title: Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal parasites in a community from Maracaibo, Venezuela.
abstract: The prevalences of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal parasites were assessed in a suburban community of Maracaibo, Venezuela, by examination of a stool specimen from each of 342 individuals, using iron-haematoxylin stained faecal smears and formalin-ether concentration. The overall parasitic infection rate was 80.4%, and 65.8% of the population had multiple infections. The overall amoebic infection rate, which was highest in female adults, averaged 39.7%. The E. histolytica infection rate was 8.7% and most of those infected were passing cysts. Entamoeba polecki was observed in two samples. Amongst the protozoa, Entamoeba coli was observed most frequently (24.8%) and Giardia lamblia was the predominant pathogen (13.0%). Trichuris trichiura (71.9%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (54%) were the most common parasites, particularly in school-children. The high rates of parasitic and multiple infections reflect the low socio-economic status of the community studied.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chacin-Bonilla
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonilla
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estevez
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suárez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology