Kebede, Tadesse(PhD)Erko, Berhanu(Professor)Adugna, Shimeles2018-07-042023-11-052018-07-042023-11-052015-09http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6195Abstract:-Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality, especially among school-aged children. The diagnosis commonly relies on the detection of trophozoite, cyst, oocyst, parasites egg, or larvae in stool. However, infections often escape diagnosis due to inefficiency of diagnostic methods among others (like, inappropriate sampling and inadequate skill of laboratory personnel). So, the aim of this study was to evaluate or compare the diagnostic performance or operational characteristics of three different diagnostic techniques for the determination of the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infections in order to explore a better diagnostic method in the study area. Method: Institution based crosssectional study was conducted in Wosha Soyama primary School, Wondo Genet area. Students were selected by systematic random sampling and stool samples were collected. Samples were screened for the detection and intensity of intestinal parasitic infection using Mini parasep ® SF faecal parasite concentrator, Kato-Katz thick smear and McMaster egg counting technique. Data were entered in to Excel and analyzed with SPSS version 22 and Stata version 13. RESULT: - Overall 86.1% (328/381) of samples were found positive for intestinal parasitic infection. Poly-parasitism were found in 54.1% (206/381) of the stool samples examined. The prevalence of intestinal parasites using the Mini parasep ® SF faecal parasite concentrator, Kato-Katz and McMaster were 77.7% (296/381), 68.8% (262/381) and 47.5% (181/381), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of Mini parasep ® SF faecal parasite concentrator were 90.2%, 100%, 72.7% and 100%, for Kato-Katz thick smear 80.0%, 100%, 64% and 100% and for McMaster 55.2%, 100%, 57.6% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mini parasep ® SF faecal parasite concentrator detects many helminths including cysts of protozoan parasites than the two methods. It had low egg counting ability compared to the two methods, except higher mean egg count for Hymenolopis nana and Hook worm than Kato -Katz thick smear. Kato- Katz also showed better performance than McMaster except for Hookworm and Hymenolopis nana. McMaster showed better performance for Hookworm than both methods. In addition it had better performance than Kato- Katz for Hymenolopis nana. Kato-Katz also had more sensitivity and negative predictive value than McMaster. Moreover, Kato Katz showed better performance in assessing intensity of infection for most helminths detected than the two methods. Intestinal parasitic infections showed alarming prevalence and intensity of infection in study area. Recommendation: For mapping priority areas for control, monitoring and evaluation of programs impact, or for surveillance purpose and routine diagnosis of intestinal parasites further evaluation of Mini parasep ® SF relative to other methods and strength health promoting activities in this area is recommended. Keywords: Diagnostic performance, Mini parasep® SF, Kato-Katz, McMaster, Intestinal parasites, school children, EthiopiaenDiagnostic performanceMini parasep® SFKato-Katz, McMasterThesis