SEROLOGICAL STUDY ON FASCIOLIASIS IN PATIENTS REFERRING TO THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, TEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, DURING 2008-20014

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease of livestock and human caused by Fasciola species. Here in, the result of serological evaluation of fascioliasis in people referring to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2008-20014 is presented. Demographic data, symptoms and eosinophil rate were registered for every patient. Using somatic antigen of Fasciola, ELISA was performed and the results were analyzed. Data were analyzed as well. Among 206 applicants, 24.7% were seropositive for fascioliasis, included 45% female and 55% male. Mean age of patients was between 13 to 67 yr. The highest rate of seropositivity was found among 20-30 yr old which coctituted about 39% of all patients. Most of the patients had hypereosinophilia. All patients had history of eating raw vegetables, or drinking unsafe water. Patients were referring from different provinces of Iran. These provinces in descending order included Guilan, Mazandaran, Ardabil, Khuzestan, Lorestan, North Khorasan, Kermanshah, Azerbaijan, Fars, Kordestan, Hamedan and Markazy.During recent years, fascioliasis has been increased in many provinces in Iran. Patients coming from Guilan and Mazandaran provinces were referred early after the onset of their symptoms. Most probably, physicians in this regeions are more alert on fascioliasis than other provinces. Previous wrong diagnosis was more common among patients referring from other provinces than latter provinces