RESUMO
The present study was conducted on inmates of six orphanages in Alexandria, Egypt. The study sample included 221 orphans in order to investigate the pattern of intestinal parasitic infections. Formol ether sedimentation technique was used to recover the intestinal parasites. Modified Zeihl-Neelsen staining technique was used to identify Cryptosporidium oocysts and scotch tape technique was applied for children aged 1-6 years to diagnose enterobiasis. Twenty-four sweeping and 192 door locker samples were also processed and examined microscopically for the presence of parasitic cysts and ova. Overall, 28% of the examined children were infected. The prevalence of direct and indirect transmitted parasites was 22% and 9%, respectively. Bad personal hygiene was associated with a high percentage of infection. The prevalence of both giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis was higher among diarrheic children. Sweeping and door locker samples were all negative; thus, the role of personal hygiene as a predisposing factor for intestinal parasitosis should be emphasized on