HIGH PREVALENCE OF Blastocystis spp. INFECTION IN CHILDREN AND STAFF MEMBERS ATTENDING PUBLIC URBAN SCHOOLS IN SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

SUMMARYAfter a gastroenteritis outbreak of unknown etiology in the municipality of Sebastião da Grama, São Paulo, Brazil, we conducted a parasitological survey to establish the epidemiological profile of enteroparasitosis in children and staff members attending the public urban schools in operation in town. The cross-sectional study evaluated 172 children aged 11 months to 6 years old and 33 staff members aged 19 to 58 years old. Overall, 96 (55.81%) children and 20 (60.61%) staff members were mono-parasitized, while 58 (33.72%) children and 4 (12.12%) workers were poly-parasitized. Protozoa (88.37%; 72.73%) was more prevalent than helminthes (3.48%; 0%) in children and staff members respectively. Blastocystis spp. was the most prevalent parasite in children (86.63%) and staff members (66.67%). The age of 1 year old or less was found to be associated with increased prevalence of giardiasis [OR = 13.04; 95%CI 2.89-58.91; p = 0.00] and public garbage collection was identified as a protective factor against intestinal helminth infections [OR = 0.06; 95%CI 0.00-0.79; p = 0.03]. Although most of the children tested positive for Blastocystis spp. and also presented clinical signs/symptoms (62.2%), this association was not statistically significant [OR = 1.35; 95%CI 0.53-3.44; p = 0.51]. Intestinal parasites still represent a public health concern and this study underscores the importance of further investigations to better understand the pathogenic role of Blastocystis spp.

Genetic analysis of Giardia duodenalis isolates from children of low-income families living in an economically successful region in Southeastern Brazil

“…This rate was reached only after PCR/ sequencing, considering that based on microscopy, Giardia infection was found in only 7.6% (8/105) of the children. This frequency was lower than those recently reported in daycare and preschool children living in communities of São Paulo State, some of them placed in regions near the study area 8,16,17 . Recently, the examination of one fecal sample has revealed Giardia infection rates ranging from 2.7% to 11% in children of preschool age in some surveys worldwide [18][19][20][21] , including Brazil [22][23][24][25] .…”

Blastocystis and Other Intestinal Parasites Infections in Elementary School Children in Dukuh Village, Karangasem District, Bali

“…1,2 One of the most common intestinal protozoa found in several community survey is Blastocystis spp. 3,4 that able to cause diarrhea. Blastocystis spp.…”

Prevalência De Parasitoses Intestinais No Distrito Federal

“…Apesar de ser um dos países na América Latina com alta prevalência de parasitoses (WHO, 2017), academicamente o Brasil possui poucas pesquisas epidemiológicas com foco em parasitas intestinais. As que pesquisas já realizadas tiveram como foco locais pontuais, como creches e escolas, ou pequenas amostras populacionais, principalmente áreas rurais, assim como periferias de metrópoles das regiões do Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul (BASSO et al, 2008;LIMA et al, 2004;MENEZES et al, 2008;FERREIRA et al, 2000, REBOLLA et al, 2016. Grande parte dos estudos têm foco na região Sul do Brasil, porém algumas publicações pontuais focaram em populações tanto no Norte (OLIVEIRA; GURGEL-GONÇALVES; MACHADO, 2016), quanto no Nordeste (GURGEL, 2005).…”

“…trabalhou com crianças de 3 a 6 anos em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, mostrando que 24.6% destas apresentavam um tipo de parasita, enquanto 6.6% estavam multiparasitadas.Entamoeba coli (14.0%), G. duodenalis (9.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3.0%) e Trichuris trichiura (1.1%) apresentaram-se com maior prevalência neste estudo Rebolla et al (2016). realizou um estudo para determinar a etiologia de um surto de gastroenterite em crianças (11 meses a 6 anos) e adultos (19 a 58 anos) de uma creche em São Sebastião da Grama, SP, determinando que 55.81% das crianças e 60.61% dos adultos estavam monoparasitados, enquanto 33.72% crianças e 12.12% adultos estavam multiparasitados.…”