Haouas Najoua, Alharazi Talal, Al Rasheedi Asma Obaid, Zreiq Rafat, Algahtani Fahad
Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisia; Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen.
Parasitol Int. 2021 Feb;80:102208. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102208. Epub 2020 Oct 24.
Owing to Saudi Arabia's high-income economy many Saudi families hire foreign housemaids. However, since the housemaids are potential carriers of intestinal parasites, hiring them increases the risk of transmission to the Saudi community. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in foreign housemaids in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Using direct wet mount and concentration by flotation, the stool samples of 169 housemaids were examined, and eleven parasite species, six helminths and five protozoans, were detected. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 20.11% (34/169). Twelve cases were infected with one intestinal helminth, 12 were infected with one intestinal protozoan, and 10 had polyparasitism. The most common intestinal parasites were Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 10), hookworms (n = 7), and T. Trichiura (n = 7). The findings highlight that intestinal parasites present an important public health concern for foreign housemaids in Saudi Arabia. More vigilance is thus required, and periodic follow-up should be exercised throughout foreign housemaids' stay in the country.
由于沙特阿拉伯的高收入经济水平，许多沙特家庭雇佣外国女佣。然而，由于这些女佣是肠道寄生虫的潜在携带者，雇佣她们会增加沙特社区感染寄生虫的风险。在此背景下，本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯西北部外国女佣肠道寄生虫感染的流行情况。通过直接涂片镜检和漂浮浓缩法，对169名女佣的粪便样本进行了检测，共检测到11种寄生虫，包括6种蠕虫和5种原生动物。肠道寄生虫感染的总体患病率为20.11%（34/169）。12例感染一种肠道蠕虫，12例感染一种肠道原生动物，10例为多重寄生虫感染。最常见的肠道寄生虫是隐孢子虫（n = 10）、钩虫（n = 7）和鞭虫（n = 7）。研究结果表明，肠道寄生虫是沙特阿拉伯外国女佣面临的一个重要公共卫生问题。因此需要提高警惕，并在外国女佣在该国停留期间进行定期随访。
