Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Residents from a Rural Community in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela

• Main Authors: Rodolfo Devera, Blanco Ytalia, Iván Amaya, Eneida ílvarez, Jessika Rojas, Rosario Tutaya, Virma Velásquez
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad del Zulia,Facultad de Medicina,Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales 2014
• Subjects: Parásitos intestinales; prevalencia; Blastocystis spp; comunidad rural; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/f2de01c839a74f76813cf0c871cfef41

To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in a sample of residents from the rural community, “La Carolina,” in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela. Material and Methods: A fecal sample from each participating inhabitant was analyzed using techniques of direct examination, Kato, spontaneous sedimentation and Kinyoun staining. Of the 115 people tested, 97 were parasitized with a prevalence of 84.3 %. With regard to age, all groups were affected equally (2 = 0.812 df: 6 p> 0.05), although the largest number of cases (52 people) were found in the group of 0-9 years. Both sexes were equally affected (p> 0.05). The study found 54.6% polyparasitism and 45.4% monoparasitism. Nine species of intestinal parasites were diagnosed. The group of protozoa and chromists were more prevalent (94.8%) than helminths. Blastocystis spp. was the most prevalent parasite with 65.2 %. No intestinal coccidia were diagnosed. The most common parasitic associations were between protozoa, emphasizing Blastocystis spp. with Giardia intestinalis (22.6%) and Blastocystis spp. with Endolimax nana (15.1%). An important prevalence of intestinal parasites (84.3%) was determined in the rural community, “La Carolina,” State of Bolivar.