Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Khuzestan, Southwest of Iran: A 10-year retrospective study

摘要: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are widely distributed throughout the world, especially in developing countries. Mortality and morbidity rates of these significant. Infections mainly transmitted via ingestion water, soil or food contaminated by faeces containing cysts ova protozoans helminthes, respectively. In many cases, clinical features remain asymptomatic consequently carriers act as on-going sources infection within their community. this regard, handlers a community may contribute disproportionately to prevalence infection. Therefore, studying rate intestinal contamination retrospectively among is important order design more effective systematic monitoring region. The recorded results stool examination for 62,007 people during recent 10-year period (2000 2009) Khuzestan, Southwest Iran, were analyzed. total, 4,830 (8.8%) 15,750 (25.4%) pathogenic non-pathogenic parasites, respectively, demonstrating continuous protozoan helminthic handlers. conclusion, we suggest that current system IPIs not sufficient provide recommendations changes, such improving delivery hygiene information target group changing periodicity from once twice per year.   Key words: Intestinal handlers, retrospective study, Iran.