prospective study on parasites among expatriate workers in Al-Baha from 2009-2011, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

AI-Baha is an area with large influx of expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia. This study was carried out from October 2009 to January 2011 on expatriate workers [2000] to determine the prevalence of parasitosis. Urine and stool samples were collected and specifically examined. The results showed that 1079 [53.95%] were infected with one or up to ten parasitic species. Trichuris trichiura had the highest prevalence 190 [17.6%]. Other helminthes were Ascaris lumbricoides 179 [16.58%], Ancylostoma duodenal 163 [15.10%], Hymenolepis nana 120 [11.12%], Taenia saginata 119 [11.02%], Strongyloides stercoralis 28 [2.59], Enterobius vermicularis 16[1.48%], and Schistosoma mansoni 4 [0.37%]. Protozoan parasites were Giardia lamblia 152 [14.09%] and Enta-moeba histolytica 108[10.0%] Besides, Fasciola species was detected in an Egyptian worker and Dicrocelium den-driticum in one Syrian worker. Parasitic infections were higher among Indonesian people 447 [41.42%] followed by Indian 247 [22.89%], Bangladeshis 118 [10.93%], Philippines 96 [8.89%], Pakistani 94 [9.71%], Seri-Lankan 55 [5.09%] and lastly Egyptian and Syrian 22 [2.03%] workers. The occupational imperatives, beliefs and general life style were contributing factors to the prevalence of parasites among the workers in AI-Baha