Intestinal Parasites in a Migrant Farmworker Population

Three hundred thirty-nine migrant worker women and children were screened by single stool examination for intestinal parasites. Infection occurred in 34.2%. Giardia lamblia and Trichuris trichiura were the most common pathogens; Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana were the most common commensals. Infants under 1 year of age were free of infection. Children between 2 and 5 years old and women between 25 and 35 years old had the highest prevalence. Significantly more Haitians were infected than Mexican-Americans or American blacks. Of ten symptoms, only abdominal pain and gas correlated significantly with infection. This migrant population has a greater prevalence of intestinal parasites than the general American public. Screening by stool examination may be beneficial to diminish the reservoir of infection.