ENTEROPARASITOSES EM PORTADORES DE NECESSIDADES ESPECIAIS – PREVALÊNCIA EM INDIVÍDUOS AT ENDIDOS EM INSTITUIÇÕES DO MUNICÍPIO DE PORTO ALEGRE-RS

This study evaluated the prevalence of intestinal parasites in individuals with specialneeds in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, in the period of March 2006 to July 2008.In addition, we held educational workshops on prevention and control of parasiticdiseases. Sedimentation and flotation methods were carried out on samples fromsix institutions. Of 146 samples analyzed, 29 (19.9%) had intestinal parasites, ofwhich 24 (82.7%) occurred in males and 5 (17.2%) in females. The most commonorganisms were Entamoeba coli in 51.7% of positive samples and Endolimaxnana in 27.6%, followed by Giardia lamblia (20.7%), Trichuris trichiura (13.8%),Ascaris lumbricoides (3.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (3.4%), and Hymenolepisnana (3.4%). Our findings suggest that the prevalence of intestinal parasites inthe individuals studied is low, especially in relation to pathogenic organisms. Theworkshops did not always achieve the expected goals due to difficulties in engagingthe studied group, given the individuals’ limitations. This study was consideredrelevant because it allowed collaborative work between the university and thecommunity.