Epidemiological Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica Infections Among the Patients Attending Nyanza District Hospital, Rwanda in 2018

Background and aims: Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal parasite and a causative agent ofamoebiasis which is a common life-threatening parasitic disease. This study was intended to determinethe prevalence of E. histolytica and to provide the primary data about its infections among the patientsattending Nyanza District Hospital in Rwanda.Methods: Bottles were used to collect 138 stool specimens from patients. All the samples were physicallyanalyzed based on their colors, states, and the presence of blood or mucus. The wet preparationmethod and zinc sulphate floatation technique were used to concentrate the parasites. Microscopicanalysis was done to examine the presence of cysts and trophozoites. Data were statistically analyzedby SPSS using chi-square test and independent t test.Results: The prevalence of E. histolytica was 15.94%. The sex distribution of infections revealed thatmales (21.54%) were more infected than females (10.95%). The highest prevalence of E. histolyticawas found in the age group of 1-19 years old (27.11%) and the lowest prevalence was observed in theage group of 20-39 years old (6.89%). A prevalence of 33.33% was reported among the people whodirectly drink tap water and 40% of infections among the patients who did not wash their hands beforeeating and after using latrines.Conclusion: Overall, E. histolytica is still considered as a health burden in Nyanza District Hospital.Therefore, it is vital to control direct exposure to its risk factors for mitigating the occurrence ofamoebiasis.