INTRODUCTION

Protozoan intestinal parasites are transmitted when
anyone comes in contact with infected feces through
contaminated soil, food or water. The most common
protozoa are Giardia and Entamoeba histolytica.
Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite
that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine,
causing giardiasis as the trophozoid of Giardia
lamblia attaches itself on to the convex surfaces of
the epithelial cells of the intestine and cause
disturbance of intestinal function, leading to
malabsorption of fat due to which patient suffers
persistent looseness of bowels, mild steatorrhoea,
harm by its toxic effect, traumatic and irritative
effect.

Amoebiasis is also termed “amoebic dysentery”
signifies a condition in which the infection is confined
to the intestinal canal and is characterized by the
passage of blood and mucus in the stool. Initially
the infection is limited entirely to the large intestine
but secondarily the parasite migrates to extra colonic
areas such as liver, lungs and brain. E. histolytica is
the third leading parasitic cause of death in humans
after malaria and schistosomiasis (Sebastiaan,

2007). It is also a serious helath threat in tropical
and subtropical developing areas. (Ohnishi, 2004).
The diseases caused by these intestinal protozoan
parasites are known as giardiasis, amoebiasis and
they are associated with diarrhea. Ashok et al., (1995),
studied children’s stool sample from Islamabad
hospital for intestinal parasites. Kaur et al., (2002)
investigated intestinal parasites of children in Delhi.
Waqar (2003) observed the intestinal infection in
children of northern areas of Pakistan. Al-Hindi et
al., (2005) found Protozoan infection in children of
Gaza.

Benetton et al., (2005) conducted epidemiological
study in Brazil. Chandrashekhar et al., (2005), studied
intestinal parasitic prevalence in school children of
Kaski, Nepal. Haque et al., (2006) observed E.
histolytica in children. Karaman et al., (2006)
recorded intestinal infection in municipal sanitary
workers in Malatya. Al Harthi and Jamjoom (2007)
studied infection due to Entamoeba in Makkah Al
Mukarramah. Barnawi et al., (2007) detected E.
histolytica dispar in population of Jeddah city. Fotedar
et al., (2007) observed E. histolytica E, dispar and
E. moshkouskii among the people of Sydney,
Australia. Hamze et al., (2009) observed intestinal
infection in north Lebanon. Sehgal et al., (2010)

A Record of Intestinal protozoan infection from different hospitals of Karachi
Pakistan

Rukhsana Talat1, Farzana Ibrahim1, Zaira1 and Qurat Ul Ain1

1Department of Biological Sciences Jinnah University for Women 5- C Nazimabad Karchi- 4600

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of human Intestinal protozoan parasites with special reference to Entamoeba histolytica
and Giardia lamblia was studied in different area of Karachi City. A total 234 cases were recorded
from 7 different hospitals of Karachi during January to December 2011. The total patients of Entamoeba
histolytica were 136 including 69 male with 50.73% and 67 female with 49.26%, while the total no of
patients suffering from Giardia lamblia were 98 from which 51 were male with 52.04% and 47 were
female with 47.95%.

Key words: Protozoan, Infection, Hospitals, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia

*Corresponding author: rukhsanatalat4@gmail.com

Vol 3 (2), July 2012; 12-17

studied intestinal parasites in pregnant women and
school children of Chandigarh, North India. Zahida
(2010) recorded the distribution of E. histolytica
among humans. Talat et al., 2012 studied Protozoan
i n t e s t i n a l i n f e c t i o n i n K a r a c h i , P a k i s t a n .

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The present study was carried out from January to
December 2011. Information for the present
investigation was collected from the pathological
laboratories of seven different hospitals, selected
from six towns of Karachi city, as Nazimabad town
including ’Saifee Hospital’, ‘Khokrapar Malir’ town
including ‘Sindh Govt. Hospital’, ‘Usman Memorial
Hospital’ from F. B Area, ‘Ibne-sina Hospital’ from
Gulshan-e-Iqbal town, and ‘Haleem Hospital’ located
in Sakhi Hasan North Nazimabad while ‘Khizar
Hospital’ and ‘The Hospital’ situated in Shah Faisal
Town.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Human Intestinal Protozoan Parasites are more
common in developing countries and cause high
mortality rate of the world, usually transmitted when
someone comes in contact with infected feces through
contaminated soil, food and water. The most common
protozoa are Giardia and Entamoeba. Children and
elderly are more likely to get infection and weaken
the immune system. Pregnant women may become
more serious (Sehgal et al., 2010). Present research
work was based on the collection of human intestinal
protozoan parasites among the people of different
regions of Karachi city reported from 7 different
hospitals, including ‘Saifee hospital’, ‘Sindh Govt.
hospital’, ‘Usman Memorial hospital’, ‘Ibne-sina
hospital’, ‘Haleem hospital’, ‘Khizar hospital’ and
‘The hospital’, located in different areas such as
Nazimabad, Khokrapar Malir, Fedral B. Area,
Gulshan e Iqbal, North Nazimabad and Shah Faisal
Town respectively, during January to December
2011.

Total 234 patients including male and female of all
age were found positive for protozoan intestinal

infection due to Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia
lamblia.

Amoebiasis due to Entamoeba histolytica was found
in highest intensity rates i.e. total 136 cases including
69 with 50.73% male and 67 with 49.26% female
while Giardiasis caused by Giardia lamblia observed
in 98 patients showing 51 male with 52.04% and 47
females with 47.95% in overall summarized record
(Table: 3) The overall combined infection cases of
both Giardia and Entamoeba were recorded in highest
incidence in ‘Saifee Hospital’ i.e. 70 patients having
29.9 % infection including 30 males with 42.85%
and 40 female with 57.14% (Table:3) intensity of
infection on second number found in ‘Usman
Memorial Hospital’ i.e. 49 patients with 20.94%
including 27 male with 55.10% and 22 females with
44.89% while the lowest intensity found in ‘Haleem
hospital’ i.e. 15 patients with 6.41% including 10
males with 66.6 % and 05 females with 33.33%,
The remaining hospitals as ‘Sindh Govt. Hospital’
showed 45 patients with 19.23 %, ‘Ibne sina hospital’
having 22 patients with 9.40%, ‘Khizar hospital’
have 17 patients with 7.26% and ‘The Hospital’
f o u n d 1 6 p a t i e n t s w i t h 6 . 8 3 % ( Ta b l e : 3 ) .

The incidence of protozoan intestinal infection was
found most common in the area of Nazimabad than
on 2nd no in F.B. Area and on 3rd no Khokrapar
Malir while the lowest incidence found in North
Nazimabad. Distribution of both the protozoan
parasites showed high percentage in males than
females except in ‘Saifee Hospital’ and ‘The Hospital’
(Table 1 and 2) It was verified by the results of Klein
(2000 a and b), that prevalence of E. histolytica is
higher in males than females because males are more
susceptible than females and generally exhibit
reduced immune responses and increased intensity
of infection compared to females. Shakya et al.,
(2006) evaluated that male had slightly higher
infection i.e. 43.8% than females which was 40.4%.
Ozyurt et al., (2007) found 76% in males and 33 %
in females. Talat (2012) reported 52.6% in males
and 47.40 % in females. Intestinal infections are
worldwide and have the greatest single worldwide
cause of illness and disease. Intestinal parasitic

Vol 3 (2), July 2012; 12-17

infection constitute a global health burden causing
clinical morbidity in 450 million people (Sehgal, et
al. 2010)
To minimize the risk for getting intestinal parasites
must adopted the sanitary laws and hygiene, use of
boil water for drinking, thorough wash green
vegetables and fruits before eating, and also wash
hands properly before eating meal, always eat fresh
and well cooked food. Avoid simple carbohydrates,
such as these found in refined foods, fruits, juices,
dairy products and all sugars, except honey. Eat more
raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets and
carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to

kill parasites, researchers found that a mixture of
honey and papaya seeds cleared stools of parasites
in 23 out of 30 subjects. Drink a lot of water to help
flush out system. Eat more fiber, which may help
get rid of worms, and keep restore tract healthy.
Digestive enzymes will help restore intestinal tract
to its normal state, which makes it inhospitable to
parasites. Papain is an enzyme from the papaya plant
that may help kill worms when taken 30 minutes
before or after meals. Vitamin C and zinc supports
the immune system. Uses of herbs are generally a
safe way to strengthen and tone the body’s systems.
(Carr and Frei., 1999)

Vol 3 (2), July 2012; 12-17

Table 1: Over all patients infected with Entamoeba histolytica diagnosed from seven different hospitals of Karachi
City during January to December 2011.

Months Saifee
Hospital

Sindh
Govt.
Hospital

Usman
Memorial
Hospital

Ibne-sina
Hospital

Haleem
Hospital

Khizar
Hospital

The
Hospital

Vol 3 (2), July 2012; 12-17

Table 3: Overall summarized record of the patients of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica collected from seven
different hospitals of Karachi during January to December 2011.

Table 2: Over all patients infected with Giardia lamblia diagnosed from seven different hospitals of Karachi City
during January to December 2011.

Saifee
Hospital

Sindh
Govt.

Hospital
Usman

Memorial
Hospital

Ibne-sina
Hospital

Haleem
Hospital

Khizar
Hospital

The
Hospital

GRAND
TOTAL

Hospitals
Names

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