[Digestive parasitism in Sousse area. Results of a 16 years retrospective study].

To report the prevalence and type of intestinal parasites together with their kinetics in Sousse region. Our retrospective study concern data from the examination of 56,268 stool samples and 7552 tape tests, performed in the laboratory of parasitology of F. Hached Sousse hospital from 1st January 1987 up to 31 December 2002. We observed an overall parasite prevalence of 31.5%. Most common parasites were protozoa, Giardia lamblia, Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis being the most frequently encountered. Helminths consisted mainly of Enterobias vermicularis (35.86% positive tape tests) and Hymenolepis nanus. The kinetics data analysis showed an important decrease in the prevalence of Giardia lamblia, the other feco-oral transmitted flagellates and Hymenolepis nanus. In contrast, Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis prevalences increased. The prevalence of the amoeba showed a slight decrease. Intestinal parasites remain quite common in Sousse region, even though their epidemiological patterns are changing. Factors inducing these changes need to be investigated in order to plan efficient control measures.