{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T14:40:53Z","timestamp":1792593653296,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Korean Society of Epidemiology","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004160","name":"Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1031"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1031"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004160","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["e-epih.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Epidemiol Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>OBJECTIVES: Blastocystis hominis is a very common large intestinal protozoan with global prevalence in humans and non-human hosts. No precise statistics exist regarding the geographical distribution of Blastocystis that would enable the identification of high-risk communities. Therefore, the current research aimed to characterize the spatial patterns and demographic factors associated with B. hominis occurrence in northern Iran.METHODS: The current study was performed among 4,788 individuals referred to health centers in Mazandaran Province, from whom stool samples were obtained. Socio-demographic data were gathered using a questionnaire. Samples were examined by a direct wet mount, the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, and trichrome staining. Moran local indicators of spatial association and a geographically weighted regression model were utilized to analyze the results.RESULTS: Generally, the infection rate of Blastocystis parasites was 5.2%, and was considerably higher in the age group of 10-14 years (10.6%) than in other age groups (p=0.005). Our data showed important associations between the occurrence of B. hominis and age, residence, job, contact with domestic animals, anti-parasitic drug consumption, and elevation above sea level (p&lt;0.001).CONCLUSIONS: The current study characterized for the first time the infection rate and risk of B. hominis in the north of Iran, and produced a prediction map. It is expected that this map will help policymakers to plan and implement preventive measures in high-risk areas and to manage already-infected patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4178\/epih.e2019009","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,3,28]],"date-time":"2019-03-28T12:51:14Z","timestamp":1553777474000},"page":"e2019009","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4178\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Geospatial analysis and epidemiological aspects of human infections with Blastocystis hominis in Mazandaran Province, northern 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