Entamoeba gingivalis y Trichomonas tenax en cavidad bucal de pacientes de la Clínica Integral del Adulto de la Facultad de Odontología, Maracaibo, Venezuela

fifty samples from the oral cavity of individuals of both genders who attended the integral adult clinic of the faculty of odontology of universidad del zulia were analyzed to determine entamoeba gingivalis and trichomonas tenax prevalence. the patients were divided into two groups of 25 individuals each: group 1, with clinical disease manifestations (periodontal disease and/or dental caries) from which we took samples from dental caries, plaque and dental calculus; and group 2 or control, who had no clinical disease manifestations, from which we took saliva and dental plaque samples. all samples were analyzed microscopically through direct examination and with a ferric hematoxilin stain. there was a 10% prevalence of oral protozoa; the predominant species was entamoeba gingivalis in 5 cases followed by trichomonas tenax in 1 case. the 20-39 years age group was the most affected with 10% of cases. the statistical analysis was significant (p=0.011) for the parasitism and diseased oral cavity variables. the present study shows a low prevalence of oral cavity protozoa in the population studied.