Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infections in the rural sector around Recife, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Parasitological examinations were carried out during July to December, 1989, on 485 inhabitants of four villages in São Lourenço da Mata, 25 km northwest of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Approximately 99.6% of the inhabitants were infected with at least one species of intestinal parasites. A high prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni (82.1%), hookworm (80.2%) Trichuris trichiura (69.9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61.9%) and Entamoeba coli (36.7%) infections were demonstrated. Test tube cultivation revealed that the most common species of hookworm in this region was Necator americanus (88.4%), and also that the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis was 5.8%. Three hundred and thirty-four sera were serologically examined for amoebiasis by the gel diffusion precipitation test (GDP) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No positive reaction was observed in all sera as examined by GDP, while 24 sera were positive by ELISA.

Anemia, leukocytosis and eosinophilia in a resource-poor population with helmintho-ectoparasitic coinfection

“…In comparable settings, Hillyer et al found a prevalence of eosinophilia of 52% and Cardoso et al a prevalence of anemia in 28%. In other studies in similar settings, prevalence of intestinal parasites ranged form 26% to 99% [15,20,21]. For ectoparasitic infection, prevalences between 16% and 43% have been described [16,21].…”

“…However, community-derived data on the prevalence of eosinophilia, leukocytosis and anemia and their association with intestinal and skin parasitism are scanty [14][15][16]. To investigate to which extent ectoparasites contribute to eosinophilia in the context of intestinal helminthiases, we conducted a community-based study in a rural community in Alagoas State, Northeast Brazil.…”

Sero epidemiological Study on Human Toxocariasis in the Rural Sector Around Recife, Northeast Brazil.

“…Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of these subjects has been reported previously (Goncalves et al, 1990) .…”

“…According to parasitological examinations in Sao Lourenco da Mata, northeast Brazil (Goncalves et aL, 1990) , four out of 485 inhabitants were positive for unembryonated eggs of Toxocara canis in stools. Therefore, a sero -epidemiological study was conducted to obtain preliminary data on the prevalence of human toxocariasis in Sao Lourenco da Mata.…”

Experimental schistosomiasis in the Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus

“…Considering that a S. mansoni female adult worm lays a large number of eggs per day, and that only a small part of them passes through the feces while the majority remains in the tissue. Handerson et al 19 , for example, infecting inbred CB/J mice, found a range of 25,511-40,143 egg/liver depending on whether the animal developed moderate splenomegaly syndrome or hypersplenomegaly syndrome. In addition, in our study, macroscopic and physiologic changes due to the presence of S. mansoni eggs on the specified organs were not observed.…”