Frecuencia y fuentes de Blastocystis sp . en niños de 0 a 5 años de edad atendidos en hogares infantiles públicos de la zona urbana de Calarcá, Colombia / Blastocystis sp . frequency and sources among children from 0 to 5 years of age attending public day care centers in Calarcá, Colombia

Introducción. No se han descrito las fuentes potenciales de infección por Blastocystis sp . en Colombia. Objetivos. Estimar la frecuencia de Blastocystis sp . y explorar posibles asociaciones entre la infección, las manifestaciones clínicas y algunas fuentes ambientales. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo con una población de 1.993 menores de 5 años (lactantes y preescolares) de estratos socioeconómicos 1 y 2, atendidos en hogares infantiles de Calarcá, Colombia. Se calculó una muestra de 275 y se seleccionó aleatoriamente a los participantes en 10 % de los hogares infantiles. Se practicaron exámenes coprológicos y encuestas y se tomaron muestras para la identificación del parásito en heces, uñas, animales domésticos y algunas fuentes ambientales. Se hicieron preparaciones en fresco con lugol al 1 % y se utilizó una técnica de concentración con formol-éter. Se estimaron prevalencias y razones de momios; para las variables cualitativas se utilizó el test de ji al cuadrado y, para las cuantitativas, la prueba t de Student. Resultados. La prevalencia de infección en los niños fue de 57,5 %. Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia del parásito en heces y su hallazgo en recipientes de agua de panela (OR=1,70; IC 95% 1,05-2,79), en los pisos de madera o de tierra en la vivienda (OR=3,43; IC 95% 1,12-10,48), y en alimentos diferentes a la leche en el tetero (OR=3,23; IC 95% 1,41-4,41); y se encontró una prevalencia alta sin asociación en muestras de uñas (OR=1,62; IC 95% 0,99-2,67). La diarrea fue más frecuente en niños con Blastocystis sp. (45 %) que en aquellos sin el parásito (33 %) (OR: 1,95; IC 95% 0,99-2,77) (p<0,05). Conclusiones. Blastocystis sp . se asoció significativamente con síntomas de diarrea en los niños menores de 5 años y se encontró distribuido ampliamente en el ambiente y en el agua. Se requeriría determinar si hay huéspedes específicos para genotipos patógenos por medio de técnicas moleculares.

Introduction: There are no reports of the potential sources of Blastocystis sp . in Colombia. Objectives: To estimate the frequency of Blastocystis sp . and explore possible associations among infection, clinical manifestations and environmental sources. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was conducted; a representative sample was calculated from a population of 1,993 children less than 5 years old of the lowest socioeconomic levels (1 and 2) attending day care centers in Calarcá, Colombia. The calculated sample size was 275 children, who were selected randomly in 10 % of the centers. Stool testing, questionnaires and sampling to identify the parasite in feces, nails, pets and environmental sources, were performed. Fresh preparations were made with 1% iodine solution, and a concentration technique with formalin-ether was used. Prevalence and odd ratios were estimated; the chi-square test was utilized for qualitative variables, and Student´s t for the quantitative ones. Results: The prevalence of infection in children was of 57.5%. A statistically significant association was found between the Blastocystis sp . positive stool tests and the presence of the parasite in containers of sugar cane beverage (OR=1.70; 95% CI: 1.05-2.79), wood or ground floors (OR=3.43; 95% CI: 1.12-10.48) and in foods other than bottled milk (OR=3.23; 95% CI: 1.41-4.41) . A non-significant high prevalence was found in nails (OR=1.62; 95% CI: 0.99-2.67), as well as a significantly higher prevalence of diarrhea (OR=1.95; 95% CI: 0.99-2.77) in children with Blastocystis sp . (45%) as compared with those without the parasite (33%; p<0.05). Conclusions: Blastocystis sp . showed a significant association with diarrhea symptoms in children 0 to 5 years old and was widely distributed in the environment and in water. It is necessary to determine if there are specific hosts with pathogenic potential through molecular techniques.

Prevalence of bacteria and intestinal parasites among food-handlers in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia.

Food-handlers with poor personal hygiene working in food-service establishments could be potential sources of infection due to pathogenic organisms. The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bacteria and intestinal parasites among 127 food-handlers working in the cafeterias of the University of Gondar and the Gondar Teachers Training College, Gondar, Ethiopia. Fingernail contents of both the hands and stool specimens were collected from all the 127 food-handlers. The samples were examined for bacteria and intestinal parasites following standard procedures. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the predominant bacteria species (41.7%) isolated from fingernail contents, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16.5%), Klebsiella species (5.5%), Escherichia coli (3.1%), Serratia species (1.58%), Citrobacter species (0.8%), and Enterobacter species (0.8%). Shigella species were isolated from stool samples of four food-handlers (3.1%). None of the food-handlers was positive for Salmonella species and Shigella species in respect of their fingernail contents. No intestinal parasites were detected from fingernail contents. Intestinal parasites detected in the stools of the food-handlers included Ascaris lumbricoides (18.11%), Strongyloides stercoralis (5.5%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.6%), Trichuris trichiura (1.6%), hookworm species (0.8%), Gardia lamblia (0.8%), and Schistosoma mansoni (0.8%); 1.6% of the study subjects were positive for each of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm, and G. lamblia. The findings emphasize the importance of food-handlers as potential sources of infections and suggest health institutions for appropriate hygienic and sanitary control measures.