Intestinal parasitism prevalence amongst children from six indigenous communities residing in Cali, Colombia / Prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en menores de seis comunidades indígenas residentes en Cali, Colombia

Objective Establishing the prevalence of intestinal parasitism in children aged 5 to 14 years of age from six indigenous communities residing in the city of Cali. Methodology A cross-sectional, descriptive epidemiological study was carried out in six indigenous communities residing in the city of Cali; it consisted of making a direct serial and concentration coproparasitological examination of a randomly selected sample of fifty-seven 5 to 14 year-old children. Results Of the 57 samples obtained, 84 % of the children were infected with parasites; protozoa (98 %) predominated over helminths (16.7 %) and mixed parasitemia was found in 14.6 % of the samples. Monoparasitism appeared in children over 10 years of age and biparasitism (10.4 %) and polyparasitism (52.1 %) in children under 10 years of age. Regarding occult blood determination, 6 % were observed to be positive in all the samples analysed; 4 % of these results were associated with E. histolyticaldispar. The simple parasitism index (SPI) reflected a high degree of infestation amongst the children included in the study. Conclusions The prevalence of intestinal parasitism in indigenous infants was higher than that reported nationally in the overall adolescent and school-aged children population in the same age group. Mono- and polyparasitism prevailed in the positive samples. The infestation load was not randomly distributed amongst the communities.

Objetivo Establecer la prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en menores de 5 a 14 años de seis comunidades indígenas residentes en la ciudad de Cali. Metodología Se llevó a cabo un estudio epidemiológico transversal en seis comunidades indígenas residentes en la ciudad de Cali, que consistió en realizar un examen seriado coproparasitológico a una muestra de menores entre 5 y 14 años elegida al azar. Resultados De las 57 muestras, un total de 84 % estaban infectados con parásitos; en los cuales predominaron los protozoarios (98 %) sobre los helmintos (16,7 %) y la presencia de enfermedades parasitarias intestinales mixtas fue del 14,6 %. El monoparasitismo se observe en los mayores de 10 años; en niños por debajo de los 10 años se observó el biparasitismo (10,4 %) y poliparasitismo (52,1 %). Con relación a la determinación de sangre oculta, un 6 % de las muestras fueron positivas, 4 % de esos resultados estaban asociados con E. histolyticaldispar. El índice de parasitismo simple refleja un alto grado de infestación en los menores incluidos en este estudio. Conclusiones La prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en menores de ascendencia indígena es mayor a la reportada en el orden nacional en menores escolares y adolescentes. Sobresalieron el mono y poliparasitismo en las muestras positivas. La carga de infestación no se distribuyó al azar entre las comunidades.

Evaluación de la posible asociación entre la presencia de parásitos intestinales y Helicobacter pylori en población infantil de la etnia Warao, Venezuela / Evaluation of the possible association between the presence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori in children of ethnic Warao

Las infecciones por microorganismos gastrointestinales constituyen hoy en día una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en países en vías de desarrollo. Nos planteamos como objetivo evaluar la posible asociación entre la presencia de parásitos intestinales y la infección por Helicobacter pylori, y el comportamiento de anticuerpos séricos y secretores en una población infantil de la etnia Warao del Edo. Delta Amacuro, Venezuela. La presencia de parásitos se determinó por examen microscópico directo de las heces. Los niveles séricos de IgE total, IgG anti H. pylori e IgA anti Giardia duodenalis; y los secretores IgA total y específica a G. duodenalis y H. pylori en muestra de saliva, se determinaron utilizando el método de ELISA. El 65% de los niños estaban parasitados por protozoarios, observándose un 47% de poliparasitismo. Encontramos una mayor seroprevalencia de H. pylori en el grupo de niños no parasitados (46%) comparado con los parasitados (25%) (P<0,05). Sin embargo, los niños seropositivos a H. pylori y parasitados con G. duodenalis mostraron niveles séricos de IgE total mayores que los no parasitados (P<0,01); en contraparte, los niveles de IgA secretora total y especifica a H. pylori y G. duodenalis estaban disminuidos (P<0,05). Es posible que la respuesta inflamatoria generada por Giardia pueda aumentar los niveles de IgE total y disminuir la respuesta de IgA secretora favoreciendo la instauración de la infección por H. pylori.

The infections for gastrointestinal microorganisms represent nowadays one of the major reasons of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We had evaluated both, the possible association between the presence of intestinal parasites and infection by Helicobacter pylori, and the production of serum and salivary antibodies in Amerindian Warao children from the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela. The prevalence of parasites was determined by faecal examination. The levels of serum antibodies (total IgE, specific anti- H. pylori IgG and anti G. duodenalis IgA) and salivary antibodies (total and specific IgA to G. duodenalis and H. pylori), was determined by ELISA. 65% of the child population was parasitized by protozoos, and a 47% of polyparasitism was observed. We found a major seroprevalence of H. pylori in the group of children not parasitized (46 %) compared with the parasitized ones (25 %) (P<0.05). Nevertheless, the seropositive children to H. pylori and parasitized with G. duodenalis showed levels of total IgE higher than the non parasitized ones (P<0.01); in contrast, levels of total and specific secretory IgA to H. pylori and G. duodenalis were decreased (P<0.05). It is possible that the inflammatory response generated by G. duodenalis infection may increase levels of total IgE and diminish secretory IgA response favoring the establishment of infection by H. pylori.

Prevalencia de enteroparásitos en niños de la etnia Yukpa de Toromo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela / Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Children of Yukpa Ethnia in Toromo, Zulia State, Venezuela

Background: Yupkpa community in Perijá Sierra does not have drinking water or sewage elimination systems. Thus it becomes a propitious place for infection with intestinal parasites. Aim: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children, ages 0 to 14 years, in the Yukpa ethnic population of Toromo in the Perijá Mountains, Zulia State, Venezuela. Material and Methods: Ninety one fecal samples were analyzed by the following coproparasitologic methods: saline solution and lugol fresh mount, formalin-ether concentration (Ritchie), and Kinyoun stain for intestinal coccidians. Results: Overall parasite infection prevalence was 83.5%. The most frequently observed parasites were: Ascaris lumbricoides (57.1%), Trichuris trichiura (20.8%), Hymenolepis nana (14.2%), Blastocystis hominis (51.6%), Giardia lamblia (30.7%), and Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar complex (21.9%). Coccidians were nont observed in any of the stool samples. Conclusions: The large number of infected people is directly related to the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the population studied.

Parásitos intestinales en una comunidad Amerindia, Costa Rica / Intestinal parasites in an Amerindian community

In Costa Rica there were three national surveys of intestinal parasitism (1966, 1982, and 1996) that showed dramatic reduction of the prevalence of Trichuris, Ascaris, and Necator/Ancylostoma (hookworms); however, these nematodes persist with high prevalence in low socio-economically groups, as the squatter settlements around the cities; however, it is possible that pour Amerindian communities with substandard housing condition also suffer the burden of intestinal parasites. For this reason, the present study was planted in a rural disperse Amerindian community from the South of Costa Rica. 45 fecal samples were collected from children under 15 years old, and were processed according a modification of the Baermann method, which also permits the observation of other parasites beyond Strongyloides. 38 (84 percent) of the analyzed samples were positive for at least one parasite. The prevalence for nematodes was Ascaris (36 percent), hookworms (22 percent) Enterobius (4 percent), and Trichuris (2 percent). For protozoa was Endolimax nana (33 percent), Entamoeba coli (27 percent), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (11 percent). These data are the reflect of the inadequate sanitation conditions of this community.

In Costa Rica there were three national surveys of intestinal parasitism (1966, 1982, and 1996) that showed dramatic reduction of the prevalence of Trichuris, Ascaris, and Necator/Ancylostoma (hookworms); however, these nematodes persist with high prevalence in low socio-economically groups, as the squatter settlements around the cities; however, it is possible that pour Amerindian communities with substandard housing condition also suffer the burden of intestinal parasites. For this reason, the present study was planted in a rural disperse Amerindian community from the South of Costa Rica. 45 fecal samples were collected from children under 15 years old, and were processed according a modification of the Baermann method, which also permits the observation of other parasites beyond Strongyloides. 38 (84%) of the analyzed samples were positive for at least one parasite. The prevalence for nematodes was Ascaris (36%), hookworms (22%) Enterobius (4%), and Trichuris (2%). For protozoa was Endolimax nana (33%), Entamoeba coli (27%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (11%). These data are the reflect of the inadequate sanitation conditions of this community.

Intestinal helminthiasis and anaemia in youngsters from Matriz da Luz, district of Säo Lourenço da Mata, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

A group of youngsters (4-18 years old) in northeast Brazil was studied to stablish the prevalence of anaemia and intestinal parasitism, as well as to analyse the correlation between them. Two criteria were used to determine the state of anaemia, the level of haemoglobin and the mean of corpuscular volume. The first was considered a single criterion and the second an associated criteria, used in an attempt to correlate anaemia with iron deficiency. The prevalence of intestinal parasitism was 93 per cent while the prevalence of anaemia was 43.1 per cent and 16.1 per cent according to the criteria employed (single or associated respectively). Anaemia was significantly associated with both sex and age. No significant statistical difference was observed when the association was made between each parasite and anaemia even with those more related to anaemia.

Intestinal helminthiases in Ecuador: the relationship between prevalence, genetic, and socioeconomic factors

A prevalência de infecçöes com helmintos Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale e Strongyloides stercoralis foi examinada em 632 pessoas em diferentes comunidades na Regiäo de Esmeraldas no Equador. Estas comunidades foram divididas em dois grupos conforme a área na qual residem, o que reflete diferentes circunstâncias sócio-econômicas. Intentou-se correlacionar os tipos de infecçäo com a raça e os grupos sanguíneos ABO. Nestes grupos raciais estäo incluídos negros, amerídios Chachi, e mestiços. Notou-se a prevalência de infecçöes nas áreas sócio-econômicas mais baixas. Näo se encontrou nenhuma relaçäo cocm a infecçäo helmíntica e raça ou grupo sanguíneo depois de controlar-se o status sócio-econômico