424995

RISK FACTORS OF INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG FOOD HANDLERS IN EGYPT

Article

Last updated: 04 May 2025

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Tags

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Abstract

Food handlers play an important role in transmission of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) 
during manufacturing, processing, handling, and serving of foodstuff. This study determined the 
prevalence of IPIs among food handlers in Greater Cairo, and the associated risk factors. A cross 
sectional study was designed as 250 food handlers attending four provision health offices from 
different governorates of Greater Cairo were examined. Demographic data and risk factors that 
increase the IPIs transmission were collected in designed questionnaire. Stool samples were col
lected and examined by direct wet/iodine mounts, formol diethyl acetate concentration, and 
modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. The results showed that sixty-five food handlers 
(26%) had IPIs. The commonest detected parasites were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (24.6%), 
Entamoeba coli (20%), Blastocystis hominis (16.9%), Giardia intestinalis (12.3%), Enterobius 
vermicularis (10.8 %), and Ascaris lumbricoides (7.7 %). A higher significant (p<0.001) preva
lence of IPIs was among food handlers from rural areas, with low educational levels, having nei
ther health certificates nor personal hygienic control. However, insignificant differences were 
noticed regarding age, sex, and working experience.

DOI

10.21608/jesp.2025.424995

Keywords

Food handlers, IPIs, Intestinal parasites, Stool examination

Authors

First Name

MAI

Last Name

SHEHATA

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

Email

maishehata@med.asu.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

AHMED

Last Name

ABDEL-GHANI

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

KHALIFA

Last Name

KHALIFA

MiddleName

E.

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

HEBA

Last Name

AMINOU

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

55

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

55372

Issue Date

2025-04-01

Receive Date

2025-04-29

Publish Date

2025-04-01

Page Start

1

Page End

8

Print ISSN

1110-0583

Online ISSN

2090-2549

Link

https://jesp.journals.ekb.eg/article_424995.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=424995

Order

2

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,127

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology

Publication Link

https://jesp.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

RISK FACTORS OF INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG FOOD HANDLERS IN EGYPT

Details

Type

Article

Created At

04 May 2025