Prevalence of D. fragilis infection in the household contacts of a group of infected patients.

INTRODUCTION: The results of a study on the household contacts of patients with D. fragilis infection are presented.

METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study was carried out on all Dientamoeba fragilis-infected patients treated at the Tropical Medicine Unit of Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias between 2012- 2017 and their household contacts. Three stool samples per patient and three stool samples from each of their household contacts were concentrated and analysed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of D. fragilis in all stool samples. Co-infection with E. vermicularis was studied in both groups. Patients and contacts who failed to deliver one or more samples for diagnosis and patients without household contacts were excluded.

RESULTS: 44 Patients infected with D. fragilis, as well as their 97 household contacts were enrolled. 50.5% of household contacts had a positive PCR for D. fragilis. 20 were also coinfected with E. vermicularis. The presence of infection was significantly more frequent in patients with children (34/15 versus 24/24; p= 0.064; OR: 2.267 [0.988-5.199]), E. vermicularis infection in the children being 20/29 versus 0/48 (p=0.0001), and in another family member being 29/20 versus 15/33 (p=0.008; OR: 3.190 [1.384-7.352]).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of D. fragilis infection in household contacts was high. It was associated with the presence of children in the family nucleus and coinfection with E. vermicularis irrespective of gender, age, rural area or contact with animals.