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Article Type

Article

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasites use fingernails as an environmental reservoir to facilitate fecal-oral transmission through the subungual region.
The purpose of this study was to look at the variety and frequency of parasite infection under the fingernails of various Iraqi demographic groups in Wasit Province.
Methods and Procedures: One hundred people were screened, including members of the general public, schoolchildren, occupants in dorms, and agricultural laborers. Fingernail swabs and clips were used to gather samples, which were subsequently examined using direct microscopy and 10% Techniques for sedimenting potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Results: 40.0% of people had parasite contamination overall. A high percentage of polyparasitism (35.0%) was found among the 54 isolates that were found. There were six parasite species found: The most common species was Enterobius vermicularis (35.19%), which was followed by Entamoeba histolytica (18.52%), Hookworms (14.81%), Giardia lamblia (11.11%), Strongyloides stercoralis (12.96%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (7.41%). According to demographic research, agricultural workers (40.0%) showed a greater diversity of soil-transmitted helminths, while dorm occupants had the highest infection rate (53.3%), mostly with E. vermicularis. Reduced nail-trimming frequency was found to be significantly correlated with an increased risk of infection.
Conclusion: The results show that fingernails constitute a significant mechanical vector for intestinal parasites in the area. The high incidence of helminths and protozoa is a result of environmental exposure and inadequate subungual cleanliness. To break the cycle of transmission in high-risk communities, immediate public health initiatives are needed, with a focus on mandated handwashing and routine nail care.

Keywords

Intestinal parasites, Fingernails, Subungual contamination, Wasit Province, Enterobius vermicularis, Public health

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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