Trichostronyliasis Outbreak in North of Iran

Abstract

Background: Nematodes of Trichostrongylus genus are mainly parasites of herbivores, although human infections in sporadic form ‎ have been reported worldwide‎. Herein we reported an outbreak of trichostrongyliasis in Qaemshar city in Mazandaran province, north of Iran from May to June 2020. 

Methods: The investigation was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study on an outbreak occurred in Qaemshahr city in the north of Iran. The diagnosis of trichostrongyliasis cases was confirmed by hypereosinophilia and existence of Trichostrongylus ‎ eggs in the stool.

Results: Trichostrongyliasis ‎ diagnosed in twelve patients. The age range of patients was ‎10-78 years old. 83.5% of the patients were female and ‎75% of them lived in the rural area.  ‎ The most common ‎‏ ‏signs and symptoms of patients were abdominal pain‎ 91.6%, diarrhea 83.3%, ‎vomiting 41.6%, nausea 50%, anemia ‎‎‎‎8.3% and chill ‎ ‎16.6% respectively. ‎ These patients undertook a course of treatment consisting of antihelminth ‎drug ‎for adult ‎and albendazole for children.‎ Symptoms of trichostrongyliasis ‎ improved completely after therapy‎.

Conclusions: Our study indicated that trichostrongyliasis may be a major parasitic aetiology for gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain among rural residents in endemic areas with outbreak presentations.