Gastrointestinal parasites presentations and histological diagnosis from endoscopic biopsies and surgical specimens

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose parasitic ova or worms during endoscopy, surgery or by histology from endoscopic or surgical specimen in our patients.

METHODS: The diagnosis of parasitic disease in our patients was made by histological examinations from biopsies obtained either during an upper gastrointestinal or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy or from surgical specimens.

RESULTS: Parasites were seen in endoscopic biopsies from upper gastrointestinal tract in 21 patients. Schistosoma ova was seen in biopsies from stomach or duodenum (12 patients). Small intestine biopsies showed Giardiasis (8 patients) and strongyloides (1 patient). Colonic biopsies showed schistosoma ova by paraffin section or by squash technique in 216 patients. Surgical specimens from 12 patients, who presented with acute abdomen and had surgery, due to appendicitis in 8 patients, in whom specimens showed (Schistosoma in 5 patients, amoebiasis in 2 patients and Trichuria in 1 patient). Four other patients presented with acute abdomen, where ischemic bowel necrosis or mesenteric vein thrombosis was found during surgery, specimens showed schistosoma ova.

CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites is not only made by stool but the diagnosis can be made by histology from endoscopic biopsies or surgical specimens.