RESUMO
The prevalence of the Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum infections were studied in children 2-60 months old (n = 310) grouped to sex and age, enrolled in 8 day-care centers. Giardiasis was found in 42 (13.5%) of the children and, was most frequent in the age group corresponding to 19-24 months old although children at the first six months of life also presented positive faecal samples. Statistical analysis indicated no association between sex (p > 0.05) and prevalence for Giardia infection. C. parvum was detected in 20 (6.4%) of the children. Children seven to twelve months old showed the greatest prevalence of this parasite. There were not oocysts in the stools from the children 25-30 months and from those older than 36 months. Oocytes were detected in 4 children from the 0-6 months old group. There was no significative difference on sex (p = 0.09) and day-care-facility (p = 0.068) for C. parvum infection while age was associated with infection (p = 0.004). Epidemiological aspects were studied by familiar inquiry, by parasitological examinations of stools from the contact-members of each case and from animals present at the residence. Prevalence for C. parvum was higher when at least one of the parents was a professional in the Human Health Centers (73.6% positives), when there was report of concomitant disease (52.6% positives) and when diarrhoea was the main symptom at the collection of the faecal specimens (78.9% positives). Faecal examinations of the domestic animals were negatives for these two parasites.