Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections in a rural community in "consolación del sur" municipality, cuba.

Intestinal parasites are very common infections worldwide and they are responsible for significant public health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world population is infected and some epidemiologic factors related to the transmission have been identified. The purpose of this investigation was to study the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in people living in the rural community of "El Canal", Consolación del Sur municipality and the association with some epidemiologic risk factors. All participants were subjected to three methods of parasitological examinations on the stool samples and by immunodiagnostic tests which allow the detection of excretory-secretory antigens of adults with Fasciola hepatica. The global prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) was 18%, and 16.7% for protozoan infections, while the rate of helminth infection was lower (5.3%) in the population studied. The univariate analysis identified three factors associated with intestinal pathogenic protozoan infections which include livestock work, drinking water from well\river and eating unwashed fruits\vegetables. The multivariate analysis using introduction test logistic regression ratified the association of these risk factors. Contrary to what have been published in the majority of Cuban studies carried out in rural places, a higher prevalence of protozoan than helminth infection was found. This discrepancy may be explained because the majority of the workers in this rural community were stock-breeders and they are not involved in other agricultural work. The identification of risk factors is important in order to design appropriate strategies for control of IPIs in communities.

[Peculiarities of meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in America]. / Peculiaridades de la meningoencefalitis por Angiostrongylus cantonensis en América.

INTRODUCTION: 25 years ago was first reported in Cuba and in the western hemisphere an emergent disease: eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae. AIM: To collect in a summary form the accumulated experience and the findings of the study of this parasitosis during the period in the Western hemisphere. DEVELOPMENT AND CONCLUSIONS: There have been collected the first evidences, the parasitological and malacological findings, the experimental and molecular studies on immunology and neuroimmunology, the clinic-pathological findings in children and adults with the particularities of this diseases in our environment with special emphasis in the never-before scientific findings reported. It has been documented the testimony, the main findings among the malacological studies, the role of the immunoglobulin E and the mechanism involved in the central nervous system, the intrathecal synthesis patterns of immunoglobulins and the clinical elements in children and adults.

[Emergence of a new pathogen: Cyclospora cayetanensis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus]. / Emergencia de un nuevo patógeno: Cyclospora cayetanensis en pacientes infectados por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana.

The emergence of a new pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis as a cause of clinical disease in immunosuppressed hosts is related with prolonged, severe and highly recurrent diarrheas. This paper reports two Cuban cases of cyclosporiasis associated with infection from human immunodeficiency virus in which non sporulated oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis were detected in feces by modified Zielhl Neelsen's technique. The most significant clinical symptoms were chronic diarrheas and loss of body weight, with CD4 levels below 200 cells per mm3. The occurrence of severe digestive symptoms in patients with Cyclospora cayetanensi and important immune compromise backed up the concept that this pathogen may act as a new opportunistic pathogen in patients with HIV.

[Validation in Havana City, Cuba of ENZYMEBA, an immunoassay for detecting Entamoeba histolytica in feces]. / Validación en ciudad de La Habana, Cuba, de ENZYMEBA, inmunoensayo para la detección de Entamoeba histolytica en heces.

Parasitologists from different medical institutions in Havana City carried out the external validation of ENZYMEBA, a diagnostic procedure of intestinal amebiasis developed at the "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine. To this end, serial faeces specimens from 212 individuals were collected and observed on the microscope (reference test). The ENZYMEBA immunoassay (validation test) was also made. On comparing ENZYMEBA with the microscopic examination, satisfactory indexes of sensitivity and specificity were found. No cross-reactions were detected in faeces specimens, where found other parasites were present, too. Taking into account that only one faeces specimen per patient is enough for the diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis with ENZYMEBA, this procedure may be useful in studies of therapeutical efficacy and prevalence.

[Infection by Inermicapsifer madagascariensis (Davaine, 1870); Baer, 1956. A report of 2 cases]. / Infección por Inermicapsifer madagascariensis (Davaine, 1870); Baer, 1956. Presentación de 2 casos.

Two female white patients of 11 months and 1 year of age, respectively, with intestinal parasitism due to Inermicapsifer madagascariensis (Inermicapsifer cubensis) are presented. They were attended at the Pediatrics Outpatient Department of the "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine during the last 3 years. Both patients who did not cure with the different treatment used against taeniasis and who used to expel parasites through the anus, were referred to this center, where they were diagnosed Inermicapsifer madagascariensis. Parasitism disappeared with a specific treatment with praziquantel.

[The first report in Cuba of human intestinal infection by Cyclospora cayetanensis, Ortega, 1993]. / Primer reporte en Cuba de infección intestinal humana por Cyclospora cayetanensis, Ortega, 1993.

The human intestinal infection by Cyclospora cayetanensis, is reported for the first time in Cuba, Ortega, 1993. This coccidian parasite was being identified since several years in humans presenting with diarrhea, as a blue-green Alga, a similar body to cyanobacteria, or similar to a great coccidia. However, it was identified for the first time a genus of Cyclospora, in 1993, and the taxonomic description of the human species as C. cayetanensis is very recent. This paper reports on a child presenting with an acute diarrheal picture in which no other causative agent was found, and describes the morphological characteristics of this rounded organism which measures between 7.7 and 10 micras of diameter and results positive to Ziehl-Neelsen staining. This is a warning for all physicians and biomedical staff in charge of making the laboratory diagnosis of acute diarrheal diseases.

[Bilateral tubo-ovarian abscess caused by Enterobius vermicularis. Presentation of a case]. / Absceso tubo-ovárico bilateral debido a granulomas por Enterobius vermicularis. Presentación de un caso.

We present the case of a 33-year-old patient who had undergone hysterectomy due to an in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix; exploratory laparotomy was carried out for a suspected abscessed pelvic tumor. It was confirmed that the two Fallopian tubes and ovaries were abscessed and exeresis was carried out. The anatomicopathological study of these showed granulomas containing gravid female specimens of the Enterobius vermicularis species.

[Hematologic-nutritional study in children predisposed to infection with high-load of Trichuris trichiura]. / Estudio hematológico-nutricional de niños con predisposición a la infección por alta carga con Trichuris trichiura.

A coproparasitological survey is carried out in 3 family doctors' home-offices in City of Havana Province following the Kato-Katz technique (3 samples from each person); we found 15 children predisposed to high-load infection by Trichuris trichiura. This group was compared to a group of 20 children infected with a low parasite load, and to another group of 20 children with no parasite infection. A study of nutritional anemia was carried out to all of them including: hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin, serum iron, vitamin B12, and serum and erythrocyte folates. No significant differences were found in the mean values of the hematologic parameters under study in the various groups, all values being within normal limits. All the children under study had normal anthropometric-nutritional index values. Based on the results attained, we suggest that the reported anemia in individuals infected with a high load of T. trichiura is not only due to parasite infection; other factors may influence on it, probably a certain concomitant protein-energy deficiency.

[Trichuriasis in Cuba]. / Trichuriasis en Cuba.

A representative sample of the Cuban population (11,364) is studied by using Willis and direct coproparasitological techniques. It was found that Trichuris trichiura is the most prevailing intestinal parasite (17.8%). A higher frequency of this kind of geohelminthiasis in people living in Cuban rural zones is seen. A prevalence peak is found in ages from 6 to 9 years, and a higher association of parasitism was found in those with worst hygienic and sanitary conditions.

[Cryptosporidium sp. infection in Cuban individuals infected by HIV]. / Infección por Cryptosporidium sp. en individuos cubanos infectados por el VIH.

A study was conducted on the presence of Cryptosporidium sp in 47 Cuban adult patients infected by HIV in different infective stages in order to assess for the first time its prevalence in this group. The parasite was found in 18 patients (38.3%), of whom 18 (44.7%) were asymptomatic. The most frequent symptoms were aqueous diarrhea, fever, abdominal colics, asthemia and weight loss. Emphasis is placed on the frequently asymptomatic nature of these infections, which could be an important reservoir for nosocomial transmission of this disease among individuals with immunological disregulations.

[Comparison of several coproparasitological techniques for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted intestinal helminthiasis]. / Comparación de varias técnicas coproparasitológicas para el diagnóstico de geohelmintiasis intestinales.

Five hundred and eleven samples of feces were examined by several coproparasitological techniques: Kato-Katz, Willis, Ritchie and direct wet mount. It was found that Kato-Katz was the most reliable technique for the diagnosis of Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, and Ascaris lumbricoides, demonstrating the largest number of cases. Willis, Ritchie and direct wet mount were effective in that order. Taking into account that Kato-Katz is a quantitative method, it should be recommended in the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminthiasis.

[Single dose mebendazole for the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus in chemotherapeutic control campaigns in the communities]. / Estudio de dosis única de mebendazol para el tratamiento de Trichuris trichiura y Necator americanus en campañas de control quimioterapéutico en las comunidades.

A study of intestinal parasitism is made in "Argelia Libre" community, Isle of Youth, by means of four coproparasitologic techniques: Kato Kratz, Ritchie, Direct, and Willis. Patients with geohelminths are divided into two groups of treatment: Group A, treated with 500 mg mebendazole in single doses and group B, treated with the classical scheme of 100 mg every 12 hours for three days. Results of treatment are expressed in terms of cure rates and percentage of egg-count reduction. When comparing schemes A and B, no significant differences are found (p less than 0.05). Due to its lower cost and easier administration, the single dosage scheme is recommended for massive chemotherapy of geohelminthiasis in the community.