INTESTINAL PARASITES OF HUMANS IN A HIGHLAND COMMUNITY OF IRIAN-JAYA,INDONESIA

An indigenous, highland community in the Oksibil Valley of Irian Jaya, Indonesia, was examined on two occasions to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites. Overall, 478 subjects from three villages in the study area, about 10% of the available population, were sampled. U sing a standard, wet-mount technique, 15 different species of parasite s were found. Hookworm was predominant in all age groups, with prevale nces of 51%-86%, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (46%-57%) and Trichu ris trichiura (15%-25%). Strongyloides stercoralis was only seen infre quently (<1%). In general, intestinal protozoa were uncommon. Entamoeb a histolytica (14%-20%) and Entamoeba coli (12%-17%) were the most fre quent. Sex- and age-specific differences were not dramatic but prevale nces and species diversity both increased with age up to 6-15 years, t hen decreased slightly into adulthood. Rarely were faecal samples free of detectable parasites and some adult subjects had as many as six sp ecies. The results are discussed with respect to previous studies in t he highlands of New Guinea and the local transmission of soil- and wat er-borne parasites.