The Incidence of Intestinal Protozoa Among Freshman Medical and Dental Students with Especial Reference to Amebiasis

Abstract

Summary 1. Of 562 Freshman medical and dental students examined for intestinal protozoa during the past six years, cysts of E. histolytica were found in 12 instances, 6 of which were among those from Missouri; 2 from Illinois and one each from New York, New Jersey, Montana and Utah. 2. Excepting Missouri, Illinois and probably California, each of the remaining states and countries was represented by a small number of students; hence no significance attached to our finding. Nevertheless, the incidence of 2 to 5 per cent among students as well as hospital employees consisting chiefly of the residents of Missouri indicated that our survey in Saint Louis approximated those conducted in New Orleans and Philadelphia. 3. None of the students harboring E. histolytica revealed any history of diarrhea or symptoms suggestive of clinical amebiasis with one probable exception. Nor were there any apparent symptoms referable to the presence of other intestinal protozoa. However, since a majority of those infected were presumably carriers, no definite conclusion can be drawn as to the pathogenicity of the organisms concerned.