Distribution of intestinal parasitoses in relation to environmental and sociocultural parameters in La Plata, Argentina.

Environmental parameters influencing the distribution of parasite species in three neighbourhoods of differing socioeconomic conditions in La Plata, Argentina were analysed. Coproparasitological screenings were performed in children up to 14 years old from a marginal zone (100), a suburban neighbourhood (101), and an urban area (91) in 1999--2000. The presence of parasite species in environmental samples (water and soil) and the degree of association among parasite communities was documented and evaluated. The prevalence of infection in each population was 73.0%, 54.4% and 35.2%, respectively. The frequencies of helminths and pathogenic protozoa were both higher in the marginal zone, where sanitary and environmental conditions were significantly inferior compared with the other zones. The high prevalence of intestinal parasites in this infantile population was related to parasitic contamination of the soil and water sources in addition to deficient sanitary and sociocultural conditions. Calculation of an equitability index revealed that the specific richness was less equitable once socioeconomic conditions and hygienic practices were improved. This study demonstrates the need to implement management practices for the control of intestinal parasitoses in accordance with the environmental and sociocultural characteristics of a given ecosystem.

Sobre el Etograma, 2: aspectos metodológicos de la naturaleza semiótica del etograma / About the ethogram, 2: methodological aspects of the semiotic nature of ethograms

La naturaleza semiótica del etograma permite pasar de su elaboración en lenguaje descriptivo a su reformulación en lenguaje científico, particularmente, transformándolo en un código. Presentamos aquí una forma de análisis de descripciones codificadas a través de un método similar a los de la estadística numérica, el eje promedio, que permite organizar las descripciones por similitud, comparando inventarios parciales realizados desde distintas segmentaciones. El use de códigos de este tipo posibilita además la depuración de las descripciones(AU)

The semiotic nature of an ethogram constitute a basis to proceed from its expression in descriptive language to its reformulation in scientific terms, in particular, by transforming it in a code. We here present a way to analyze coded descriptions through the use of a method related to the methods of numerical statistics, the mean axis, by which descriptions may be organized through similarity, by comparing partial inventories obtained from different viewpoints. Depurated descriptions may be obtained through the use of such codes(AU)

Sobre el etograma, 1: Del etograma como lenguage al lenguage de los etogramas / About the ethogram, 1: From the ethogram as a language to the language of ethograms

El etograma, punto de partida en toda investigación de comportamiento, pude ser entendido como la generación de un tipo particular de lenguaje. Desde esta óptica, pueden proponerse una serie de reglas que mejoren su producción y optimicen su uso, dirigiendo la atención al conjunto de operaciones y elecciones mediante los que se estructura. La distinción de las dimensiones sintácticas, semantica y pragmática en un etograma permite estructura la comparación entre etogramas desde su estructura y no desde el objeto pretendidamente descrito. Por otra parte, al rescatar su naturaleza textual, encaramos una doble relación con el: la de quienes crena ese texto, y la de quines lo consultan, en una serie de interpretaciones y reinterpretaciones que sólo son congruentes si realizan una previa compatibilización del marco conceptual de los intervinientes (AU)

Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis within three population groups in La Plata, Argentina.

The prevalence of intestinal parasites was studied as a function of socioeconomic conditions within La Plata, Argentina. Age, sex, and environmental factors were considered. Thus, from each of three areas within the city - the first a 'marginal' zone, the second a lower-income suburb, the third a middle-income urban district - 100,101, and 91 children up to 14 years old, respectively, were examined for intestinal parasites. Giardia lamblia was the most frequent species found. The respective prevalences of intestinal parasites overall (73, 54.4, and 35.1%), of polyparasitism (61.6, 27.2, and 12.5%), and of helminthic infection (32, 10.9, and 0.0%) were the highest within the population group having significantly inferior sanitary and environmental conditions. A positive statistical association between the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and age was observed in all three of the neighborhoods. We also noted a correspondence between the frequency of such infections and school attendance in the two suburban districts. Management practices in accordance with the specific characteristics of an urban environmental and sociocultural ecosystem are thus important for the control of intestinal-parasite infection within municipal populations.

PIP: The prevalence of intestinal parasites, as a function of socioeconomic conditions, was investigated in 3 urban population groups in La Plata, Argentina. 100 children under 14 years of age from a marginal settlement, 101 children from a lower-income suburb, and 91 children from a middle-income district were enrolled. The overall prevalences of intestinal parasites in these 3 groups were 73%, 54.4%, and 35.1%, respectively. Polyparasitism was present in 61.6%, 27.2%, and 12.5%, respectively, while helminthic infection rates were 32%, 10.9%, and 0.0%. Giardia lamblia was the most frequently identified species. These findings confirmed the hypothesized inverse relationship between intestinal parasitosis and socioeconomic conditions. The marginal zone with the highest rates of parasitic disease was characterized by a lack of running water in the homes, outdoor garbage disposal, primitive latrines, and dirt floors. Parasite prevalence increased with age, and with school attendance rates, in the 2 suburban communities. These findings suggest a need for multidisciplinary sanitation programs and community education to reduce parasite transmission through food, water, and soil, in accordance with the environmental and sociocultural characteristics of each municipal ecosystem.

[Intestinal parasites in two periurban populations in La Plata, Argentina]. / Enteroparasitosis en dos poblaciones periurbanas de La Plata, Argentina.

The prevalence of intestinal parasites was studied in two urban neighborhoods with different socioeconomic conditions in La Plata, Argentina. Age, sex, and environmental factors were considered. One hundred and one hundred one children up to 14 years old were examined by coproparasitologic analysis. Giardia lamblia was the most frequent species. Overall prevalences (73.0% and 54.4%), frequencies of polyparasitism (45.0% and 14.8%), and prevalences of helminthic infection (48.0% and 12.7%) were highest in the population having significantly inferior sanitary and environmental conditions. A correlation with age was observed. It is necessary to apply management practices for the control of enteroparasitoses, in accordance with the corresponding characteristics of the environmental and sociocultural ecosistem.