Introduction:

Intestinal coccidioses caused by Cryptosporidium sp., Cystoisospora belli and Cyclospora cayetanensis are parasitic diseases of major clinical importance in Public Health.

Objective:

Between April to June 2015, a prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional survey was designed to determine the prevalence and epidemiological profiles of intestinal coccidioses in 188 inhabitants of “El Hato”, Falcon State, Venezuela.

Methods:

Probable risk factors for intestinal coccidioses were identified by using epidemiological questionnaires. The diagnosis of coccidian infection was made by direct wet-mounting and Kinyoun staining.

Results:

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 64.36%, and Blastocystis spp. was the most prevalent taxa (39.89%). Enterococcidioses prevalence was 37.23%, detecting prevalence values of 32.98% for Cyclospora cayetanensis, 26.60% for Cryptosporidium spp. and 3.19% for Cystoisospora belli. Multiple logistic regression analysis allowed us to determine as independent potential risk factors for transmission of these enterococciodioses: inappropriate hand washing [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.89], fast food consumption (OR=1.26), major use of water for personal and clothes washing (OR=2.88), low socio-economic status (level IV/V-Graffar) (OR=1.41), mother’s educational status (primary/secondary school) (OR=0.53), non-daily home cleaning (OR=2.95), and keeping domestic animals (OR=2.06).

Conclusions:

Findings of this study showed that infections caused by intestinal coccidian infections are still remains as a serious health problem in rural areas of Venezuela.