Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Epidemiological risk factors affecting the prevalence of amoebiasis in pre-school and school going children from southern Punjab, Pakistan

International Conference on Medical Parasitology and Zoology

October 17-19, 2016 Houston, USA

Muhammad Mudasser Nazir

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is one of the most common infections in children of developing countries due to poor social status and lack of good hygienic and sanitary conditions. The aim of current study was to investigate the frequency of amoebiasis in pre-school and school going children of urban and semi urban areas of district Multan, Pakistan. This cross-sectional community based study was conducted during the period 2014-2016 in urban and semi urban areas of district Multan, Pakistan. The study enrolled 287 school going children of 5-15 years age group and 154 pre-school going children of 1-4 years age group of both sexes. Collected stool samples were examined by using ELISA (stool antigen ELISA) to determine the diagnostic stool antigens of E. histolytica. Out of 882 children examined for the presence of E. histolytica infection 276 (31.2%) were confirmed as positive. The prevalence of positive samples was 34.5% (212 cases) among school going children and 23.8% (64 cases) in pre-school children. Statistically, significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between two categories of children. The results demonstrated that the age group (5-10years) was found to be more positive for amoebic infection compared to other two groups. The prevalence was significantly (P<0.05) higher in spring season than other seasons. Prevalence was more common in male 34% (186 cases) children compared to female 26.7% (90 cases) subjects. These findings suggest the need of surveillance of this pathogenic organism especially in this developing region of the country.

Biography :

Muhammad Mudasser Nazir has completed his PhD in 2013 under the split program scholarship of Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan from University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan and Research conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA, USA. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathobiology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. He has published more than 10 papers in well reputed international journals.

Email: mudasser.nazir@bzu.edu.pk