ArticleParasites & vectors2013
Prevalence, predictors and clinical significance of Blastocystis sp. in Sebha, Libya.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers.
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Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- Molecular detection and subtype characterization of Blastocystis in diarrheal outpatients in Shanghai, China: A case-control study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Genotyping of Blastocystis species in hemodialysis patients from Makkah, Saudi Arabia.Parasites, hosts and diseases · 2026Article
- Aspects of Genetic Diversity, Host Specificity and Public Health Significance of Single-Celled Intestinal Parasites Commonly Observed in Humans and Mostly Referred to as 'Non-Pathogenic'.APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica · 2025Review
- Effect of antibiotic administration on Blastocystis persistence and gut microbiome-metabolome dynamics in an irritable bowel syndrome longitudinal case study.Access microbiology · 2025Article
- Prevalence and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in ruminants in Southwestern, Iran.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Subtype Distribution ofMicroorganisms · 2024Article
- Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of the Enteric Protozoan ParasitePathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Prevalence and Genetic Characterization ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors among Diarrheal Patients Attending Negelle Borena General Hospital: A Case-Control Study.Journal of parasitology research · 2023Article
- Prevalence and Associated Factors ofTropical medicine and infectious disease · 2022Article
- Detection and molecular identification ofJournal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology · 2021Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal protozoan infection among symptomatic and asymptomatic populations in rural and urban areas of southern Algeria.BMC infectious diseases · 2021Article
- Infection with Blastocystis spp. and its association with enteric infections and environmental enteric dysfunction among slum-dwelling malnourished adults in Bangladesh.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Prevalence and Subtype Analysis ofJournal of parasitology research · 2021Article
- Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in a Low-Income Texas Community.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2020Article
- Blastocystis in Swiss children: a practical approach.European journal of pediatrics · 2020Article
- Article
- A Study on the Prevalence and Subtype Diversity of the Intestinal ProtistFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2020Article
- Use of next-generation amplicon sequencing to study Blastocystis genetic diversity in a rural human population from Mexico.Parasites & vectors · 2019Article
- Prevalence of intestinal parasites, with emphasis on the molecular epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp., in the Paranaguá Bay, Brazil: a community survey.Parasites & vectors · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBlastocystis sp. has a worldwide distribution and is often the most common human intestinal protozoan reported in children and adults in developing countries. The clinical relevance of Blastocystis sp. remains controversial. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis infection and its association with gastrointestinal symptoms among outpatients in Sebha city, Libya.
methodsA total of 380 stool samples were collected from outpatients attending the Central Laboratory in Sebha, Libya for routine stool examination. The presence of Blastocystis sp. was screened comparing light microscopy of direct smears against in vitro cultivation. Demographic and socioeconomic information were collected with a standardized questionnaire.
resultsThe overall prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 22.1%. The prevalence was significantly higher among patients aged ≥18 years compared to those aged < 18 years (29.4% vs 9.9%; x² = 19.746; P < 0.001), and in males compared to females (26.4% vs 17.5%; x² = 4.374; P = 0.036). Univariate analysis showed significant associations between Blastocystis infection and the occupational status (P = 0.017), family size (P = 0.023) and educational level (P = 0.042) of the participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that the age of ≥ 18 years (OR = 5.7; 95% CI = 2.21; 9.86) and occupational status (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.02, 4.70) as significant predictors of Blastocystis infection among this population. In those who had only Blastocystis infection but no other gastrointestinal parasitic infections, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was higher compared to those without Blastocystis infection (35.3% vs 13.2%; x² = 25.8; P < 0.001). The most common symptoms among these patients were abdominal pain (76.4%), flatulence (41.1%) and diarrhoea (21.5%).
conclusionsBlastocystis sp. is prevalent and associated with gastrointestinal symptoms among communities in Sebha city, Libya. Age and occupational status were the significant predictors of infection. However, more studies from different areas in Libya are needed in order to delineate the epidemiology and clinical significance of this infection.
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