title: Prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pos Senderut, Pahang, Malaysia.
abstract: The current study determined the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among the Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pos Senderut, Pahang, Malaysia. The overall intestinal protozoan infection rate was 85% (261 out of 307). The highest prevalence rates were due to Entamoeba coli (24.4%), Giardia lamblia (21.8%), Blastocystis hominis (21.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica (15.0%). The prevalence of Iodamoeba butschlii was only 2.9%. Among the positive samples, mixed infection with B. hominis and E. histolytica was 3.3%, B. hominis and G. lamblia was 2.9%, G. lamblia and E. histolytica was 2.0% and triple infections (B. hominis, G. lamblia and E. histolytica) was 1.0 %. The prevalence of the infection was high in all age groups (6-14 years old). Thus, we can conclude that intestinal protozoan infections are still representing a serious public health problem in aboriginal communities, especially among children.
authors.forename: Talal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Harazi
authors.forename: Mohamed Kamel Abd
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.forename: Hidayatulfathi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Othman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044382:Population Groups; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012737:Sex Factors