In Slovakia, the Roma population forms the second-largest ethnic minority. A large part of the Roma is semi-nomadic or lives in segregated settlements with poor living standards and limited access to health facilities. More than 40 years ago, a cross-sectional survey revealed a high prevalence of parasitic infections. There is a paucity of recent data, and hence, we designed a study to investigate the current status of intestinal parasitic infections in this population. Overall, 259 children aged 7 months to 18 years from 32 different segregated settlements provided faecal samples for microscopic examination using a sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin concentration and the Paraprep L technique. Almost 40% of the samples yielded a positive result, with Ascaris lumbricoides (27.4%) and Giardia intestinalis (9.3%) being the most frequent helminth and intestinal protozoa species, respectively. Many children younger than 2 years were found to be infected, which suggests that community transmission is important. In view of our findings, there is a pressing need for targeted action to improve the health status of this neglected population.

Horni Lipská 157 257 24 Chocerady Czech Republic

Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Saarland University 66421 Homburg Saar Germany; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute P O Box CH 4002 Basel Switzerland; University of Basel P O Box CH 4003 Basel Switzerland

Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences Hlinkova 3 04001 Košice Slovakia

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute P O Box CH 4002 Basel Switzerland; University of Basel P O Box CH 4003 Basel Switzerland

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