Fatores associados à ocorrência de parasitoses intestinais em uma população de crianças e adolescentes

Physicochemical, microbiological and parasitological analysis of water for human consumption in a quilombola community in Alagoas

Water is the indispensable natural resource for all living beings. For human consumption, it must be potable, so as not to pose a risk to health, and can be used for ingestion, food preparation and personal hygiene. Knowing this importance, this study aimed to carry out physical-chemical, microbiological and parasitological analyzes of water for human consumption in a quilombola community of Santa Luzia do Norte in Alagoas. A cross-sectional, experimental and quantitative study was carried out between January and December 2019. The physical-chemical parameters of residual chlorine, turbidity, fluoride, fluoridation, color and pH were analyzed, microbiological analyses were based on the research of total and thermotolerant coliforms (E. coli) and parasitological analyses were performed based on the research of protozoa and intestinal helminths. Some physical-chemical parameters (turbidity and pH) were observed outside the limits required by the Ministry of Health, and the presence of total coliforms in some of the analyzed samples (17.85%), characterizing this community at risk related to waterborne diseases. The samples analyzed did not present infecting forms of parasitic species. Regarding the variables evaluated, the results found showed that the lack of adequate basic sanitation affects the quality of water used for human consumption by the quilombola population of Santa Luzia do Norte-AL.

Intestinal Parasite Infection and Its Association with Undernutrition among Early Adolescents in Hawassa University Technology Village, Southern Ethiopia

Background. Different studies presented negating findings of the association between intestinal parasite infections (IPIs) and undernutrition among early adolescents in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at assessing intestinal parasite infection and its association with undernutrition among early adolescents in four selected districts of the Sidama region. Method. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020 among 792 early adolescents. The multistage stage sampling was applied to select 16 primary schools. Simple random sampling was applied to select study participants. Trained data collectors administered questionnaires. Stool samples were collected and analyzed. Anthropometric measurements were taken and indices were calculated using AnthroPlus software. Data were entered into and analyzed by SPSS version 25 software. Association between IPI and undernutrition was measured using multivariable analysis. The outputs are presented using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Result. The prevalence of IPI, thinness, and stunting was 32% (95% CI: 28.7%, 35.3%), 17.5% (95% CI: 14.8%, 20.2%), and 21.5% (95 CI: 18.6%, 24.4%), respectively. The higher odds of IPIs were observed among adolescents stunted (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 2.44–5.33), those who are thin (AOR = 3.07; 95% CI: 2.02–4.66), those who did not wash their hands after toilet (AOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.35–2.66), those who ate raw meat (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.03–2.14), and those whose family did not own toilet (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.18–2.46). Conclusion. The prevalence of IPI, thinness, and stunting was high and has public health significance in the study area. IPIs were associated with stunting, thinness, lack of toilets, not washing hands after a toilet visit, and eating raw meat. Strengthening nutrition interventions, deworming programs, and health education on personal and environmental hygiene and sanitation are recommended.

Enteric parasitic infections in children and dogs in resource-poor communities in northeastern Brazil: Identifying priority prevention and control areas

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of the main enteric parasitic infections that affect children and dogs in the municipality of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil; and to identify the geopolitical areas that should receive priority interventions to combat them. Between March and November 2016, fecal samples of 143 dogs and 193 children aged 1 month to 5 years were collected in 40 rural and semirural communities using a systematic sampling approach, stratified by district. Samples were collected by legal guardians of the children and / or dog owners. Eggs, larvae, cysts and oocysts of parasites were concentrated by centrifugal-flotation and centrifugal-sedimentation, and acid-resistant staining was used to visualize parasites. One hundred and thirty-two children (68.4%), 111 dogs (77.6%) and 199 (73.7%) dog fecal samples collected from streets were parasitized. Giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, amoeba infections and hookworm were the most frequent infections in all studied populations, in addition to trichuriasis in dogs and ascaridiasis in children. A predominance of Giardia and hookworms was observed in children and dogs, respectively. The coastal districts of Aritaguá, Olivença and the main district had a higher parasitic diversity and overlapping of important potential zoonotic infections. Age over one year (p<0.001), adjusted OR = 3.65; 95% CI = 1.86-7.16) and income below the minimum monthly salary (p = 0.02, adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.17-6.59) were the main factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections in children and dogs, respectively. The coastal districts of Aritaguá and Olivença and the main district should be prioritized through enteric disease control programs, and the factors associated with infections must be considered in the design of health interventions in these districts. The integration between affirmative income actions and investments to improve the health infrastructure of these communities may work more effectively than current preventive measures to combat enteric parasites.

Enteroparasitosis in patients attended by the health public service: epidemiology and spatial distribution

AIMS: This research aims to determine the epidemiology and the spatial distribution of intestinal parasitosis in the city of Teresina.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out based on the data of parasitological fecal exams performed in the Laboratory Raul Bacelar between January, 2014 and July, 2017. In addition to the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and polyparasitism, we verified the association of these diseases with gender, zone and period of the year by means of the chi-squared test, whereas the relation with age was analyzed by the Mann-Kendall tests and multiple comparisons of age classes. The spatial distribution was performed using the QGIS georeferencing software.RESULTS: The prevalence of enteroparasitosis in Teresina is 17,8% with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most common species, due to the precarious sanitary conditions of the city. The prevalence of individuals with polyparasitism is 3,13%, in which an association between the species Entamoeba coli and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was found. There was no relation between intestinal parasitosis with gender, but we verified that individuals in rural areas are more susceptible to these diseases. The species Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar occur more frequently in the first and second semester, respectively. We observed that there is an apparent tendency to increase cases of E. histolytica/dispar and reduction of cases of Giardia sp. according to aging. Mapping intestinal parasitosis showed us that there is a prevalence between one and 20% in most of Teresina's neighborhoods, and Ascariasis embodies at least 40% of cases of enteroparasitosis in these neighborhoods.CONCLUSIONS: Investments in basic sanitation and new epidemiological investigations must be carried out to control intestinal parasitosis in Teresina, emphasizing that children and the elderly should be considered priority groups in these programs.

Socioeconomic and parasitological aspects in Quilombola communities in two of the oldest municipalities in Brazil

Objective To carry out a socioeconomic, demographic and parasitological evaluation of quilombola communities in two of the oldest municipalities in Brazil.Material and Methods Between December 2015 and June 2016, of the total of 231 residents of the communities, socioeconomic questionnaires were applied and fecal samples collected from 150 individuals were analyzed by spontaneous sedimentation method and the Kato-Katz method.Results It was observed that 95.3% (n=143) of the interviewees had piped water at their residence, and 76% (n=114) came from wells or springs; 85.3% (n=128) reported that the toilet drain was made in a rudimentary septic tank and 59.3% (n=89) reported having litter buried or burned, showing precarious conditions in basic sanitation. Still on socioeconomic aspects, 80.7% (n=121) of the individuals reported having access to the public health service. Parasitological tests were positive for 48% (n=72) of the analyzed samples, and 25% (n=18) had two or more parasites. The most frequent organism in the study population was the commensal Entamoeba coli (55.6%, n=40), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (19.4%, n=14) and the commensal Endolimax nana (16.7%, n=12). The Poisson regression showed an increase of 1.59 in the prevalence of parasites for individuals who do not have access to the public health service, when compared to those who have access to these services.Conclusions The results indicate the need to implement public health measures in order to reduce, prevent and treat the parasitological condition of the population to obtain better conditions and quality of life.

Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other enteral parasitic diseases in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Enteral parasitic diseases are a public health problem in nations with low economic development and in settings with poor sanitation. Amebiasis is the second most frequent form of parasitosis, with a high burden of disease. Knowledge of the prevalence of enteroparasitoses in a given region is useful for planning clinical decision-making. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of enteral parasitic diseases, especially amebiasis, through analysis on stool samples from public and private laboratories in a metropolitan area in southeastern Brazil.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study conducted in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

METHODS

We evaluated 6,289 fecal samples from one private and one public laboratory. The samples were concentrated by means of spontaneous sedimentation, and those that were positive for Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar in optical microscopy analyses were processed to obtain deoxyribonucleic acid, with subsequent identification through the polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Among the stool samples, 942 (15.0%) had parasitic infections; 73 (1.2%) of these were helminthic infections and 847 (13.5%) were protozoan infections, caused mainly by Escherichia coli (6.0%), Endolimax nana (5.2%) and Giardia lamblia (1.2%). Infections due to Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar occurred in 36 samples (0.6%) and the polymerase chain reaction revealed five (13.9%) as Entamoeba histolytica.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of enteral parasitic diseases is high in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, although amebiasis may not be a problem.

Enteroparasites in vegetables marketed in an ancient Brazilian city

OBJECTIVE

To assess contamination by enteroparasites in raw vegetables consumed in the city of São Mateus, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Samples of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and parsley (Petrosolium sativum) were collected from six popular establishments, such as supermarkets and street markets. The obtained material was analyzed, after washing, by the spontaneous sedimentation method in the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, São Mateus Campus.

RESULTS

From a total of 120 analyzed samples, 71 (59 %) had one or more parasitic contaminants. Lettuce samples had a contamination rate of 78.3 %, and parsley samples of 40 %.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that the vegetables consumed in the city had protozoa, helminths and arthropods, which points to the need for implementing hygienic-sanitary measures in production, handling and transportation of these vegetables.

Prevalence and predictors associated with intestinal infections by protozoa and helminths in southern Brazil

Approximately 2 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors associated with parasitic infections in primary health care. A cross-sectional study was performed with a large random sample to identify the prevalence and predictors associated with parasitic infections in primary health care in Marialva, southern Brazil, from April 2011 to September 2013. Stool samples from 775 individuals were analyzed for the presence of protozoan cysts, helminth eggs, and larvae. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 13.94 %, and the prevalence of protozoa and helminths was 15.1 and 2.9 %, respectively. The predictor variables that were associated with intestinal parasites were male gender odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95 % confidence interval (CI 1.10-2.40) and the absence of a kitchen garden (OR 2.28, 95 % CI, 1.08-4.85). Positive associations were found between Giardia duodenalis and individuals aged ≤18 with high risk (OR 19.0, 95 % CI 2.16-167.52), between Endolimax nana and the absence of a kitchen garden (p < 0.01), and between Trichuris trichiura and the presence of a kitchen garden (p = 0.014). Polyparasitism was present in 27.27 % of infected individuals. Our findings confirmed a relatively low prevalence in primary care, compared to international standards, despite the rare publications in the area. As variables, male gender and the absence of a kitchen garden stood out as important predictors. It is highly relevant that the health conditions of the population comply with consistent standards.