Intestinal parasites among Indochinese refugees and Mexican immigrants resettled in Contra Costa County, California

Abstract

Stool examinations of 186 Indochinese refugees and 90 immigrants from Mexico resettled in Contra Costa, County, California, have shown that 60 percent of refugees and 39 percent of immigrants are infected with one or more species of pathogenic protozoa and helminths. The mean prevalences of infections among refugees and immigrants, respectively, were: hookworms, 25 and 2 percent; whipworm, 22 and 12 percent; Ascaris, 20 and 12 percent; Giardia lamblia, 11 and 11 percent; Strongyloides, 9 and 1 percent; and Entamoeba histolytica, 2 and 4 percent. clonorchis sinensis was found in 13 percent of refugees and dwarf tapeworm in 9 percent of immigrants. Rates of infection varied with age and sex. Treatment of these parasitic infections is important and justified because: the prevalence is high; some species are highly pathogenic and directly transmittable; most species have long life spans; and safe broad-spectrum drugs are now available.