RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of multi-infections with helminthes, protozoans and Campylobacter spp. in Guatemalan children is a reflection of differences in the risk factors related to pathogen transmission. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and eighty-nine fecal samples were collected from children of the Guatemalan highlands and patterns of pathogen occurrences were evaluated using an immunoassay for Campylobacter spp., a formalin-ether concentration followed by observation of unstained slides for helminthes and trichome stains of fecal smears for protozoans. Specimens were examined microscopically using 100, 400 and 1000x magnification. RESULTS: Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Campylobacter spp., Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar and Trichuris trichiura were 55.1%, 30.8%, 21.5%, 19.8% and 19.4%, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of at least one intestinal pathogen was 85.5%. Multi-infections were found in 43% of the children harboring pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Infections with Campylobacter spp., E. histolytica/E. dispar, T. trichiura and G. duodenalis were closely associated with the presence of co-infection with A. lumbricoides. T. trichiura infection was related to co-infection with A. lumbricoides and Campylobacter spp. Infections with G. duodenalis and T. trichiura were related to co-infections with either Campylobacter spp. or E. histolytica/E. dispar. The prevalence of multi-gastrointestinal infections with helminthes, protozoans and Campylobacter spp. in children was found to be related to age and gender.
Assuntos
Infecções por Campylobacter/epidemiologia , Gastroenteropatias/epidemiologia , Helmintíase/epidemiologia , Infecções por Protozoários/epidemiologia , Animais , Campylobacter/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Campylobacter/microbiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Entamoeba/isolamento & purificação , Fezes/microbiologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Gastroenteropatias/microbiologia , Gastroenteropatias/parasitologia , Giardia/isolamento & purificação , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Helmintíase/parasitologia , Helmintos/isolamento & purificação , Histocitoquímica/métodos , Humanos , Imunoensaio/métodos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Microscopia/métodos , Prevalência , Infecções por Protozoários/parasitologiaRESUMO
The prevalence of HIV infection among men in a gold mining camp in the Amazon region of Guyana was 6.5%. This high percentage of HIV infection provides a reservoir for the virus in this region, warranting immediate public health intervention to curb its spread. As malaria is endemic in the Amazon Basin (>30,000 cases/year), the impact of coinfection may be substantial.
