Intestinal and blood parasites of man on Alor Island Southeast Indonesia.

ABSTRACT

A survey of blood and intestinal parasites in a coastal and a mountainous area of the remote island of Alor, southeastern Indonesia revealed widespread infection with pathogenic intestinal protozoa and helminths, malaria and filaria. Amoebiasis (31.2%), ascariasis (35.3%) and hookworm infections (28.6%) were common, reflecting primitive sanitation and hygiene. Trichuriasis rates (6.8%) were less than expected perhaps due to the prolonged dry season and soil factors in the area. Timor filariasis was found in coastal villagers (10.5%), but not in persons living at an elevation of 500 meters; a low rate of bancroftian filariasis (1.8%) was found in both areas. Malaria, caused by P. vivax, P. falciparum and P. malariae was mesoendemic. Soil-transmitted and vector-borne parasitic infections are an important health problem in the populations examined.