The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Tribal Parts of Khuzestan Province

Parasitic diseases are among the most important worldwide health problems, especially in developing countries. We have scant information about the epidemiology of intestinal parasites in tribal regions of (south of Iran), Khuzestan Province. So, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in this part of our country. In a cross-sectional study, using a cluster random sampling, 15 clusters were studied. Fifteen villages of southwest and 13 of northeast regions of Khuzestan Province were selected at random. In each village (tribal region) 20 – 25 families were selected (a total of 50 individuals in each village). A total of 1,494 individuals (789 males and 705 females) with different ages were studied for intestinal parasitic infestation by using the formalin-ether deposit method on all stool samples and direct spreading method for those with diarrhea. Fresh stool samples were collected and sent to the laboratory on the same day. Age of the participants ranged from six months to 100 years. The participation ratio was 40.4%. Of the participants, 379 (25.4%) were infested with at least one type of intestinal parasites (pathogenic/nonpathogenic protozoa/helminth). Three hundred and twenty-two (21.6%) participants were infested with intestinal protozoa and 57 (3.8%) participants with intestinal helminths. The most common intestinal protozoa were Giardia lamblia (10.9%), Entamoeba coli (9.4%), and Blastocystis hominis (2.4%). The most common intestinal helminths were Hymenolepis nana (2.5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.6%), and Trichostrongylus species (0.5%). The tribal parts of Khuzestan Province have a poor health status. There is an increase in the prevalence of giardiasis. Furthermore, significant differences existed in the prevalence rates of infestation with intestinal parasites between the two studied areas.