Intestinal parasitoses.

BACKGROUND

Intestinal parasitoses is a clinical problem in the developing world and severe parasitaemia may be associated with retroviruses.

OBJECTIVE

Studies on intestinal parasitoses were conducted in Dominica, and the health implications in an HTLV-1 endemic area were discussed.

METHOD OF STUDY: A retrospective study of data of stool samples analysed at the parasitology unit of the medical laboratory services of Princess Margaret Hospital, Dominica, was conducted in January-December 1999.

RESULTS

Parasites were found in 393 out of 3,752 stool samples (10.47%). The main parasites were Entamoeba coli, 1.4% (51/3,752); hookworm, 1.5% (56/3,752); Giardia lamblia, 1.4% (51/3,752); Strongyloides stercoralis, 1.0% (37/3,752); Ascaris lumbricoides, 0.8% (28/3,752); and Trichuris trichiura, 0.9% (34/3,752).

CONCLUSION

Intestinal parasites are still endemic in Dominica, but significant reduction in prevalence has occurred over the last two decades.