Incidence of Dientamoeba fragilis in faecal samples submitted for routine microbiological analysis
Windsor, J.J.; Rafay, A.M.; Shenoy, A.K.; Johnson, E.H.
British Journal of Biomedical Science 55(3): 172-175
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0967-4845 PMID: 10367400 Document Number: 485671
Over a six-month period, 857 faecal samples were submitted to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman, for routine microbiological examination. All samples were stained using the Gomori trichrome method. Trophozoites of Dientamoeba fragilis were detected in 41 (5.1%) patients, making it the most common enteropathogen found in the study. Of the patients with pure D. fragilis infection, 83% had abdominal pain, the duration of which varied from one month to two years. The use of permanently stained smears allowed detection of D. fragilis for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman.