[Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal parasites in a neighborhood of the Mara Municipality, Zulia State, Venezuela].

A parasitologic survey of a low socioeconomic level community from Mara County, Zulia State, Venezuela was done. A single stool specimen per person from 327 individuals was obtained and examined by hematoxylin stained fecal smears and formol-ether concentrates. The overall parasitic infection rate was 92%. Multiple infections were present in 89% of the population. The amebic prevalence rate (APR) was 41.5%. Entamoeba histolytica was found in 9.2% of the individuals, most of them being asymptomatic. Haematophagous trophozoites were observed in two symptomatic cases. Entamoeba coli was the most frequent protozoan (23.5%). The APR was high in all groups. In males it was higher in 7-12 year old children and adolescents, and in females it was higher in adults. Giardia lamblia was the most frequent flagellate (18%) and among the helminths, Trichuris trichiura (82.8%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (74.6%). The high rates of parasitic infection, multiple parasitosis and amebic prevalence reflect the low socioeconomic conditions in the population.