Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Helminthic Parasites among the Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Western Iran; A Case-Control Study.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Rahimi Hospital, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
- 2Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Thi-Qar, Iraq.
- 3Universal Scientific Education and Research Network Office, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
- 4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Helminths modulate host immune responses through immunoregulatory mechanisms that may influence carcinogenesis. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of helminthic infections among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Lorestan Province, western Iran.Methods
This case-control study enrolled 87 CRC patients and 87 healthy controls from general hospitals between October 2022 and August 2024. Stool samples were examined via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration, with agar plate culture used to detect Strongyloides stercoralis.Results
Helminthic infections were found in 15 of 87 CRC patients (17.2%) versus 6 of 87 controls (6.9%). Trichostrongylus spp. was most common (52.4%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (19%) and S. stercoralis (14.3%). Among CRC patients, age under 40 years was associated with higher infection odds versus those ≥60 years (OR=12.33, 95% CI: 1.38-110.2, P=0.025), while animal contact was protective (OR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.30, P=0.008). Among controls, rural residence (OR=15.25, 95% CI: 1.70-136.5, P=0.015) and animal husbandry (OR=12.61, 95% CI: 1.32-120.5, P=0.024) increased odds, while frequent fast-food consumption was protective (OR=0.16, 95% CI: 0.03-0.94, P=0.045).Conclusion
Intestinal helminthic infections were significantly more prevalent among CRC patients than healthy controls, indicating potential clinical relevance in this population. Detection of S. stercoralis in CRC patients, along with links to environmental exposure factors, supports systematic parasitological screening in endemic regions, particularly before immunosuppressive treatment. Larger multicenter studies with molecular diagnostics are needed to clarify the association between helminthic infection and CRC.
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BibTeX
@article{moayyedkazemi2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Helminthic Parasites among the Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Western Iran; A Case-Control Study.}},
author = {Alireza Moayyedkazemi and Amal Khudair Khalaf and Abdolreza Mirjani and Akram Sepahvand and Parastoo Baharvand and Hossein Mahmoudvand},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22597},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974516},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Helminthic Parasites among the Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Western Iran; A Case-Control Study.
AU - Alireza Moayyedkazemi
AU - Amal Khudair Khalaf
AU - Abdolreza Mirjani
AU - Akram Sepahvand
AU - Parastoo Baharvand
AU - Hossein Mahmoudvand
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Iranian journal of parasitology
DO - 10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22597
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974516
AB - Background Helminths modulate host immune responses through immunoregulatory mechanisms that may influence carcinogenesis. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of helminthic infections among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Lorestan Province, western Iran.Methods This case-control study enrolled 87 CRC patients and 87 healthy controls from general hospitals between October 2022 and August 2024. Stool samples were examined via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration, with agar plate culture used to detect Strongyloides stercoralis.Results Helminthic infections were found in 15 of 87 CRC patients (17.2%) versus 6 of 87 controls (6.9%). Trichostrongylus spp. was most common (52.4%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (19%) and S. stercoralis (14.3%). Among CRC patients, age under 40 years was associated with higher infection odds versus those ≥60 years (OR=12.33, 95% CI: 1.38-110.2, P=0.025), while animal contact was protective (OR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.30, P=0.008). Among controls, rural residence (OR=15.25, 95% CI: 1.70-136.5, P=0.015) and animal husbandry (OR=12.61, 95% CI: 1.32-120.5, P=0.024) increased odds, while frequent fast-food consumption was protective (OR=0.16, 95% CI: 0.03-0.94, P=0.045).Conclusion Intestinal helminthic infections were significantly more prevalent among CRC patients than healthy controls, indicating potential clinical relevance in this population. Detection of S. stercoralis in CRC patients, along with links to environmental exposure factors, supports systematic parasitological screening in endemic regions, particularly before immunosuppressive treatment. Larger multicenter studies with molecular diagnostics are needed to clarify the association between helminthic infection and CRC.
SN - 1735-7020
SN - 2008-238X
ER -