Environmental contamination by parasitic forms in a socially vulnerable community in southern Rio Grande do Sul state: a serious public health problem

Abstract

vulnerability. The fact that these people share the environment with animals promotes the establishment of zoonotic parasitic infections, as well as the resultant parasitic cycles. Thus, parasites present in the environment must be identified, so that control measures can be recommended. In this context, this study’s objective was to evaluate environmental contamination by parasitic forms in a socially vulnerable community in southern Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 100 soil samples collected from the community were processed by a sodium dichromate centrifuge-flotation technique and analyzed by a compound microscope (40X objective) for the identification of parasite eggs, oocysts and cysts. All points were positive for two or more parasites, with the identification of 33.59% non-identified coccidian oocysts, Strongylida (25.4%), Ascaridida (21.31%), Trichuris spp. (8.19%), Toxocara spp. (3.27%), Amoebas (4.08%), Dioctophyma renale (2.45%), and Giardia spp. (1.63%). The presence of parasitic forms in all points analyzed surpasses other studies of environmental contamination carried out in the southern region of Brazil. In addition, the identification of several parasitic forms with zoonotic potential is concerning, since it shows the possibility of parasitic transmission to humans and other animals. In view of the results, the conclusion is that the environment analyzed is contaminated by parasitic forms, constituting a serious public health problem. Therefore, implementing educational and preventive measures in the community to control parasites is of crucial importance.

Human Toxocariasis: 2010 to 2020 Contributions from Brazilian Researchers

“…Several Brazilian researchers investigated the soils of public spaces for Toxocara eggs between 2010 and 2020 (Table 1) and almost always found high positivity rates. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Santarém et al 19 found higher numbers of Toxocara eggs in the soil of public parks with mean monthly temperatures and monthly amounts of rainfall. Queiroz et al 26 had also noticed increased soil contamination at a similar time.…”

Parasitoses intestinais e saneamento básico no Brasil: estudo de revisão integrativa

“…A contaminação desses ambientes pode influenciar a transmissão de enteroparasitos mesmo em regiões com bom padrão de saneamento, o que demanda novos olhares no controle deste problema de saúde pública. (SOUZA, MAMEDE-NASCIMENTO e SANTOS, 2007;MOURA et al 2010;CAPELLA et al 2018;). Elisabeth Campos de et al Parasitoses Intestinais: uma revisão sobre seus aspectos sociais, epidemiológicos, clínicos e terapêuticos.…”

ACHADOS DE URINÁLISES DE 39 CÃES COM Dioctophyme renale

“…No presente estudo, 58,97% (23/39) das amostras pertenciam a animais errantes, pois foram resgatados pela prefeitura do município de Pelotas (RS). Estudos descrevem que a ocorrência de cães parasitados por D. renale pode estar intimamente relacionada à condição errante dos animais, pois muitos vivem nas ruas, com livre acesso a áreas e alimentos contaminados, como peixes crus (CAPELLA et al, 2018;KOMMERS et al, 1999;PEDRASSANI, 2009).…”

“…Um estudo realizado por Capella et al (2018), na região sul do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, avaliou a contaminação ambiental por formas parasitárias em uma comunidade em vulnerabilidade social, que está geograficamente próxima a uma fonte hídrica (Canal São Gonçalo) e por isso alberga espécies consideradas hospedeiros paratênicos (sapos, rãs e peixes) e intermediários (anelídeos oligoquetas) do complexo ciclo do D. renale. Das 100 amostras de solo analisadas, 2,45% apresentaram ovos de D. renale, um indicador da presença da enfermidade na região pesquisada.…”