Evaluation of Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles for the Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasites, Isolated from Displaced Children in Kirkuk Province-Iraq

Background: In Kirkuk province, the number of internally displaced people has reached 370,000 with more expected as government forces and affiliated militias are targeting the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria-controlled district of Hawija in south-west Kirkuk. Laboratory-intensive way like microscopy still remain the mainstay of some diagnostic laboratories and fast diagnosis has always been a priority to find out appropriate treatment and prevent fatalities also advances in diagnostics can assist prevent transmission and obtain active surveillance. Objectives: This work is toevaluation of diagnostic efficiency of silver nanoparticles in staining technique for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites, because the first step in controlling and treatment of parasites is to isolate and identify them. Therefore we have decided to know the intestinal parasites which infect children aged 1-10 years among displaced population in Kirkuk province. Methodology: The present study include the using of synthesized silver nanoparticles, with sizes going from 16 nm to 47 nm for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites with the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) or sun light. For this purpose a total of 411 random stool samples were collected by using disposable stool containers containing normal saline from children aged 1-10 years in Laylan 1 and Laylan 2 camps located 19 Km southeast of Kirkuk province northern of Iraq, twice in a week, during the period from April until the end of June 2018. Results: The study presented the occurrence of two large groups of parasites, protozoans and helminthes with high efficiency diagnosis due to use of silver nanoparticles during a staining technique, included five (5) protozoans belonging to following Classes: Sarcodina ( Entamoeba histolytica 2.18% and Entamoeba coli 1.45%), Mastigophora ( Giardia lamblia 2.67% and Trichomonas hominis 1.70%) and Ciliophora ( Balantidium coli 0.72%); as well as four (4) parasitic Helminths belonging to class Cestoda (Hymenolepis nana 0.72%) , Trematoda (Faciolopsis buski 0.24%) and Nematoda (Ascaris lumbrecoides 1.21%and Enterobius vermicularis 3.4%). Compression between stained with 2% Silver Nitrate and non stained samples were explained in the present study by presentation of a colored images. Conclusion: prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection differ and make variation depending on the type of parasite groups and parasite species. The present estimation was within the range of 0.24% 3.40%. Also It can be concluded that the using of silver nanoparticles in staining technique can be consider as a first attempt in the intestinal parasitic diagnosis in Iraq with the high efficiency.