Intestinal Parasites in Children from a Day Care Centre in Matanzas City, Cuba

Abstract

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections are widely distributed throughout the world and children are the most affected population. Day care centres are environments where children have proven to be more susceptible to acquiring IP.Methods and Principal FindingsA cross-sectional study was carried to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stool samples among children who attend to a day care centre in an urban area of Matanzas city, Cuba, from March to June 2012. 104 children under five years old were included on the study after informed consent form was signed by parents or legal guardians. Three fresh faecal samples were collected from each child in different days and were examined by direct wet mount, formalin-ether, and Kato- Katz techniques. Data relating to demography, socioeconomic status, source of drinking water, and personal hygiene habits were also collected using a standardized questionnaire. In total, 71.1% of children harbored at least one type of intestinal parasite and 47 (45.2%) were infected by more than one species. Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. were the most common parasites found, with prevalence rates of 54.8% and 38.5% respectively.ConclusionsDespite public health campaigns, improvement in the level of education, and the availability of and access to medical services in Cuba infections by intestinal protozoan is high in this centre. Almost nothing is published regarding intestinal parasites in Matanzas province during the last 40 years so this work could also be the initial point to carry out other studies to clarify the IP status in this region.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Under five Children in University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Children playing habit and the transmission way of the parasite, as this parasite is soil transmitted helminths, when children play they can easily acquire the infection. The result of Entrobeous vermicularis 2 (3.8%) was similar with study in Cuba 2 (1.9%) (Cañete, 2012).…”

“…The prevalence was less than in previous studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia namely, Wondo Genet, 85.1% (C, 2010), wonji, 24.3% (G/hiwot, 2014), Yergalem Hospital, 49.5 (Firdu, 2014) and Addis Ababa, 24.3%) (Adamu, 2006). This study also showed low prevalence as compared with studies conducted in different parts of the world like Cuba, 58.2% (Cañete, 2012), Pakistan, (52.8%) (Adeoye, 2007) and Kenya (25.6%) (Mbae, 2013). This difference could be due to the difference in geographical location, time of survey, diagnostic method difference and socioeconomic status.…”

“…This finding is supported by studies conducted in Addis Ababa (6.3%) (Adamu, 2006), Pakistan (28.9%) (Adeoye, 2007), Cuba (54.8%) (Cañete, 2012) with prevalence of Giardia lamblia in which it was most prevalent among protozoan parasites. Entamoeba histolytica\dyspar was the least prevalent protozoan parasites inWondo Genet (0.35%) (C, 2010) and yergalem 6.09% (Firdu, 2014).…”

“…For instance, a study in Cuba reported that 104 children Giardia duodenalis was the most common parasites found, ( 54.8%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (6.7%), the most predominant from transmitted Helminths (STH) infections. Only 1.9% cases were infected by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar complex (Cañete et al, 2012). In Pakistan, the overall prevalence of the IPIs was 52.8%, about 43% of samples contained a single parasite, and 10% contained multiple parasites.…”

Desigualdad en la prevalencia de parasitosis intestinal en escolares de una escuela urbana y dos rurales de la comuna de Puerto Montt

“…En el sector urbano, la prevalencia encontrada en este estudio es más baja que en el sector rural y menor que la reportada por Araya et al , no encontrándose otros estudios en sectores urbanos con los que comparar, por lo menos en esta última década. En ALC abundan estudios en sectores semiurbanos y urbanos en donde las prevalencias encontradas son variadas 5,31,32 , reportándose valores desde 28% hasta 83% aproximadamente, siendo la pobreza y la falta de estructura sanitaria los factores comunes asociados a esta condición. Similares reportes son encontrados en países africanos y asiáticos, donde las prevalencias en niños generalmente son altas, entre 66% a 98% aproximadamente en la mayoría de los estudios 33,34 , pero también se reportan prevalencias menores 35 .…”