Enteroparasites and commensals among children in four peripheral districts of Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites and commensals among children in four peripheral districts located in the northern, southern, eastern and western sectors of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, using the Baermann methods as modified by Moraes and Lutz. Out of 160 individuals studied, 93 (58.1% CI: 50.4-65.7) were infected, distributed among the sectors as follows: northern (72.5%), southern (47.5%), eastern (57.5%) and western (55%). The positive findings according to age groups were: 0-5 years (26.9%), 5-10 years (21.2%) and 10-15 years (10%). Male children presented 2.7 times higher risk of infection than females did (OR: 2.7; CI: 1052-7001). The parasites and commensals identified were: Giardia lamblia (27.5%), Entamoeba coli (20.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (14.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (8.8%), Hymenolepis nana (7.5%), Hymenolepis diminuta (5%), hookworms (3.1%), Trichuris trichiura (2.5%), Endolimax nana (2.5%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2.5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.3%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1.3%) and Capillaria hepatica (0.6%). The infection rate in these children was high and showed the need to implement prophylactic education programs in the community. Key-words:Enteroparasites. Commensals. Children. Epidemiology. Brazil. RESUMOO objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de parasitas e comensais intestinais em crianças de quatro bairros periféricos, localizados nos setores norte, sul, leste e oeste em Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, utilizando os métodos de Baermann modificado por Moraes, e de Lutz. Dos 160 indivíduos estudados, 93 (58,1%, IC: 50,4-65,7) estavam infectados, assim distribuídos: setor norte (72,5%), sul (47,5%), leste (57,5%) e oeste (55%). A positividade por faixa etária foi: 0 -5 anos (26,9%), 5 -10 (21,2%) e 10 -15 anos (10%). As crianças do sexo masculino mostraram 2,7 maior risco de infecção (OR: 2,7, IC: 1052-7001). Os agentes identificados foram: Giardia lamblia (27,5%), Entamoeba coli (20,6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (14,4%), Enterobius vermicularis (8,8%), Hymenolepis nana (7,5%), Hymenolepis diminuta (5%), ancilostomídeos (3,1%), Trichuris trichiura (2,5%), Endolimax nana (2,5%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2,5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1,3%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1,3%) e Capillaria hepatica (0,6%). A porcentagem de infecção nas crianças foi alta e mostrou a necessidade de implantação de programas de educação profilática na comunidade.Palavras-chaves: Enteroparasitas. Comensais. Crianças. Epidemiologia. Brasil.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in preschool children in the region of Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…This result is considered high and it confirms previous data verified in the City of Uberlândia 6,14,15 .…”

“…It has been estimated that infections caused by intestinal protozoa and helminths affect 3.5 billion people worldwide and cause disease in approximately 450 million people, most of whom are children 5,6 .…”

“…In previous studies, the authors suggested that the age category most susceptive to parasitic infection is from zero to 15 years of age 6,15 . The present data showed that of the 133 children examined, 9 (6.7%) involved those aged one to two years-old, 5 (55.6%) of these children were infected with one pathogenic intestinal parasite and contributed to 12.2% of the positive cases.…”

Evaluation of the accuracy of parasitological techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites in cats

“…Several diagnostic techniques have been used in order to identify the different parasite stages, thus providing a more reliable diagnosis. The techniques most commonly employed are: zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation (Faust), flotation in saturated sodium chloride solution (Willis), spontaneous sedimentation (Hoffman-Pons-Janer-Lutz), and the formol ether concentration technique ; DE CARLI & OLIVEIRA, 2001;MARIANO et al, 2005;MACHADO et al, 2008).…”

Análise espacial dos casos humanos de esquistossomose em uma comunidade horticultora da Zona da Mata de Pernambuco, Brasil

“…Certain infectious-parasitic diseases are still quite widespread and have high prevalence rates in this socio-environmental setting [1][2][3][4][5][6] . Endemic diseases such as schistosomiasis mansoni are chronic in individuals infested at sites where the health status is a manifestation of unhealthy environments 7 .…”