The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis according to gender in a university hospital in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Intestinal parasitoses lead to high morbidity and mortality rates, mainly in endemic areas; however, little is known about their prevalence in the Southern region of Brazil. The aim of the current study is to report the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and to assess such prevalence according to gender. Methods: Analytical, transversal and retrospective design including parasitological stool tests performed in a university hospital. Results: We included 3,126 parasitological stool test results in the study ­ 44% of them were from men and 10.1% of the total were positive. Commensal protozoa were the most frequent parasites (7.7%) and Endolimax nana was the most prevalent protozoan (3.7%). Giardia lamblia was the most frequent pathogenic parasite (1.3%), and it was followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%). Men presented higher positive result rates (13.0% vs. 7.8%; p<0.001) for commensal (7.2% vs. 5.1%; p=0.016) and pathogenic parasites (4.5% vs. 1.8%; p<0.001); as well as for protozoa (10.7% vs. 6.4%; p<0.001) and for nematodes (1.4% vs. 0.6%; p=0.036). Similarly, men presented a higher positive result ratio for E. nana (5.2% vs. 2.6%; p<0.001), Entamoeba coli (3.5% vs. 1.6%; p<0.001), G. lamblia (2.2% vs. 0.6%; p<0.001) and S. stercoralis (1.1% vs. 0.3%; p=0.013) than women. Conclusion: parasites were found in 10% of the examined samples and commensal parasites were the most prevalent. Men showed higher enteroparasitosis rates than women.