Enteric parasitosis in Italy: A national AMCLI-CoSP study[Indagine nazionale AMCLI-CoSP sulla diffusione delle parassitosi intestinali]

A total of 25 laboratories took part in this study (14 in Northern Italy, six in Central Italy and five in Southern Italy). The protocol required at least one direct microscope examination of all stool samples after concentration with ether formol. The use of other techniques, such as permanent staining and cultures, was also permitted. Stool samples were examined from 14,880 patients, of whom 13,712 (92.2%) were Italian citizens, 1,048 (7.0%) non-EC nationals and 120 (0.8%) form EC countries. The overall rate of positivity was 7% (1,036 patients) but whereas positivity for Italian nationals was 5.3% (730 patients), the rate for non-EC nationals was 28.1% (295 patients) and 9.2% (11 patients) for citizens of EC member states. The study identified 1,211 parasites, 337 of which were helminths (27.8%) and 874 protozoa (72.2%). With the exception of Enteroblus vermicularis, the most frequently identified helminths were Strongyloides stercoralis and Taenia spp in Italian nationals, and Trichuris trichlura and Ascaris lumbricoides in non-EC nationals. Giardia intestinalis was the most common protozoon whereas Blastocystis hominis and Entamoeba coli were the most frequently occurring non-pathogenic protozoa in Italian nationals and non-EC nationals respectively. Twenty-four Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, six of which were found in Italian nationals, were also identified. Data regarding 2,016 threadworm tests and 868 Cryptosporidium spp tests are also reported.