ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Nutritional Status , Anal Canal/parasitology , Anthropometry , Argentina/epidemiology , Blood Chemical Analysis , Child , Child, Preschool , Feces/parasitology , Female , Humans , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/etiology , Lansoprazole , Male , Suburban Population , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the larvicidal effect of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 (Ef7121) on the Toxocara canis cycle both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro experiments, T. canis larvae were incubated with the supernatants of Ef7121 (EI) and mutant Ef7121 (EIm), in a pre-culture of Ef7121 (EII) and in a fresh culture with Ef7121 (EIII) and the Ef7121 mutant strain (EIIIm). The viability of the larvae was calculated after a 48 h incubation. A significant reduction of the viability of T. canis larvae was observed in EI, EII and EIII. A decrease of this inhibitory effect was observed in EIm and EIIIm (p = 0.008). In the in vivo experiments, mice were orally inoculated with three doses of Ef7121. To study the probiotic persistence in the intestine, the animals were sacrificed every four days and their intestines were dissected. The initial average bacterial levels were 9.7 x 10(4) for Ef7121 (colony forming units/g). At the end of the assay the levels were 1.46 x 10(4). No bacterial translocation was detected in mesenteric lymphatic nodules and spleen. Ef7121 interference with the biological cycle was evaluated in mice challenged with T. canis. The interference was significant when the mice were challenged with probiotic and T. canis simultaneously (p = 0.001), but it was not significant when the challenge was performed 15 days after administration of the bacterial inoculum (p = 0.06). In conclusion, Ef7121 possessed in vitro and in vivo larvicidal activity.
Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/pharmacology , Enterococcus faecalis/chemistry , Probiotics/pharmacology , Toxocara canis/drug effects , Animals , Colony Count, Microbial , Enterococcus faecalis/genetics , Larva/drug effects , Male , MiceABSTRACT
The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the larvicidal effect of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 (Ef7121) on the Toxocara canis cycle both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro experiments, T. canis larvae were incubated with the supernatants of Ef7121 (EI) and mutant Ef7121 (EIm), in a pre-culture of Ef7121 (EII) and in a fresh culture with Ef7121 (EIII) and the Ef7121 mutant strain (EIIIm). The viability of the larvae was calculated after a 48 h incubation. A significant reduction of the viability of T. canis larvae was observed in EI, EII and EIII. A decrease of this inhibitory effect was observed in EIm and EIIIm (p = 0.008). In the in vivo experiments, mice were orally inoculated with three doses of Ef7121. To study the probiotic persistence in the intestine, the animals were sacrificed every four days and their intestines were dissected. The initial average bacterial levels were 9.7 x 10(4) for Ef7121 (colony forming units/g). At the end of the assay the levels were 1.46 x 10(4). No bacterial translocation was detected in mesenteric lymphatic nodules and spleen. Ef7121 interference with the biological cycle was evaluated in mice challenged with T. canis. The interference was significant when the mice were challenged with probiotic and T. canis simultaneously (p = 0.001), but it was not significant when the challenge was performed 15 days after administration of the bacterial inoculum (p = 0.06). In conclusion, Ef7121 possessed in vitro and in vivo larvicidal activity.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Anthelmintics , Enterococcus faecalis , Probiotics , Toxocara canis , Colony Count, Microbial , Enterococcus faecalis , LarvaABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Community Participation , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/prevention & control , Adolescent , Argentina , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Male , Rural HealthABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Helminthiasis/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Protozoan Infections/epidemiology , Animals , Argentina/epidemiology , Humans , Prevalence , Rural Population , Sanitation , Socioeconomic Factors , Soil/parasitology , Urban Population , Water/parasitologyABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Helminthiasis/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Protozoan Infections/epidemiology , Argentina/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rural Population , Sanitation , Socioeconomic Factors , Soil/parasitology , Urban Population , Water/parasitologyABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the relationships between the personal, sociocultural, and environmental characteristics, and the presence or absence of symptoms with the detection of Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) in a population sample in our region (General Mansilla, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), by individual and familiar analyses. METHODS: E. vermicularis was diagnosed in 309 people from 70 family units residing in the urban area and the rural area of the city of General Mansilla. Each of them was surveyed so as to register personal, environmental and sociocultural data. Questions about the presence or absence of anal itch, abdominal pain and sleeping disorder were also asked. Significant associations were determined by square chi tests. Logistic regression models were adjusted by using a backward conditional stepwise method to determine the presence of this parasite in the individuals and in the families. RESULTS: The parasites were found in 29.12% (90/309) of the individuals, with a frequency of 14.28% (20/140) among the heads of the families and of 41.42% (70/169) among the children. The only variables showing a significant association were affiliation, where the risk category was "being the son/daughter of", and the symptoms were abdominal pain, sleeping disorder, and anal itch. Families with a member infected with parasite were considered Positive Families (PF) and they were 40/70 (57.14%), only 5% (2/40) of the PF had 100% of their members infected with the parasite. The logistic regression models applied showed that the risk categories were mainly affiliation (son/daughter) and housing (satisfactory) among others. CONCLUSION: The presence of E. vermicularis was proved in one third of the studied population. The frequency of families with all their members infected with the parasite was very low. Most of the studied personal, sociocultural, and environmental variables did not turn out to be significantly associated with the presence of the parasite. An association with the category of "son/daughter" and housing classified as "satisfactory" was determined. The latter may be due to the fact that the people living in that category of housing have hygienic practices at home that favour the distribution of the eggs in the environment. The presence of the analysed symptoms was associated with the presence of the parasite, thus strengthening the need of periodical control of the population showing at least one of these symptoms.
Subject(s)
Enterobiasis/epidemiology , Enterobius , Abdominal Pain/epidemiology , Abdominal Pain/parasitology , Adult , Anal Canal , Animals , Argentina/epidemiology , Child , Family Health , Female , Humans , Male , Pruritus/epidemiology , Pruritus/parasitology , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Sanitation , Socioeconomic Factors , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Dogs , Toxocara canis , Toxocariasis , Argentina , Feces , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la prevalencia de Cryptosporidium spp en mamíferos en cautiverio, roedores domiciliarios y bovinos de la ciudad de La Plata y área rural de influencia. Las poblaciones fueron analizadas a través de exámenes coproparasitológicos. Las muestras fecales se procesaron según el método de Telemann modificado. La presencia de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp se evidenció en mamíferos del Zoológico de La Plata y en los bovinos de la región rural analizada. No se detectaron ooquistes en las muestras de los roedores domiciliarios. Es la primera referencia de hallazgo de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp en la especie de félido Puma concolor. Se obtuvo una prevalencia del 42,5 por ciento en terneros. La alta prevalencia en los bovinos examinados sugiere que los terneros naturalmente infectados pueden ser reservorios de importancia para la transmisión Cryptosporidium spp de hombres y animales
Subject(s)
Animals , Cryptosporidiosis , Cryptosporidium , Animals, Zoo/parasitology , Argentina , Cattle , Disease Reservoirs , RodentiaABSTRACT
El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la prevalencia de Cryptosporidium spp en mamíferos en cautiverio, roedores domiciliarios y bovinos de la ciudad de La Plata y área rural de influencia. Las poblaciones fueron analizadas a través de exámenes coproparasitológicos. Las muestras fecales se procesaron según el método de Telemann modificado. La presencia de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp se evidenció en mamíferos del Zoológico de La Plata y en los bovinos de la región rural analizada. No se detectaron ooquistes en las muestras de los roedores domiciliarios. Es la primera referencia de hallazgo de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp en la especie de félido Puma concolor. Se obtuvo una prevalencia del 42,5 por ciento en terneros. La alta prevalencia en los bovinos examinados sugiere que los terneros naturalmente infectados pueden ser reservorios de importancia para la transmisión Cryptosporidium spp de hombres y animales (AU)
