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. 2014:2014:630968.
doi: 10.1155/2014/630968. Epub 2014 Jan 21.

Comparative study of the prevalence of intestinal parasites in low socioeconomic areas from South chennai, India

Jeevitha Dhanabal  1 , Pradeep Pushparaj Selvadoss  1 , Kanchana Muthuswamy  1
Affiliations

Comparative study of the prevalence of intestinal parasites in low socioeconomic areas from South chennai, India

Jeevitha Dhanabal et al. J Parasitol Res. 2014.

Abstract

Intestinal parasites cause one of the most important health problems through their effects in causing undernourishment morbidity and incapacitation due to their behavior particularly in children compared to adults. This study was intended to state the prevalence of intestinal parasites between the slum dwellers of different areas in south Chennai. Among the total of 256 samples collected between the ages of 0-50 yrs, 194 samples were positive. Standard laboratory techniques for parasitological diagnosis were carried out for each sample. Entamoeba coli (23%), Cyclospora sp. (22.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (21.8%), Giardia intestinalis (14.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (6.2%), Trichuris trichiura (1.1%), and Hymenolepis nana (2.7%) were found in the dwellers of low socioeconomic areas. The data on the prevalence of parasites with respect to sex and age showed that the females harbored more numbers of parasites when compared to males. Further, with respect to age, children and teenagers had surplus parasites compared to old age groups. The percentage of educational status showed a reduction in the number of parasites in the higher education dwellers. These parasites could be prevented by possible grouping of better ecological design and hygiene. Conclusively, the examination of personal hygiene as well as routine medical examination and treatment is strongly recommended in the low socio-economic areas.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parasites identified from stool samples. (a) Microscopic observation of protists and eggs (A) Entamoeba coli; (B) Giardia intestinalis; (C) Hymenolepis nana; (D) Trichuris trichiura; (E) Cyclospora sp. (F) Ascaris lumbricoides—decorticated egg; (G) A. lumbricoides—corticated egg. (b) Distribution of parasites in pie diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of samples in low socioeconomic areas from south Chennai.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of parasites among males and females of low socioeconomic areas.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of parasites among different age groups from low socioeconomic areas from south Chennai.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Distribution of parasites among different areas from south Chennai.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Education status of the low socioeconomic dwellers from south Chennai.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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