Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Parasitology International, cilt.114, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a dermatologic condition characterized by recurrent, pruritic hives lasting more than 6 weeks. Although usually associated with autoimmune or allergic mechanisms, recent studies suggest that parasitic infections may contribute to the pathogenesis of CSU. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of parasitic infections in CSU patients and to examine their potential associations. Methods: A total of 99 CSU patients and 30 controls were evaluated for parasitic infections by stool and serologic testing. In addition to wet mount microscopy, zinc sulfate flotation, formol-ether concentration, cellophane tape method, trichrome and modified Kinyoun acid-fast staining methods were applied to enhance the detection of parasites. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to detect Entamoeba histolytica antigen in stool and Toxoplasma gondii and Taenia spp. antibodies in serum. Results: A significantly higher rate of parasitic infection was found in the adult CSU group (52.5%) compared to the control group (30%; P = 0.033). The difference in total parasite presence between the urticaria and control groups was significant. T. gondii , G. intestinalis , and Blastocystis sp. were more common among urticaria patients. T. trichiura and Cryptosporidium were detected only in the urticaria group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that protozoans, particularly Blastocystis sp. may play a role in exacerbating CSU. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which parasites influence CSU pathogenesis and to explore the potential for targeted antiparasitic therapies.