IJMABHR International Journal of Medical and All Body Health ResearchIJMABHR 2582-8940 Anfo Publication House 308 10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.1.98-102 The Relationship between Intestinal Parasites and Chronic Digestive Disorders Al-AttarRahma Mozahim JabbarSaja Abbas Abdul SaadiAli M Department of Medical Laboratory Technologies, Mosul Medical Technical Institute, Northern Technical University, Iraq Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, University of Telafer, Mosul, Iraq Department of Medicinal Plant Technologies, Technical Agricultural College, Northern Technical University, Iraq 2025 6 1 98 102 14012025 12022025 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

The relationship between intestinal parasites and chronic gastrointestinal disorders is a topic of great clinical importance because of the potential role of parasitic infections in developing and exacerbating gastrointestitis. Intestinal parasites, including protozoa, helminthes, and other pathogens, are known to cause a wide range of digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In chronic cases, parasitic infections may contribute to long-term inflammation, immune system dysfunction, which can perpetuate digestive disorders. The presence of these parasites can complicate the diagnosis and management of chronic conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and other functional gastrointestinal disorders. This review examines the mechanisms through which intestinal parasites influence the gut, explores the clinical evidence linking parasitic infections with chronic digestive issues, and discusses the implications for diagnosis and treatment in affected populations. Further research is needed to better understand the interplay between these infections and chronic gastrointestinal disorders, as well as to develop effective management strategies.

 Intestinal parasitesChronic digestive disordersGastrointestinal conditionsPathogensDiarrhea References von Huth S, Thingholm LB, Kofoed PE, Bang C, Rühlemann MC, Franke A, Holmskov U. Intestinal protozoan infections shape fecal bacterial microbiota in children from Guinea -Bissau. mSystems. 2021;6(4):e00566-21. Pereira de Araújo M, Otake Sato M, Sato M, Bandara WMKM, Coelho FL, Souza RLM, Kawai S, Marques MJ. Unbalanced relationships: insights into the interaction between gut microbiota, geohelminths, and schistosomiasis. Microorganisms. 2022;10(9):1893. Hemphill A, Müller N, Müller J. Comparative pathobiology of the intestinal protozoan parasites Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium parvum. Pathogens. 2019;8(3):116. Das BB, Panda AK, Patra MP, Nayak K. Study on the role of gastrointestinal parasite in irritable bowel syndrome patients in a tribal region of India. Journal of Parasitic Diseases. 2022;46(2):406-12. Leung JL, Graham LA, Knowles SCL. Parasite-microbiota interactions with the vertebrate gut: synthesis through an ecological lens. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2018;6:18. Fitri LE, Candradikusuma D, Setia YD, Wibawa PA, Iskandar A, Winaris N, Pawestri AR. Diagnostic methods of common intestinal protozoa: current and future immunological and molecular methods. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022;7(5):71. Taghipour A, Ghodsian S, Jabbari M, Olfatifar M, Abdoli A, Ghaffarifar F. Global prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2021;115(5):457-70. Khurana S, Singh S, Mewara A. Diagnostic techniques for soil-transmitted helminths–recent advances. Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine. 2021;12:181-96. Cong W, Elsheikha HM. Biology, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of selected fish-borne parasitic zoonoses. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 2021;94(2):297-311. Adnan M, Xiao B, Xiao P, Zhao P, Bibi S. Heavy metal, waste, COVID-19, and rapid industrialization in this modern era—fit for sustainable future. Sustainability. 2022;14(17):10589. Wang L, Wang S, Zhang Q, He C, Fu C, Wei Q. The role of the gut microbiota in health and cardiovascular diseases. Molecular Biomedicine. 2022;3(1):2. Hanieh S, Mahanty S, Gurruwiwi G, Kearns T, Dhurrkay R, Gondarra V, et al. Enteric pathogen infection and consequences for child growth in young Aboriginal Australian children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2021;21:397. Kono HN, Mengome MFA, Ngondza BP, Matotou RHS, Akomezoghe LN, Ekomi B, et al. C-reactive protein and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in asymptomatic intestinal parasite carriers from urban and rural areas of Gabon. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2024;18(1):e0011842. von Huth S, Thingholm LB, Kofoed PE, Bang C, Rühlemann MC, Franke A, Holmskov U. Intestinal protozoan infections shape fecal bacterial microbiota in children from Guinea -Bissau. mSystems. 2021;6(4):e00566-21. Barati M, Taghipour A, Bakhshi B, Shams S. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and Campylobacter spp. among children with gastrointestinal disorders in Tehran, Iran. Parasite Epidemiology and Control. 2021;14:e00212. Thanasuwan S, Piratae S, Tankrathok A. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle in Kalasin Province, Thailand. Veterinary World. 2021;14(1):92-100. Ahmed M. Intestinal parasitic infections in 2023. Gastroenterology Research. 2023;16(1):1-5. Pereira de Araújo M, Otake Sato M, Sato M, Bandara International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research www.allmedicaljournal.com WMKM, Coelho FL, Souza RLM, et al. Unbalanced relationships: insights into the interaction between gut microbiota, geohelminths, and schistosomiasis. Microorganisms. 2022;10(9):1893. Fauziah N, Aviani JK, Agrianfanny YN, Fatimah SN. Intestinal parasitic infection and nutritional status in children under five years old: a systematic review. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022;7(11):371. Chávez-Ruvalcaba F, Chávez-Ruvalcaba MI, Santibañez KM, Muñoz-Carrillo JL, Coria AL, Martínez RR. Foodborne parasitic diseases in the Neotropics–a review. Helminthologia. 2021;58(2):119-33. Blitz J, Riddle MS, Porter CK. The risk of chronic gastrointestinal disorders following acute infection with intestinal parasites. Gut Microbes. 2018;9(2):236-44.