Abstract

SANGUINETTY M, Nelson; VALERO B, Zenair; CARRIZO S, Yossiane  and  ANDRADE, Bárbara. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in a Sample of Food Handlers at a State Enterprise. Kasmera [online]. 2014, vol.42, n.2, pp.131-140. ISSN 0075-5222.

The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in food handlers at several PDVSA dining rooms, who requested a health certificate at PDVSA clinics on the East Lake Coast. One-hundred sixty-six stool samples were analyzed using parasitological methods: microscopic evaluation in physiological saline solution at 0.85%, Lugol’s solution and the Ritchie method. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 25.90% (43/166). Of those who had parasites, 17.47% corresponded to the group of 20 to 40 years old and 8.43% to the group of 40 years or older. No statistically significant difference was observed between age and frequency of intestinal parasitosis (Chi² = 0.539, P> 0.05). According to sex, 15.66% of the parasitized cases were male and 10.24% female (Chi² = 0.016, P> 0.05). Only protozoa were identified, highlighting Blastocystis sp. with 83.72%. This study showed that food handlers were infected with enteric protozoa. The detected prevalence is similar to other studies in similar populations.

Keywords : Intestinal parasites; Blastocystis sp; food handlers.

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