Multiplex-PCR for diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica and Escherichia coli O157 in the patients of Wasit Province, Iraq

Abstract

This study was carried out at Wasit Province / Iraq in cooperation with Fairouz Hospital/ unit of microbiology. Samples were collected from many places at Wasit province. It included 100 stool samples from Iraqi patients with diarrhea. The study was conducted during the period from October to December, 2021 to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and Escherichia coli O157 bacteria. Only 65 stool sample (65%) were positive for Entamoeba  histolytica and E.coli O157. Rate of infection in current study with intestinal parasites was 65%  among diarrheal cases were that from those samples E.histolytica. The rate of E.histolytica infection was  65 (65%) samples, while only 14 E.coli  O157 isolates (21.5%) were positive using PCR technique. The higher rate of parasitic infection 15 (23.1%) was recorded in the age group (1-10) years old, while for E.coli O157 infection the rate was 4 (6.1%)  in the age group (1-10) years old. Regarding gender males for E.histolytica rate was 60% male and 40% females, for E.coli O157 rate was 50% to 50% in this study without significant differences.