Studies on intestinal helminths in African patients at Harari Central Hospital, Rhodesia

Abstract

The paper gives the results of an intestinal helminth survey conducted among 5,545 African in-patients at Harari Central Hospital, Salisbury, Rhodesia. 14 species of intestinal worms were recorded:—Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, Ternidens deminutus, Trichostrongylus sp., Strongyloides fülleborni, S. stercoralis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Physaloptera sp., Fasciola gigantica, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia solium, and T. saginata. The loads of some of the species were studied. The discussion includes a comparative study between the present investigation and those of other workers in the same area and in some neighbouring territories. The possible clinical significance of some of the species recorded in Rhodesia is discussed. Records are included of pseudo-parasites and possible pseudo-parasites found in stool specimens in this area.