title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites among primary schoolchildren in Derna District, Libya.
abstract: The prevalence of intestinal parasites and some hygienic factors was evaluated in primary schoolchildren in Derna District. A total of 1039 stool specimens were examined by direct smear and formaline-ether concentration methods. The results showed that 31% of the children were infected with at least one or two parasites. These parasites were Giardia lamblia (12.7%), Blastocystis hominis (6.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/ Entamoeba dispar (6.6%), Entamoeba coli (3.2%), E. hartmanni (1.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.1%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.1%). A significant difference was between infection rate and parent's education (P = 0.000), socio-economic status of the family (P = 0.000), family size and number of rooms in houses (P = 0.000). Also, there was a significant differences between infection rate and source of water for human consumption (P = 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Omar El-Mouktar University, Derna, Libya.
authors.forename: Gazala A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sadaga
authors.forename: Hamed H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kassem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors