Intestinal protozoa and helminths among Terena Indians in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul:: high prevalence of Blastocystis hominis

A parasitological survey was carried out among Terena Indians living in the Terere settlement in the municipality of Sidrolandia, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Single samples of feces from 313 Indians were processed by means of the spontaneous sedimentation method In the population studied, 73.5% were infected with at least one intestinal parasite or commensal. Protozoa predominated Blastocystis hominis (40.9%), Entamoeba cob (33.2%) and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (31.6%) were the most common. Bivariate analysis showed that females were generally more infected and presented higher rates of infection by Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba coli. Males were more infected by hookworms and Strongyloides stercoralis than females, The precarious sanitary conditions of the Terere settlement are probably a contributory factor towards the high prevalence of intestinal protozoa.