Ae. Mohamed et al., Gastrointestinal parasites presentations and histological diagnosis from endoscopic biopsies and surgical specimens, SAUDI MED J, 21(7), 2000, pp. 629-634
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 his
tological examinations from biopsies obtained either during an upper gastro
intestinal or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy or from surgical specimens.
Results: Parasites were seen in endoscopic biopsies from upper gastrointest
inal tract in 21 patients. Schistosoma ova was seen in biopsies from stomac
h or duodenum (12 patients). Small intestine biopsies showed Giardiasis (8
patients) and strongyloides (1 patient). Colonic biopsies showed schistosom
a ova by paraffin section or by squash technique in 216 patients. Surgical
specimens from 12 patients, who presented with acute abdomen and had surger
y, 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 sc
histosoma 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.