Background: Intestinal parasitosis is one of several health concerns about immigrants who travel from endemic to non-endemic regions. Reliable rapid sensitive diagnostic tools, for use in non-endemic regions, are urgently required to enable frequent assessment of immigrant workers in jobs where risk of local transmission is a particular concern (e.g. food-handlers). We assessed the burden of intestinal protozoa in newly arrived immigrants and those applying for renewal of work permits in Qatar (n = 735), by both microscopic examination of stool samples and by Real Time PCR methodology.

Results: Prevalence was considerably higher using RT-PCR compared with coproscopy (Blastocystis hominis: 65.2 vs 7.6%; Giardia duodenalis: 14.3 vs 2.9%; Entamoeba histolytica: 1.6 vs 1.2%). Dientamoeba fragilis was sought only by RT-PCR (prevalence of 25.4%). Prevalence of G. duodenalis was significantly higher in male subjects, associated with blue collar workers and declined over time. Prevalence of B. hominis varied significantly with region of origin of subjects with highest values recorded among African immigrants. Prevalence of D. fragilis also varied with region of origin of subjects, and was lower in young female subjects and in renewal applicants compared with first-time applicants for work permits.

Conclusions: We strongly recommend that, henceforth, intestinal protozoa should be screened by RT-PCR, with a particular focus on frequent assessment of immigrant food-handlers.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical approval for access to these data was obtained from the Medical Research Centre and Research Committee at HMC, Qatar (Research protocol # 16367/16 (NPRP8–1556–3-313). In accordance with the regulations and laws of the State of Qatar, in addition to obtaining a satisfactory Pre-Employment Certificate PEC, all applicants for resident status and for work permits, are obliged to undergo a medical examination at the Medical Commission. Those recruited for the present project were selected randomly from among newly arrived immigrants at the Medical Commission and those applying for a renewal of their work permits. After the objectives of the work had been explained, if subjects agreed to participate, each completed an informed consent form. In addition to the routine examination, personal details were recorded and each participant provided a stool sample for analysis. On completion of the data-base, subjects were anonymized and considered thereafter only via their reference numbers.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis in...

Fig. 1

Prevalence of Blastocystis hominis in subjects from four regional areas, in each of...

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis in...

Fig. 2

Prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis in male and female subjects in each of the...