ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents of rehabilitation center of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, southern Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in central rehabilitation institute of Hormozgan province in summer 2010. Fecal samples of all 133 residents (72 males, 61 females) aged 3-52, were collected in triplicate. Specimens were examined by direct smear, formalin-ether concentration techniques and stained by permanent Trichrome, Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.5. Results:Intestinal parasitic infections were seen in 48.5%(64 out of 133 subjects:53.4%in males and 46.6%in females). Strongyloides stercoralis with 17.3%showed the highest incidence followed by Entamoeba coli (9.8%), Blastocystis hominis (7.5%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Endolimax nana (2.3%), Hymenolepis nana (0.8%), Oxyuris vermicularis (0.8%), and Chilomasix mesnili (0.8%). Double infections were found to be as: Strongyloides stercoralis+Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Entamoeba coli+Giardia lamblia (1.5%), Entamoeba coli+Blastocystis hominis (1.5%), Oxyuris vermicularis+Entamoeba coli (0.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis+Entamoeba coli (0.8%), respectively. Conclusions:Our findings reveal that strongyloidiasis is a common disease among mentally retarded population in southern Iran.