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Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in food handlers of Iran: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis
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  • Khojasteh Sharifi-Sarasiabi ,
  • Mehrgan Heydari -Hengami,
  • Azar Shokri,
  • Saeed Hosseini Teshnizi
Khojasteh Sharifi-Sarasiabi
Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences

Corresponding Author:sharifisarasiabi@gmail.com

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Mehrgan Heydari -Hengami
Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences
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Azar Shokri
North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences
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Saeed Hosseini Teshnizi
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Abstract

Food handlers regardless whether preparing or serving food, key roles in transmission of food-borne infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in food handlers. In present study, a comprehensive literature search was carried out in electronic databases including: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), Iran Medex and Iran Doc to identify all the published studies from 2000 to 31st April, 2019. A total of 25 articles from different regions of Iran identified and fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Totally 140447 cases were examined and 1163 cases were infected with intestinal parasites. Of all cases, 19516 were male and 5901 were female with 1163 and 652 infected case respectively. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was evaluated 14% [95%CI: 11-17%]. Results indicated that protozoan such as Giardia lamblia, with prevalence of 41.0% [95%CI: 25.0%-59.0%], Blastosystice hominis with 28% [95%CI: 15.0%-44.0%] and Entamoaba coli with 22.0% [95%CI: 16.0%-29.0%] had the highest prevalence while, Dientamoeba fragilis 5.0% [95%CI: 4.0%-7.0%], Iodamoeba. bütschlii 5.0% [95%CI: 2.0%-8.0%], Chilomastix mesnili 5.0% [95%CI: 2.0%-9.0%] and Endolimax. nana with 3.0% [95%CI: 1.0%-7.0%], were less prevalent. Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides 7.0% [95%CI: 0.0%-29.0%] was more prevalent helminthes followed with Enterobius vermicularis 3.0% [95%CI: 1.0%-5.0%], Hymenolepis nana 2.0% [95%CI: 1.0%-3.0%], Taenia spp 2.0% [95%CI: 0.0%-7.0%] and Trichuris. trichiura 1.0% [95%CI: 0.0%-1.0%]. Our results revealed the high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in food handlers in Iran. Monitoring programs to prevent and controlling of transmission to individuals are needed