Intestinal parasitism in the Xavánte Indians, central Brazil

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 1995 Mar-Apr;37(2):145-8. doi: 10.1590/s0036-46651995000200009.

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a survey for intestinal parasites among the Xavánte Indians from Central Brazil. A. lumbricoides (25.0%) and hookworms (33.6%) were the two most common helminths; E. histolytica complex (7.8%) and G. lamblia (8.6%) the most common protozoans. The majority (58.5%) of positive individuals hosted only one species of helminth. Egg counts for helminths, and for A. lumbricoides in particular, were found to be not dispersed at random, with a few individuals, all of whom young children, showing very high counts. The prevalence rates of intestinal parasites for the Xavánte are below those reported for other Amerindian populations from Brazil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ancylostomatoidea / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Ascaris lumbricoides / isolation & purification
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, South American*
  • Infant
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parasite Egg Count