Infección por cryptosporidium sp y otros parásitos intestinales en manipulación de alimentos del estado Zulia Venezuela / Crytosporidium sp infections and other intestinales parasites in food handlers from Zulia state Venezuela

La criptosporidiosis en manipuladores de alimentos de Venezuela es desconocida. Con el propósito de determinar la prevalencia de Cryptosporidium y otros parásitos intestinales en manipuladores de alimentos del Estado Zulia, fueron evaluadas 119 muestras fecales mediante examen directo, método de concentración formol-éter y tinción permanente de Ziehl-Neelsen modificada. El 11,8% (14/119) de las muestras fueron positivas a Cryptosporidium. Todos los casos estaban asociados con otros protozoarios (p < 0,05), con mayor frecuencia Endolimax nana (42,9%). La prevalencia general de las parasitosis intestinales fue 48,7%, principalmente E. nana (41,2%), seguida por Blastocystis hominis (38,7%) y Entamoeba coli (17,6%). El monoparasitismo estuvo representado en el 37,9% (22/58) y el poliparasitismo en el 62,1% (36/58). El protozoario patógeno más frecuente fue Giardia lamblia (13,4%), seguido por el complejo Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (9,2%). El 4,1% de las muestras resultó positiva a helmintos con mayor frecuencia Ascaris lumbricoides (2,5%). La infección por Cryptosporidium sp y otros protozoarios es frecuente en los manipuladores de alimentos del Estado Zulia. Es necesario realizar estudios para determinar la relevancia clínica de esta parasitosis en manipuladores de alimentos y los consumidores de sus productos.

Cryptosporidiosis in food handlers from Venezuela is unknown, being this an important public health problem in immunosuppressed patients. To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp and other intestinal parasites in food handlers from Zulia State, one hundred nineteen fecal samples were evaluated by wet mount, concentrated according to Ritchie and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Fourteen (11.8%) were positive for Cryptosporidium sp and associated with other protozoosis (P < 0.05), being most frequent Endolimax nana (42.9%). The general prevalence of the intestinal parasitism was 48.7%, emphasizing E. nana (41.2%), followed by Blastocystis hominis (38.7%) and Entamoeba coli (17.6%). The most frequent pathogenic protozoa was Giardia lamblia (13.4%), followed by the complex Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (9.2%). 4.1% were positive for intestinal helminthes. The infection by Cryptosporidium sp is frequent in food handlers from Zulia State. Given to the results of this investigation and the nonexistence of studies in this population, is necessary to deepen in the impact of this parasitism in food handlers and the consumers of their products.

identification of Cryptosporidium species by analysis of PCR-RFLP of the 18s rRNA gene

Cryptosporidium is an important protozoa that cause. diarrheal illness in humans and animals. In immunocompetent individuals, infection is usually self-limiting; but in immunocompromised patients infections which can be life threatening may develop. Cryptosporidium may account for 10 to 20% of the cases of diarrhea in immunocompromised patients living in developed countries and as much as 50% in underprivileged countries. Different strains of Cryptosporidium have been reported, and it is believed that strain characteristics are an important factor to be considered in strategic planning for the control of cryptosporidiosis disease. In this study human and animal isolates of Cryptosporidium oocysts were examined by PCR-RFLP for identifying strain variation in Isfahan. A total of 642 fecal samples of children under 5 years of age, imunocompromised patients and high risk persons and 480 rectal specimens of cows and calves were selected randomly in Isfahan. After identification of the samples contaminated with the parasites, oocysts were purified from these samples, and their DNA were extracted. These DNAs were use for detection of Cryptosporidium species using PCR-RFLP analysis of a 1750bp region of 18srRNA. Microscopic results showed that 4.7% of human samples and 6.2% of animal samples were contaminated with Cryptosporidium. 18s rRNA gene of all isolates were amplified by PCR, and 18s rRNA fragment size of all isolates were identical approximately 1750 bp. RFLP results showed that the samples were contaminated with C. parvum II, C. baileyi, C. serpentis, C. muris, C. wrairi and three new genotypes of Cryptosporidium. PCR-RFLP results indicated the occurrence of most strains of Cryptosporidium specially C. parvum. The results also imply extensive polymorphism in these parasites and the occurrence of mutant strains of it. Furthermore, the occurrence of animal species of the parasite in human samples shows the importance of animal-human cycle of it