Parasitic stool testing in newly arrived refugees in Calgary, Alta.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and rates of stool testing compliance, as well as associated patient characteristics, among newly arrived refugees at the Mosaic Refugee Health Clinic in Calgary, Alta.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Primary care clinic for refugee patients.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1390 new refugee patients at the clinic from May 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stool ova and parasite test completion and proportion of positive test results.

RESULTS

Of 1390 patients, 74.1% (95% CI 71.7% to 76.4%) completed at least 1 stool ova and parasite test. Among those completing tests, 29.7% (95% CI 26.9% to 32.6%) had at least 1 positive result. Patients aged 6 to 18 years were more likely to have positive test results (38.5%, 95% CI 32.2% to 45.0%) than patients aged 19 to 39 were, as were those last residing in Asia (36.4%, 95% CI 30.4% to 42.8%) or sub-Saharan Africa (30.9%, 95% CI 26.8% to 35.1%), compared with those arriving from the Middle East. Giardia lamblia, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar were the most prevalent parasites. If B hominis and D fragilis are excluded because of their lower potential to cause harm, the overall prevalence was 16.3%.

CONCLUSION

Given the high compliance of patients submitting stool ova and parasite tests and a high prevalence of positive test results in some refugee groups, targeted screening should be considered in newly arrived refugees at greater risk of intestinal parasites.