Assessment of Entamoeba Gingivalis and Trichomonas Tenax in Patients with Chronic Diseases and its Correlation with Some Risk Factors

Trichomonas tenax (T. tenax) and Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) are two oral protozoan parasites that are universal and found in patients with poor oral hygiene, as well as chronic and periodontal diseases. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of some parameters, such as age, gender, education, residency, smoking, and dental cleaning routines, on the incidence of these parasites in the oral cavity of the patients participating in this study. A total of ۲۳۰ individuals with chronic diseases, ۹۷ of whom were patients (۴۴ females and ۵۳ males) participated in the present study. Dental plaque and saliva samples were collected from each patient and examined under light microscopy with Giemsa staining. Out of ۲۳۰ dental plaque samples, ۶۰ (۲۶.۰۸%) samples were positive for E. gingivalis, while ۳۷ (۱۶.۰۸%) cases were positive for T. tenax. Diabetic patients showed high E. gingivalis percentage (n=۱۲; ۲۰%) (P=۰.۰۰۰*). However, thyroid disorders showed a low percentage. Hypertensive patients showed a high percentage for T. tenax (n=۶; ۱۶.۲۱%) (P=۰.۰۰۰*), while tuberculosis patients showed the lowest percentage. Patients with hypertension, smoking, heart disease, and diabetes showed statistical significance for the presence of these parasites. Equally, patients older than ۳۰ years have shown a higher rate of infection. According to the findings, E. gingivalis was detected in ۵۸.۳۳% and ۴۱.۶۶% of the urban and rural populations, respectively. Furthermore, T. tenax was detected in ۸۱.۰۸% and ۱۸.۹۱% of the urban and rural populations, respectively. Parasitic contagions were comparatively popular in patients with chronic and periodontal illness.