Resumen

GUZMAN DE RONDON, Carmen et al. Manifestaciones clínicas y diagnóstico parasitológico de la infección intestinal causada por dientamoeba Fragilis. Gen [online]. 2008, vol.62, n.3, pp.217-222. ISSN 0016-3503.

Dientamoeba fragilis (Df), a human intestinal flagellated of the Trichomonadida order, has been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. The diagnosis is made by observation of binucleated trophozoites in faeces, culture, or by using molecular biology. In this work, clinical and parasitological data of patients with Df are integrated, to establish a relation with the symptoms, the association with other intestinal parasites and to evaluate the methods used for parasitological diagnosis. Of 3729 patients evaluated between 1974 and 2005, in Laboratorio de Amibiasis, Cátedra de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 51 cases were positive for Df (1.4%); of these, Df was the only agent in 33.3% and in 66.7% it was associated with other protozoa. The most frequent association found was with Blastocystis hominis (Bh) (35.3%), or Bh and other protozoa (31.4%). No intestinal nematodes were found. In 16 patients with Df alone and 28 patients with Df, Bh and comensals, the most frequent symptoms were, diarrhea (64.7% and 32.1%), abdominal pain (11.7% and 25%), vomits (11.7% and 14.4%) respectively. There was statistical significance (p<0.001) on the frequency of Df (39.2%) in the group between 1-10 years. The examination of more than one faecal sample using fresh unpreserved stools samples, ferric hematoxylin stain and culture on Boeck- Drbohlav modified medium detected a greater number of cases (58.8%), as compared when using the two first methods only (41.2%), being statistically significant (p=0.032). It is recommended to consider Df as a pathogen when found in people with intestinal symptoms, in absence of other known pathogens, and to follow the methods mentioned above, specially with the culture which will increase the possibility of recovering this protozoa.

Palabras clave : Dientamoeba fragilis; intestinal protozoosis; parasitism; diarrhea.