Table 3 Intestinal parasites found in SpA-patients and control subjects.

From: Decreased fecal calprotectin levels in Spondyloarthritis patients colonized by Blastocystis spp.

 

Diagnostic method

Total

SpA-patients

(n = 51)

Control subjects

(n = 50)

p value

n

n

%

n

%

Parasite

Chilomastix mesnili

Microscopy

3

2

3.92

1

1.96

0.5579*

Endolimax nana

Microscopy

101

51

100.0

50

100.0

–

Entamoeba coli

Microscopy

12

5

9.80

7

13.73

0.5388*

Iodamoeba bütschlii

Microscopy

1

0

0

1

1.96

0.3149*

Entamoeba complex 1

Microscopy

3

1

1.96

2

4.00

0.5461*

Entamoeba histolytica 1

PCR

6

4

7.84

2

3.92

0.4000*

Blastocystis spp.

Microscopy and qPCR

73

34

66.67

39

76.47

0.2724*

Giardia intestinalis

Microscopy and qPCR

3

1

1.96

2

3.92

0.5579*

  1. (1): Because E. histolytica cannot be morphologically differentiated from E. dispar and E. moshkovskii by microscopic examination, a PCR assay was done to identify E. histolytica. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of Entamoeba complex in three samples. The E. histolytica PCR was negative for these three samples, but revealed six additional infections. (*) Z test of proportion differences.
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