Objective: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPE) are common all over the world, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. IPE in children may cause malnutrition, malabsorption, anemia, growth retardation, learning difficulties, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal system complaints. Rotavirus and adenovirus are common and clinically important viral acute gastroenteritis agents, especially in children. In acute gastroenteritis in childhood, co-infections involving more than one pathogen can be seen. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the frequency of co-infections of IPE and adenovirus/ rotavirus infections, and to examine the relationship between the presence of intestinal parasites and occult blood positivity in the stool.

Methods: A total of 136 patients with gastrointestinal complaints were included in the study. Fecal occult blood, adenovirus/rotavirus and Cryptosporidium parvum/ Giardia intestinalis/ Entamoeba histolytica antigens were investigated by using commercial rapid diagnosis kits in stool samples that were parasitologically analyzed by conventional methods.

Results: The mean age of 68 patients with one or more IP detected by conventional methods in the stool was 31.7 years; the mean age of 68 patients who did not have any intestinal parasites in the stool was 36.6. Blastocystis sp. was detected in 57 of 68 (83.3%) patients with IP. A total of 136 stool samples, E. histolytica antigen was positive in one, G. intestinalis in four, C. parvum in 16 with C. parvum/ G. intestinalis/E. histolytica antigen detection test. Fecal occult blood antigen positivity was found in 38.2%, rotavirus in 31.6% and adenovirus in 29.4%. The relationship between the presence of Blastocystis sp. and occult blood, adenovirus and rotavirus antigen positivity was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: More comprehensive studies using molecular-based tests are needed to better understand the synergistic relationships between intestinal parasites and other enteric pathogens in gastrointestinal infections.