Sains Malaysiana 40(10)(2011): 1123–1127

Blastocystis hominis: Kehadirannya di dalam Sampel Feses Kanak-kanak

Orang Asli di Pos Lenjang, Pahang, Malaysia

(Blastocystis hominis: Its Presence in the Faecal Samples of Orang Asli Children at Pos Lenjang, Pahang, Malaysia)

Mohamed Kamel Abd. Ghani

Jabatan Sains Bioperubatan, Fakulti Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

50300 Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hartini Yusof

Fakulti Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Puncak Alam

42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 15 July 2010/Accepted: 4 January 2011

ABSTRAK

Blastocystis hominis merupakan antara protozoa yang paling biasa ditemui di dalam sampel feses manusia di seluruh dunia. Prevalens infeksi protozoa ini adalah lebih tinggi di kalangan mereka yang tinggal di negara membangun berbanding negara maju. Seramai 71 orang kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Pos Lenjang, Pahang telah menjadi subjek dalam kajian ini. Bagi kajian yang lebih terperinci, kumpulan kanak-kanak ini telah dibahagikan menurut jantina dan umur. Sampel feses dikumpul dan setiap sampel diperiksa dengan menggunakan 3 teknik diagnostik iaitu teknik apusan langsung, konsentrasi formalin-eter dan perwarnaan trikrom bagi tujuan pengesanan dan pengenalpastian Blastocystis hominis. Prevalens infeksi Blastocystis hominis di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli adalah sangat tinggi iaitu 93%. Kanak-kanak perempuan didapati lebih ramai terinfeksi (97.5%) berbanding kanak-kanak lelaki (87.1%) walaupun secara statistiknya tidak signifikan (p>0.05). Protozoa ini juga telah menginfeksi kesemua kanak-kanak prasekolah (100%) manakala kanak-kanak yang bersekolah turut menunjukkan prevalens infeksi yang tinggi iaitu 86.5%. Daripada segi diagnosis, teknik perwarnaan trikrom didapati paling sensitif dan ia dapat mengenalpasti kesemua (66) sampel feses yang positif dengan Blastocystis hominis. Ini diikuti dengan teknik konsentrasi formalin-eter (43 sampel) dan teknik apusan langsung (18 sampel) (p<0.05). Prevalens infeksi Blastocystis hominis yang tinggi di kalangan kanak-kanak Orang Asli adalah berhubungkait dengan pelbagai faktor termasuk status sosioekonomi yang rendah, budaya, kekurangan kemudahan asas dan tahap pengetahuan mengenai penjagaan kesihatan serta kebersihan diri yang rendah. Selain itu, peningkatan prevalens infeksi dalam kajian ini menunjukkan pentingnya penggunaan teknik diagnostik yang lebih berkesan di dalam pemeriksaan rutin bagi memperolehi hasil diagnosis yang lebih tepat.

Kata kunci: Blastocystis hominis; Malaysia; Orang Asli

ABSTRACT

Blastocystis hominis is among the protozoa that is commonly found in the human faecal samples throughout the world. The prevalence of infection is higher among people living in developing countries than developed countries. Seventy-one Orang Asli children at Pos Lenjang, Pahang were enrolled in this study. For more detailed study, the children were divided according to gender and age groups. Faecal samples were collected and examined for the presence of Blastocystis hominis using three different diagnostic techniques, namely direct smear, formalin-ether concentration and trichrome stain. The prevalence of Blastocystis hominis infection among Orang Asli children was very high (93%). The infection was higher in females (97.5%) compared to males (87.1%) eventhough it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). All the preschoolers (100%) were found to be infected with the protozoa, while the school going children also showed a high prevalence of infection (86.5%). From the diagnosis aspect, trichrome stain was the most sensitive technique, detecting all the fecal samples (66) positive for Blastocystis hominis (p<0.05). It was followed by formalin-ether concentration (43 samples) and direct smear (18 samples). A high prevalence of Blastocystis hominis infection among Orang Asli children was closely related with various factors including low socioeconomic status, culture, lack of basic facilities and poor knowledge in health and personal hygiene. On the other hand, the result of the present study indicated that it is important to employ effective diagnostic technique in routine parasitological examination for more accurate diagnosis.

Keywords: Blastocystis hominis; Malaysia; Orang Asli

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*Corresponding author; email: mkamal@medic.ukm.my