Prevalence and clinical impact of intestinal parasitic infections in pediatric kidney transplant recipients with Diarrhea: A case-control study | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 July 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.389135.2838 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Shimaa M. Abdel-Aal   1; Iman F. Eryan 2; Mousa AM Ismail 1; Iman R Abdel-Shafi 1
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| 1Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt | ||||
| 2Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are more vulnerable to parasitic infections. This study aimed to assess intestinal parasitic infections among KTR children with diarrhea attending the Tertiary University Pediatric Hospital (TUPH). Methods: A case-control study included 74 KTR children and 74 healthy children. All collected Stool specimens were examined for intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) using three techniques: wet mount, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Laboratory data, including blood picture, serum creatinine, and levels of tacrolimus were collected. Results: Among the 74 KTR, 59.5% were males and 40.5%were females, age ranged from 4 to 17 years. In healthy controls, 51.4% were females, 48.6% were males, and the age ranged from 2.5 to 16 years. IPI rate was 35.1% in KTR versus 10.8% in controls (P< 0.001). The Giardia duodenalis infection rate was 24.3% and 2.7% in the cases and controls, respectively (P< 0.001). Blastocystis spp. Infection was detected in 5.4 % and 8.1% of cases and controls, respectively. Whereas Cryptosporidium spp. and Hymenolpis nana were detected in cases at a rate of 2.7% but were absent in controls. Among the 74 KTR children, all demographic data, immunosuppressive regimens, and laboratory parameters were non-significant in parasite-infected versus non-infected KTR, except for the total leucocytic count. For the gastrointestinal manifestations, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea were more significant in infected KTR compared to non-infected KTR. Conclusion: Increased occurrence rate of parasitic infection among KTR children on maintenance immunosuppressive therapy highlights the necessity of routine stool analysis for IPIs among KTR. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| kidney transplant; intestinal parasites; diarrhoea; maintenance immunosuppression regimens | ||||
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