Intestinal parasitic infections among inmates of orphanages in Alexandria Egypt

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

Impact of national schistosomiasis control program in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Nile Delta, Egypt: an independent evaluation

A longitudinal study has been conducted [1991-1997] to evaluate the impact of repeated selective chemotherapy on human transmission indices of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The study population included 8370 individuals inhabiting four villages and their satellites and representing high and low S. mansoni endemicity communities in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. A parasitological survey was conducted for three successive years [1991-1992 and 1993]. Each time infected individuals received praziquantel [PZQ] chemotherapy. In 1997, a fourth parasitological survey was done. During the period from 1994-1996 only routine diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis offered by the Ministry of Health and Population [MOHP] was going on. Study results revealed a decrease in S. mansoni prevalence and intensity of infection in the first three years. The drop was marked after the first year. In 1997, after the cessation of active case finding and treatment by the project team, an upward trend was observed for both prevalence and geometric mean egg count [GMEC] especially for the high prevalence villages. However, all indices were kept at significant low levels as compared to base-line values in 1991