Parasitosis intestinal en poblaciones urbana y rural en Sandia, Departamento de Puno, Perú

The objective of the pre sent, study, is to determine the rate of intestinal parasitoses in rural and urban populations of Sandia district, located at 2178 msnm., department of Puno, Perú. Fecal samples, 35 from rural (Group A) and 37 from urban (Group B) populations were collected (total 72). Four parasitological tests were used: Direct Microscopy, Kato Technique, Spontaneous Tube Sedimentation Technique and Modified Cup Baermann Technique. Global prevalences of intestinal parasitoses in both groups were high (A: 88.58%; B: 67.57%). Prevalence of intestinal parasitoses was: Ascaris lumbricoides (A: 51.42%; B: 29.72%, p = 0.06), Entamoeba coli (A: 48.57%; B: 18.91%, p = 0.007), Trichuris trichiura (A: 42.85%; B: 13.51%, p = 0.005), Blastocystis hominis (A: 40%; B: 32.42%, p = 0.5), Endolimax nana (A: 37.14%; B: 16.66%, p = 0.04), Giardia lamblia (A: 25.71%; B: 13.51%, p = 0.19), Hymenolepis nana (A: 0%; B: 5.4%), Iodamoeba butschli (A: 2.85%; B: 0%), Entamoeba histolytica / E dispar (A: 2.85%; B: 0%), Strngyloides stercoralis (A: 2.85%; B: 0%) and Ancylostoma duodenale / Necator americanus (A: 0%; B: 2.7%). We conclude that intestinal parasitism is more frequent in rural than urban populations, is associated to poverty, poorer environmental sanitation and lack of hygienic services. Due to the high rates of parasitic infection we found, it is important to perform adequate parasitological tests to allow optimal diagnosis and opportune and effective treatment.