Prevalence of intestinal parasitoses detected in Padua teaching hospital, Italy, March 2011 - February 2013.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of parasitic intestinal infections in patients attending Padua teaching hospital during a two-year period. Between 1st March 2011 and 28th February 2013, we examined stool specimens from 7341 patients (6127 Italians, 1214 non-Italians) for ova and parasites using microscopy, rapid enzyme immunoassays, culture techniques and molecular methods. Stools of 1080 patients (14.71%) were positive for parasites; a total of 1349 intestinal parasites were counted. Protozoa were detected in 1028/1080 patients (95.19%), while helminths were present in 80/1080 patients (7.41%). The protozoa most commonly detected were Blastocystis spp., Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia duodenalis. Enterobius vermicularis was the helminth most frequently encountered. Of the 1080 infected patients, 227 (21.02%) had more than one parasite in their stool. To conclude, in Italy intestinal parasitoses must be unquestionably considered in differential diagnoses of gastrointestinal diseases. For this purpose, sound knowledge of epidemiology is essential.