title: Giardiasis and amoebiasis infections in three Saudi closed communities.
abstract: Two hundred and eighteen residents (131 healthy and 87 mentally or physically retarded) of a children's nursery, a foster house and a rehabilitation centre for the handicapped in Abha, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were examined for intestinal parasitism. About 30% of the population of the three communities were found to harbour asymptomatic infections with either Giardia lamblia and/or Entamoeba spp. Giardia cysts were identified in 19.3% of those examined. Entamoeba histolytica was found in 18.4% of the residents of the rehabilitation centre only. Entamoeba coli infections were found in residents of both the foster house and rehabilitation centre (6.0 and 25.3% respectively). The prevalence of infection with the three parasites was significantly higher in the rehabilitation centre than in the children's nursery and foster house.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: al-Awad
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: al-Madani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009724:Nurseries, Infant; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology