ABSTRACT
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the association between the distance to the nearest feces, the type of substrate to be studied (feces, soil, grass), and whether a given area was licensed or not with the presence of helminth eggs in Concepción, Chile. A total of 256 samples taken from feces and either from soil or grass at 10 cm, 50 cm, and 100 cm from feces (including 16 public areas), were examined for the presence of parasites using the ZnSO4 technique. The association between variables with the presence of eggs was assessed with multifactorial logistic regressions. 24.21% of samples presented at least one egg. The higher odds of Toxocara egg presence was positively associated with the licensed 'area type' and the soil 'sample type' (when compared with feces). The odds of Ancylostomatidae egg presence was positively associated with the licensed 'area type', but negatively associated with the soil 'sample type' (compared with feces). The results suggest that finding eggs must be interpreted differently based on the parasite species and substrate to be analyzed, and that the presence of parasitized dogs is a more important contributing factor than the frequency with which the ground is cleaned of feces.
Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação da distância das fezes mais próximas, o tipo de substrato a ser estudado (fezes, solo, grama) e se as áreas foram licenciadas ou não, com a presença de ovos de helmintos zoonóticos em Concepción, Chile. Um total de 256 amostras colhidas no fecais, no solo ou na grama e a 10, 50 e 100 cm de fezes (incluindo 16 áreas públicas), foram examinadas quanto à presença de parasitas usando a técnica de flotação de sulfato de zinco. A associação de variáveis com a presença de ovos foi avaliada com regressões logísticas multifatoriais. Os 24,21% das amostras apresentaram pelo menos um ovo. As chances mais altas de ovos de Toxocara foram associadas positivamente ao 'tipo de área' licenciado e ao 'tipo de amostra' do solo (em comparação com as fezes). As chances de ovos de Ancylostomatidae também foram positivamente associadas ao 'tipo de área' licenciado, mas negativamente associadas ao 'tipo de amostra' do solo (em comparação com as fezes). Os resultados sugerem que o achado de ovos deve ser interpretado de maneira diferente em relação às espécies de parasitas e ao substrato a ser analisado, e que a presença de cães parasitados parece ser mais importante do que a frequência de limpeza das fezes do solo.
Subject(s)
Animals , Soil , Helminths , Parasite Egg Count/veterinary , Toxocara , Chile , Dogs/parasitology , Environment , FecesABSTRACT
In commemoration of one hundred years of the beginning of World War I, the occurrence of an outbreak of trichinosis in the crew of the SMS Dresden, a German ship that participated in that world conflagration, is re-viewed. In September 1915, while the sailors of SMS Dresden were forcibly detained on Isla Quiriquina, Bío Bío Region, Chile, 60 individuals became ill. The cause of the outbreak was the consumption of sausages made from pork infected with the parasite Trichinella spiralis. There was a fatal case. The review of the epidemiological aspects that facilitated the presentation and spread of human trichinosis at that time allows to conclude that, pork breeded in poor hygienic conditions, meat and its by-products clandestinely sold without sanitary inspection and the language barrier were determinant in the occurrence of the epidemic outbreak.
A propósito de la conmemoración de los cien años del inicio de la Primera Guerra Mundial, se revisa la ocurrencia de un brote epidémico de triquinosis en tripulantes del SMS Dresden, buque alemán que participó en esa conflagración mundial. Este suceso, acaecido en septiembre de 1915, ocurrió mientras los marinos se encontraban forzosamente recluidos en la Isla Quiriquina, Región del Bío Bío, Chile. La causa del brote fue el consumo de embutidos fabricados a partir de carne de cerdo infectada con el parásito Trichinella spiralis e involucró a 60 mari-neros, de los cuales hubo un caso fatal. La revisión de los aspectos epidemiológicos que favorecían la presentación de triquinosis humana en la época permite concluir que, la crianza porcina en malas condiciones higiénicas, la venta clandestina de carnes y subproductos sin inspección sanitaria y la barrera idiomática fueron determinantes en la ocurrencia del brote epidémico.
Subject(s)
Humans , History, 20th Century , Trichinellosis/history , Disease Outbreaks/history , World War I , Meat/parasitology , Military Personnel/history , Trichinellosis/etiology , Trichinellosis/epidemiology , Chile/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Introduction: The contamination of public squares and parks with dog feces poses a risk to the population, since it may contain parasitic elements of zoonotic importance. Aim: To identify human pathogenic parasites in samples of dog feces collected from parks and public squares. Methods: 452 fecal dog samples collected from 65 squares and public parks were analyzed using the technique of Burrows. Results: 60% (39/65) of the samples contained some parasitic forms with a zoonotic potential. Parasitic taxa with zoonotic risk were Toxocara sp., Ancylostoma sp., Dipylidium caninum, Giardia sp., Taenia sp., Toxascaris sp., Strongyloides sp., and Uncinaria sp. Conclusion: The detected parasites present a risk to human health, so it seems necessary to implement health education activities in the community, develop deworming plans, and control the canine overpopulation.
Introducción: La contaminación de plazas y parques con heces de perros representa un riesgo para la población, ya que éstas pueden contener elementos o estadios parasitarios de importancia zoonótica. Objetivo: Identificar formas parasitarias de posible riesgo para el ser humano, en muestras de heces caninas recolectadas desde el suelo de parques y plazas públicas. Material y Métodos: Se recolectaron 452 muestras fecales de perros (Canis lupus familiaris) en 65 plazas y parques públicos, las que fueron analizadas utilizando la técnica de Burrows. Resultados: Se obtuvo que 60% (39/65) de las muestras analizadas se encontraban contaminadas con alguna forma parasitaria con potencial zoonótico. Las taxas parasitarias con riesgo zoonótico diagnosticadas fueron Toxocara sp., Ancylostoma sp., Dipylidium caninum, Giardia sp., Taenia sp., Toxascaris sp., Strongyloides sp. y Uncinaria sp. Conclusión: La prevalencia de parásitos de importancia zoonótica representa un riesgo para la salud humana, por lo que se hace necesario implementar acciones de educación sanitaria a la comunidad, elaborando planes de desparasitación y control de la sobrepoblación canina.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs/parasitology , Feces/parasitology , Giardia/isolation & purification , Parks, Recreational , Platyhelminths/isolation & purification , Nematoda/isolation & purification , Zoonoses/parasitology , Chile , Parasite Load/veterinary , Urban Health/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
The frequency of trichinosis was determined in 300 dead persons, residents in the provinces of Concepción and Arauco, and requiring necropsy at the Servicio Medico Legal of Concepción. Diaphragm muscle samples were taken from june 1996 to march 1997. The diagnosis was made by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion techniques. Five samples (1.67 percent) were positive. There was not differences between sexes. Positive cases were found mainly among 30 to 49 years old people belonging to middle-lower class. Both diagnostic techniques showed diferent sensitivity as a consequence of the parasitic load and on the contrary, the artificial digestion was less sensitiva when the cyts were fully calcified