The aim of this study was to evaluate the enteroparasite and commensal occurrence in inhabitants living in the city of Abadia dos Dourados, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three hundred and seventy six people were selected at random, 188 living in the rural area and 188 living in the urban area, from January through December of 1996. Using the Lutz method 177 (47.1%) individuals infected: 102 (57.6%) in the rural population and 75 (39.9%) in the urban population (P < 0.05). Of the total 177 enteroparasite and commensal occurrences diagnosed were: Entamoeba coli (18.3%), hookworm (17.8%), Endolimax nana (6.1 %>), Giardia lamblia (5.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2.6%>), Entamoeba hartmanni (2.1%), Iodamoeba biltschlii (1.6%), Strongyloides ster cor alls (1.3%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%), and Trichostrongylus sp (0.5%). Geohelminths were predominant in the rural area, with an occurrence ofhookworm infections at 28.2% in these individuals and 7.4% in the urban people (OR: 14.33 CI: 6.230 to 32.970). The infection rate of enteroparasites was high in the population studied. In conclusion, it is necessary to implement regular parasitological exams and education about the forms and consequences of transmitting parasites, primarily among people living in the rural area.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la presencia de enteroparasitas y comensales en habitantes de la ciudad de Abadia dos Dourados, Minas Gerais, Brasil. 376 personas fueron seleccionadas aleatoriamente, 188 viviendo en el área rural y 188 viviendo en el área urbana, enero a diciembre de 1996. Usando el método de Lutz, 177 (47,1%) individuos estaban infectados, siendo 102 (57,6%) del área rural y 75 (39,9%) del área urbana (P < 0,05). Del total de 177 positivos, la ocurrencia de entoparasitas y comenzáis diagnosticadas fueron: Entamoeba coli (18,3%), hookworm (17,8%), Endolimax nana (6,1%), Giardia lamblia (5,8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2,6%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2,1%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1,6"%), Stron-gyloides stercolaris (1,3%), Enterobius vermicularis (0,5%), y Trichostrongylus sp (0,5%), Geohelmintos fueron predominantes en el área rural, con 28,2% de infección para hookworm en esta populación y 7,4% en la populación urbana (OR: 14,33 CI: 6.230 para 32.970). La tasa de infección para enteroparasitas fue alta en los individuos estudiados, siendo necesario hacer exámenes parasitológicos regulares en estas personas y adoptar medidas profilácticas sobre las formas y consecuencias de transmisión de parásitas, principalmente entre personas que viven en el área rural.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis in urban garbage collectors through the use of immunological and parasitological methods. A total of 92 individuals were evaluated from August, 1997, to June, 1998. For the parasitological diagnosis Baermann and Lutz' methods were applied. The immunological diagnosis involved the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect specific IgG antibodies. Of the 92 workers examined, six (6.5%) were infected with larvae of S. stercoralis. The IFAT detected 19 (16.3%) and the ELISA 17 (18.5%) positive serum samples. The differences between the results of parasitological and immunological methods were statistically significant (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that there is a need to improve the health conditions of this category of city employees.