Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Amongest Foodhandlers in Kirkuk City, Al-Taam’em Province, Iraq

Results of examining 325 foodhandlers and foodsellers in Kirkuk city, Al-Taamem province, by direct and floatation methods in zinc sulphate and in brine salt solutions revealed their infection with the following parasites: Protozoa, Giardia lamblia 12.31%, Entamoeba coli 5.54%, E. histolytica 3.69%, Iodamoeba butschlii 0.92% and Chilomastix mesnili 0.62%. Helminths: Hymenolepis nana 5.85%, Enterobius vermicularis 3.38%, Ascaris lumbricoides 1.85%, Trichuris trichiura 0.92% and Taenia saginata 0.62%. The highest infection 12.00% was among restaurateurs, while grocers show the lowest infection 0.92%, emphasing their role in dispersion the infection among the community, which require the efforts of public health agencies to take their role to cure them from these parasites.