Abstract

*Bahman Lotfi, Ghobadi Shah and Jafar Omidyar

Duplicate stool specimens from 405 primary school attending students of Barandooz-Chay region of Urmia district were tested for intestinal parasites. Besides, duplicate scotch tape slides were obtained and examined microscopically for Enterobius vermicularis and Taenia sp. eggs. A questionnaire containing demographic data was filled for every case, and the relationship between them and the parasitic infection was assayed. Overall, intestinal parasitic prevalence was 42.5%. Prevalence of Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Blastocystis hominis, Iodamoeba butschlii, Enterobius vermicularis and Hymenolepis nana was 20.5, 14.6, 13.3, 2.5, 10.6 and 0.2%, respectively. No statistic relation was proved between these infections, having tap water facility at home or family population (except for E. vermicularis), but there was a significant relationship between parents’ education level and family population. According to relatively high prevalence of parasitic infections in the study field, it is necessary to increase hygienic and educational measures.