Prevalence of intestinal parasites in children of elementary educational level in rural of daraa Governorate- Syria

ABSTRACT

Is to know the prevalence of intestinal parasites among children in elementary educational level in rural ofDaraa - Syria. A total of 766 stool samples were examined, they were collected from children in elementary educational level from 62 villages in rural ofDaraa in the period from July to October, 2009. Of 261 [34.7%] samples positive for parasites, 160 samples of them contained human pathogenic parasites. The pathogenic parasites according to their prevalence were Giardia lambilia [12.66%], Candida sp. [5.74%], Chilomastix mesnili [1.96%], Hymenolepis nana [1.94%], Strongyloides stercoralis [0.9%] and finally Enterobius vermicularis [0.39%]. Strongyloides stercoralis was detected for the first time in this area. The prevalence of nonpathogenic parasites was Entamoeba coll [9.4%], Blastocystis hominis [8.62%], Enteromonas intestinalis [0.65%], and Endolimax nana [0.39%]. It is worth mentioning thatAscaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba histolytica were not detected in any of the study samples. Giardia lamblia is the most common pathogenic protozoa in rural area of Daraa in Syria; while Hymenolepis nana is the most common intestinal helminthes in this area followed by Enterobius vermicularis then Strongyloides stercoralis