[Intestinal parasites in two periurban populations in La Plata, Argentina]

The prevalence of intestinal parasites was studied in two urban neighborhoods with different socioeconomic conditions in La Plata, Argentina. Age, sex, and environmental factors were considered. One hundred and one hundred one children up to 14 years old were examined by coproparasitologic analysis. Giardia lamblia was the most frequent species. Overall prevalences (73.0% and 54.4%), frequencies of polyparasitism (45.0% and 14.8%), and prevalences of helminthic infection (48.0% and 12.7%) were highest in the population having significantly inferior sanitary and environmental conditions. A correlation with age was observed. It is necessary to apply management practices for the control of enteroparasitoses, in accordance with the corresponding characteristics of the environmental and sociocultural ecosistem.