nana infection in humans at variant ages and its presence in different sources. A cross sectional study was achieved in the period between 2019 and 2021 during which 100, 50, 50, and 175 samples of rodent feces, water, green salad, and human stool were gathered, respectively and investigated for H. nana eggs. For checking the diagnostic efficacy of direct smear and flotation techniques compared to formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, rodent and human fecal samples were examined by the three methods. It has been found that one (1.0%), two (2.0%), and five (5.0%) out of 100 rodent fecal samples contained H. nana eggs, respectively. In Parallel, 2 (1.14%), 5 (2.86%), and 7 (4.0%) of 175 human fecal samples were positive, respectively by the three methods emphasizing that formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique is the most sensitive. On the other hand, samples of water and green salad were examined by direct smear method only yielding 6.0% (3/50) contaminated vegetable samples while tape water samples weren’t contaminated by H. nana eggs. Interestingly, the prevalence of hymenolepiasis was significant (p<0.05 at 95%CI) with washing of hands, washing of vegetables/fruits, fingernail trimming, and water supply. Therefore, an efficient program to manage H. nana infection should emphasize educating the hygienic practices and improving sources of drinking water.

Keywords

• fect
• human
• hymenolepis nana
• risk factors
• rodent