Influence of Environmental Pollution and Living Conditions on Parasite Transmission among Indigenous Ecuadorians.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental pollution and the living conditions of indigenous Ecuadorians on the transmission of enteroparasites in an Andean agricultural area located at high altitude. Environmental pollution was recorded after observation in each community. The parasites were identified by microscopic sediment analysis using physiological saline solution from macerated arthropods, washed vegetables, and human stools, utilizing four coproparasitological techniques (direct examination, Kato-Katz, ether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen). The results show that the inadequate disposal of human and animal excreta that contaminate soil and water, incorrect food hygiene, inadequate sanitary infrastructure in houses, a lack of animal veterinary care, and rodent proliferation are important reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. The use of excrement as fertilizer increases the number of flies, which act as mechanical vectors, and vegetables grown in areas with disperse infective parasitic forms act as vehicles that are marketed at the local, regional, and international levels. These analyses verify contamination levels of 52.7% in mechanical vectors, 70.6% in vegetables, and 98.2% in human stools. The agricultural communities analyzed maintained poor hygienic-sanitary and environmental conditions, which had a significant influence on the transmission of enteroparasites that affect human health.

Anthropometric and hematological tests to diagnose nutritional deficiencies in schoolchildren of indigenous communities living in the Andean region of Ecuador / Análise antropométrica e hematológica para o diagnóstico de deficiências nutricionais em escolares de comunidades indígenas que vivem na cordilheira dos Andes no Equador

ABSTRACT Objective To carry out the anthropometric and biometric-hematological assessments in schoolchildren of the Andean region of Ecuador, in order to improve the diagnosis of nutritional deficiencies. Methods The study has been carried out in the San Juan School (Chimborazo, Ecuador), located at 3,240m of altitude, to 36 children of 5 and 6 years old. Anthropometric analyses (weight, height and body mass index), and hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations were measured. The hemoglobin measurement was evaluated considering the normal value and the one adapted to the altitude of the area. Results The schoolchildren showed high prevalence of stunting (44%). The values of hematocrit (.=0.001) and hemoglobin (.=0.003) were higher in girls. It should be highlighted that using the normal value of hemoglobin, anemia was not detected. However almost a fifth of the schoolchildren studied were diagnosed with anemia when we applied the correction factors adapted to the altitude. Conclusion The use of correction factors adapted to the altitude is considered essential to do the hematology test in populations that live in high altitude in order to avoid a false diagnosis. Moreover, it is necessary to establish the environmental factors related to the stunted growth of this population of the Andean region.

RESUMO Objetivo Realizar avaliações antropométricas e biométrico-hematológicas em escolares da cordilheira dos Andes no Equador, a fim de melhorar o diagnóstico de deficiências nutricionais. Métodos O estudo foi realizado na escola San Juan (Chimborazo, Equador), localizada a 3240 metros acima do nível do mar, a 36 crianças de 5 e 6 anos de idade. Foram analisadas as medidas antropométricas (peso, altura e índice de massa corporal) e as concentrações de hemoglobina e hematócrito. A medida da hemoglobina foi avaliada considerando os valores absolutos e os corrigidos pela altura geográfica. Resultados A população escolar apresentou alta prevalência de altura baixa (44%). Os valores de hematócrito (p=0,001) e hemoglobina (p=0,003) foram maiores nas meninas. Deve-se destacar que usando o valor normal da hemo-globina, a anemia não foi detectada. No entanto, quase um quinto dos escolares estudados foram diagnosticados com anemia quando os fatores de correção adaptados à altitude foram aplicados. Conclusão O uso de fatores de correção adaptados à altitude é considerado fundamental ao fazer uma biometria a os habitantes da zona para evitar um diagnóstico errôneo. Além disso, é necessário estabelecer os fatores ambientais associados ao retardo do crescimento que existe nesta região dos Andes.

Caracterización de lesiones intraepiteliales en mujeres del cantón Penipe, Ecuador. Noviembre 2014 / Characterization of intraepithelial lesions in women of Penipe town, Ecuador. Novem-ber 2014

El proceso investigativo tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo observacional, descriptivo, transversal; con el propósito de caracterizar las lesiones intraepiteliales en 100 pacientes del cantón Penipe, con edades comprendidas entre 20 a 65 años, que asistieron a consulta gineco-lógica del Centro de Erradicación del Bocio y Capacitación a Minusválidos (CEBYCAM), durante el mes de noviembre de 2014. Los datos fueron obtenidos empleando la técnica de la medición, a través del empleo del Sistema Internacional de Reporte de Bethesda. El prome-dio de la edad fue 41.44 años (± 13.60); la media aritmética de la edad de inicio de las relacio-nes sexuales fue de 16,37 (± 4.49); predominaron las mujeres con dos hijos, aquellas cuyo test resultó negativo (88 %) y las que no utilizaban algún método anticonceptivo, así como para la presencia de microorganismos con potencial patológico. La prueba de correlación de Pearson arrojó la existencia de una relación fuerte y positiva entre las variables paridad y edad.

The researching process had a quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional approach. It aimed to characterize the intraepithelial lesions in 100 patients from Penipe town, aged between 20 and 65 years, who are treated at the gynecological consultation of Centro de Erradicación del Bocio y Capacitación a Minusválidos during the month of November 2014. The data were obtained through the use of the Bethesda International Reporting System measurement technique. The age was on average 41.44 (± 13.60); the arithmetic mean of the age of onset of sexual intercourse was 16.37 (± 4.49); women with two children predominated, those whose test was negative (88%) and those who did not use any contraceptive method, as well as the presence of microorganisms with pathological potential. The Pearson correlation test showed the existence of a strong and positive relationship between parity and age variables.