Objective:To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents of rehabilitation center of Bandar Abbas,Hormozgan province,southern Iran.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in central rehabilitation institute of Hormozgan province in summer 2010.Fecal samples of all 133 residents(72 males,61 females)aged 3-52,were collected in triplicate.Specimens were examined by direct smear,formalin-ether concentration techniques and stained by permanent Trichrome,Ziehl-Neelsen stains.Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.5.Results:Intestinal parasitic infections were seen in 48.5%(64 out of 133 subjects:53.4%in males and 46.6%in females).Strongyloides stercoralis with17.3%showed the highest incidence followed by Entamoeba coli(9.8%),Blastocystis hominis(7.5%),Giardia lamblia(2.3%),Endolimax nana(2.3%),Hymenolepis nana(0.8%),Oxyuris vermicularis(0.8%),and Chilomasix mesnili(0.8%).Double infections were found to be as:Strongyloides stercoralis+Giardia lamblia(2.3%),Entamoeba coli+Giardia lamblia(1.5%),Entamoeba coli+Blastocystis hominis(1.5%),Oxyuris vermicularis+Entamoeba coli(0.8%),Strongyloides stercoralis+Entamoeba coli(0.8%),respectively.Conclusions:Our findings reveal that strongyloidiasis is a common disease among mentally retarded population in southern Iran. Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents of rehabilitation center of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, southern Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in central rehabilitation institute of Hormozgan province in summer 2010. Fecal samples of all 133 residents (72 males, 61 females) aged 3-52, were collected in triplicate. Specimens were examined by direct smear, formalin-ether concentration techniques and stained by permanent Trichrome, Ziehl-Neelsen stains.Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.5% Results: Intestinal parasitic infections were seen in 48.5% (64 out of 133 subjects: 53.4% ​​in males and 46.6% in females). Strongyloides stercoralis with 17.3% showed the highest incidence followed by Entamoeba coli (9.8%), Blastocystis Hominis 7.5%, Giardia lamblia 2.3%, Endolimax nana 2.3%, Hymenolepis nana 0.8%, Oxyuris vermicularis 0.8%, and Chilomasix mesnili 0.8%. Double infections were found to be as: Strongyloides sterc Oraluris + Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Entamoeba coli + Giardia lamblia (1.5%), Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis (1.5%), Oxyuris vermicularis + Entamoeba coli (0.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis + Entamoeba coli .Conclusions: Our findings reveal that strongyloidiasis is a common disease among mentally retarded population in southern Iran.