OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999 in the microbiology laboratory of the Fort de France University Hospital. METHOD: Retrospective study of the results of 4684 parasitological examinations of stools performed in 2704 patients between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999 in this laboratory. RESULTS: This survey showed the high prevalence of anguillulosis, found in 51.69% of infested patients and in 4.56% of the population studied, the ever high prevalence of non or scarcely pathogenic amoebas (Endolimax nanus, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba coli) found in 27.19% of infested patients and 1.88% of the population studied, together with that of hookworms (12.80% of infested patients and 1.13% of the population), and the persistence of lambliasis. This study also revealed the presence of cryptosporidies (7 cases) and microsporidies (4 cases) in the patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. DISCUSSION: These results confirm the trend of the past twenty Years and the results of surveys initiated by the national statistics board (INSERM) in 1978, 1988 and 1995-1995, with the regression of bilharziosis and the persistence of anguillulosis and hookworms. CONCLUSION: The improvement in living conditions and hygiene, the combined efforts of the health care workers and Authorities in Martinique over the past 30 Years in the fight against parasites have led to a great reduction in the prevalence of classical intestinal parasitosis. However, new parasites associated with HIV infection have appeared.
OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999 in the microbiology laboratory of the Fort de France University Hospital. METHOD: Retrospective study of the results of 4684 parasitological examinations of stools performed in 2704 patients between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999 in this laboratory. RESULTS: This survey showed the high prevalence of anguillulosis, found in 51.69% of infested patients and in 4.56% of the population studied, the ever high prevalence of non or scarcely pathogenic amoebas (Endolimax nanus, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba coli) found in 27.19% of infested patients and 1.88% of the population studied, together with that of hookworms (12.80% of infested patients and 1.13% of the population), and the persistence of lambliasis. This study also revealed the presence of cryptosporidies (7 cases) and microsporidies (4 cases) in the patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. DISCUSSION: These results confirm the trend of the past twenty Years and the results of surveys initiated by the national statistics board (INSERM) in 1978, 1988 and 1995-1995, with the regression of bilharziosis and the persistence of anguillulosis and hookworms. CONCLUSION: The improvement in living conditions and hygiene, the combined efforts of the health care workers and Authorities in Martinique over the past 30 Years in the fight against parasites have led to a great reduction in the prevalence of classical intestinal parasitosis. However, new parasites associated with HIV infection have appeared.