Anemia in Children Aged Four to Eight from a Semirural Community in Central East Area of Argentina.

We present the results of the first stage of the Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasitosis and Nutrition, analyzing the frequency of anemia and its relation with intestinal parasitic infections and socio-cultural and environmental factors present in school children from a semirural community of Argentina. A total of 123 children aged 4-8 years were interviewed; 93 (75.6%) of them showed up for blood extraction and a fecal sample was taken properly. The frequency of anemia was 33.3%; 45.0% in children aged 4-5 years and 24.5% in those aged 6-8 years (p=0.038). Intestinal parasites were found in 83.9% of the children; 75.0% in children aged 4-5 years and 90.6% in those aged 6-8 years (p=0.043). No statistical differences were found when relating parasitic infections, social/cultural variables and housing characteristic with anemia, probably of nutritional origin. This study reveals the coexistence of anemia and parasitic infections in apparently healthy children who were unnoticed by the conventional public health system.

Nutritional status in parasitized and nonparasitized children from two districts of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

UNLABELLED: The Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasites and Nutrition was designed to intervene in small communities to prevent and control the effects of parasitic infections on children's health. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between nutritional status and parasitic infection in suburban and rural children from Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric (weight, height, BMI, skinfolds, upper arm circumference, muscle, and fat upper arm areas) and biochemical (Hb, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu) indicators. Parasitological analysis were made on both serial stool and perianal swab samples. A total of 708 children aged 3-11 were measured. The biochemical analysis included 217 blood samples and the parasitological study included 284 samples. RESULTS: Anthropometric status was similar in both settings with low rates of underweight and stunting (<6%), and high rates of overweight (~17%) and obesity (~12%). Ca deficiency was significantly higher in suburban children where 80% of them were hypocalcemic. Around 70% of fecal samples contained parasites. Among infected children, the most prevalent species were Blastocystis hominis and Enterobius vermicularis (~43%) followed by Giardia lamblia (~17%). Differences in parasitological status between districts were not significant. In the suburban district parasitized children were lighter, shorter, and had a lower upper arm circumference than their non-infected peers. No differences in anthropometric status were seen among infected and uninfected rural children. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest an association between intestinal parasites and physical growth in suburban children. Rural children seem to be protected against the effects of parasitic infection.

Intestinal parasitoses in suburban and rural school children in Argentina

Neste trabalho, são apresentados os resultados da primeira etapa do Programa de controle de doençasparasitárias intestinais e nutrição (PROCOPIN) e comparadas as condições de saúde pública e os hábitos associados a parasitos intestinais em crianças de zona suburbana (SC) e de zona rural (SR) na Argentina. Recolheu-se informação pessoal e sobre as condições de saúde pública. Foram realizados exames parasitológicos de fezes e de esfregaço perianal com gazes seriados. Foram examinadas 465 SC e 251 RC, entre as quais se encontraram os seguintes índices de infecção: em SC, 39,1por cento e em RC, 31,1por cento, sendo p igual 0,032. Os parasitos mais frequentes em ambas as localizações foram: Blastocystis hominis, Enterobius vermicularis e Giardia intestinalis. Más condições de saúde pública nas casas de SC não constituíram fator de risco de a criança ser parasitada, o que sugereque a transmissão desses parasitos não ocorre na casa, mas, provavelmente, em escolas, clubes ou outras áreas de recreação que congregam grande número de crianças. Entre as RC, condições de saúde pública dentro ou no entorno da casa apareceram como fator de risco, indicando que é principalmente ali onde ocorre a transmissão do parasito. Portanto, o comportamento social das crianças, as condições da saúde pública e os hábitos de higiene das populações devem ser vistoscomo fatores de risco para a parasitose.

[Community participation in the control of intestinal parasitoses at a rural site in Argentina]. / Participación comunitaria en el control de las parasitosis intestinales en una localidad rural de Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: To design, implement, and evaluate a complex plan of actions aimed at reducing parasitoses in a rural town in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the involvement of the community. METHODS: The project took place in General Mansilla, Buenos Aires province, in three stages. First, the initial epidemiological situation of intestinal parasitoses in the community was assessed by analyzing for parasites a series of stool samples and anal swabs taken from a sample of 522 individuals. Second, interventions were implemented: the pharmacological treatment of the infected individuals, and health education for the public involving local promoters. Third, the pharmacological treatment was evaluated with followup stool testing for those treated; the health education effort was evaluated through a survey and stool testing for parasites of those who had participated solely in the education. RESULTS: The frequency of intestinal parasitoses was 58.2%; of the total, 43.9% were protozoa and 35.2%, helminths. The most common pathogens were Enterobius vermicularis, Blastocystis hominis, and Giardia lamblia. The deworming treatment reduced intestinal parasitoses to 15.1% (P < 0.001), and was more effective in helminths than in protozoa. Intestinal parasitoses declined following the health education intervention, in general (from 58.2% to 47.9%; P = 0.019), as well as for helminths (from 35.2% to 20.3%; P < 0.001), and hygiene habits improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of parasitosis and the educational intervention provided by local promoters made it possible to reduce parasitic diseases-particularly those caused by helminths-in the community under study. We recommend extending this experience to other rural communities and broadening the interventions to cutoff additional modes of transmission, such as water and food.

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003.

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4%. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2%) and Giardia lamblia (6.9%), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8%). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3% of the soil samples and in 84.2% of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4 percent. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2 percent) and Giardia lamblia (6.9 percent), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8 percent). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3 percent of the soil samples and in 84.2 percent of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.

Hemos evaluado la prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en 504 personas y el grado de asociación entre las variables ambientales y los parásitos intestinales hallados en la población, el suelo y el agua de una zona rural de Argentina durante 2002-2003. Se utilizó una encuesta estructurada para relevar las variables ambientales y se examinaron muestras fecales humanas, de agua y de suelo. La prevalencia parasitaria fue de 45,4 por ciento. Los protozoos prevalentes fueron Blastocystis hominis (27,2 por ciento) y Giardia lamblia (6,9 por ciento), mientras que el helminto mas prevalente fue Ascaris lumbricoides (3,8 por ciento). Las variables ambientales analizadas que mostraron asociación (p < 0,05) con la presencia de parásitos en la población fueron: casa de cartón-chapa o de madera con piso de tierra, bomba de agua domiciliaria o comunitaria, canilla fuera de la casa o pública y pozo ciego o letrina. Elementos parasitarios fueron hallados en el 82,3 por ciento de las muestras de suelo y en el 84,2 por ciento de las muestras de agua. En ambas muestras fueron hallados parásitos que también se encontraron en las personas. En este trabajo hemos hallado deficientes condiciones sanitarias asociadas con la presencia de parásitos en las personas y hemos evidenciado que el suelo y el agua contaminada fueron la fuente de esos parasitos.

Comparison of preparation techniques of mixed samples (fungi-helminth eggs) for scanning electron microscopy by critical point drying.

We compared three preparation techniques for critical point drying of fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson with Toxocara canis (Werner) Johnston and Taenia hydatigena Linneo eggs by scanning electron microscopy. We evaluated filtration (first), centrifugation (second), and phytoplankton network (third) in critical point drying methods. The first and third methods were advantageous for T. canis eggs because they preserved the quantity and quality of samples to obtain better images definition. The best technique for T. hydatigena eggs was the addition of phytoplankton network in critical point drying which preserved these helminth eggs.

Aspectos epidemiológicos asociados a toxocarosis en Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos. Argentina / Epidemiological aspects associated to toxocarosis in Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar factores epidemiológicos de toxocarosis en la ciudad de Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina. Se evaluó en 272 donantes de sangre la seroprevalencia de esta parasitosis, su relación con las condiciones socioeconómicas de las personas estudiadas, presencia o ausencia de perros parasitados en sus hogares y en los alrededores; y la contaminación de plazas y paseos públicos con huevos de Toxocara spp. La seroprevalencia fue del 12,13 por ciento sin correlacionarse significativamente con condiciones socioeconómicas ni tenencia de perros, siendo la mayoría de los individuos asintomáticos. El 25 por ciento de los perros y el 100 por cientode los paseos públicos estudiados, resultaron parasitados. Esta situación establece un riesgo importante de adquirir toxocarosis en los habitantes de esta ciudad.

Presencia de parásitos intestinales en paseos públicos urbanos en La Plata Argentina / Presence of intestinal parasities in public places from urban areas from La Plata Argentina

Con el objeto de recuperar e identificar contaminantes parasitarios se estudiaron muestras de suelo de todos los paseos públicos del área urbana de La Plata, Argentina. Se analizaron 23 paseos durante los meses de marzo y abril de 2000 y al mismo tiempo se evaluó el pH y la humedad de cada muestra. Se observaron 552 elementos parasitarios, 98 correspondieron a quistes de protozoos, 106 a huevos de helmintos y 348 a larvas de nematodos. Se demostró que los suelos de los paseos analizados estaban contaminados con parásitos de origen humano y animal

Control biológico de huevos de Toxocara canis con hongos saprófitos del suelo / Biological control of toxocara canis eggs with saprophytic fungi soil

Se estudió la interacción biológica de cuatro especies de hongos saprófitos del suelo sobre el desarrollo y persistencia de huevos de Toxocara canis cultivados in vitro. Las cepas utilizadas fueron: Paecilomyces lilacinus, P. marquandii, Mucor hiemalis y Fusarium equiseti. Las mismas se cocultivaron con los huevos del nematodo y se observaron al microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido en los días 4, 7 y 14 postsiembra. La actividad ovicida fue muy alta para P. lilacinus y Fusarium equiseti, intermedia para P. marquandii y nula para Mucor hiemalis (AU)

Control biológico de huevos de Toxocara canis con hongos saprófitos del suelo / Biological control of toxocara canis eggs with saprophytic fungi soil

Se estudió la interacción biológica de cuatro especies de hongos saprófitos del suelo sobre el desarrollo y persistencia de huevos de Toxocara canis cultivados in vitro. Las cepas utilizadas fueron: Paecilomyces lilacinus, P. marquandii, Mucor hiemalis y Fusarium equiseti. Las mismas se cocultivaron con los huevos del nematodo y se observaron al microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido en los días 4, 7 y 14 postsiembra. La actividad ovicida fue muy alta para P. lilacinus y Fusarium equiseti, intermedia para P. marquandii y nula para Mucor hiemalis