[Epidemiologic survey of intestinal parasitoses in Peruvian Amazonia]

An epidemiological survey was carried out in 4 native villages from tribe Cashibo, in Amazonia (Peru). Among 165 stools examination, 92% were positives for helminthic (hookworms: 72%, roundworms and whipworms: 55% each, strongyloides: 5%) and protozoan infections (Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana: 50% each, Entamoeba histolytica 24%, Giardia intestinalis 17%). Balantidium coli is not seldom (6%). Polyparasitism, very frequent, is reported with a maximum of 10 species. The most important villages are the most infested. Several factors can explain these results: lack of hygien and treatment, and no sanitary education. These rates are among the highest recorded for the South-American Indian people.