A survey of intestinal parasitic infections in the Dominican Republic.

Abstract

Summary 1. A group of 1139 individuals on two sugar properties on the south coast of the Dominican Republic have been surveyed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. 2. The percentage prevalence of the most common pathogenic parasites are: Hookworm 59.2%; Trichuris trichiura 58.9%; Endamoeba histolytica 34.2%; and Ascaris lumbricoides 20.1%. 3. Clinical amebiasis is not common among the indigenous population and no instance of hepatitis or amebic abscess of the liver has been encountered. 4. Clinical hookworm disease is not common in this portion of the Dominican Republic despite widespread infection of the population investigated. 5. Differences in prevalence of the most common parasites observed between the two Bateys and the cane field villages are probably to be attributed to local population densities, local rainfall and soil conditions, and varying availability and use of latrines.