INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN BLACK SCHOLARS IN NORTHERN KWAZULU

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (4) , 137-141
Abstract
Faecal specimens were collected from a total of 7569 scholars at 45 different localities in northern KwaZulu and screened for the presence of intestinal helminth and protozoan parasites. The soil-transmitted nematodes Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were extremely common, with prevalences in certain localities ranking among the highest to be recorded in South Africa. Entamoeba coli was by far the commonest (60%) of the protozoa; all the other species had prevalences < 10%. The distribution, age-specific prevalence and the influence of the variables sex, area and age on the occurrence of the various intestinal parasites are described.