Occurrence of geohelminths in the soil of public squares in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazilian Western Amazon / Ocorrência de geohelmintos em solo de praças públicas em Rio Branco, estado do Acre, Amazônia Brasileira

Soil contamination by dog and cat feces can become a public health problem due to the transmission of various etiologic agents that cause zoonoses. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of geohelminths in the soil of some public square areas of the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre State, Western Brazilian Amazon. Five public squares were selected, and soil samples collection was performed from April 2014 to March 2015. The samples were processed by using the Baermann-Moraes and centrifugal-flotation methods. Geohelminths positivity was of 25% for Tox o c ara spp., 6.6% for the Ancylostomatoidea Superfamily and 1.6 for Trichuris spp.. Measures should be implemented to prevent the free access of animals to these places, as well as deworming of stray dogs and cats and the implementation of population control and policies for such animals.(AU)

A contaminação do solo por fezes de cães e gatos pode se tornar um problema de saúde pública devido à transmissão de vários agentes etiológicos que causam zoonoses. Este estudo objetivou verificar a ocorrência de geohelmintos no solo de praças públicas do município de Rio Branco, estado do Acre, Brasil. Cinco praças públicas foram selecionadas e amostras de solo foram colhidas entre abril de 2014 e março de 2015. As amostras foram processadas pelos métodos de Baermann-Moraes e centrífugo-flutuação. A positividade observada para geohelmintos foi de 25% para Tox o c ara spp., 6,6% para a Superfamília Ancylostomatoidea e 1,6% para Trichuris spp.. Medidas devem ser implementadas para prevenir a livre circulação de animais nestes locais, bem como a desverminação de cães e gatos de rua e a implementação de políticas de adoção e controle populacional de cães e gatos.(AU)

Presence of eggs of Toxocara spp. and hookworms in a student environment in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / Presença de ovos de Toxocara spp. e ancilostomatídeos em ambiente estudantil do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Environmental contamination by parasite forms was studied on a university campus in the municipality of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Soil samples were analyzed using the modified Caldwell & Caldwell technique to identify parasite forms. Nematode eggs were detected in 62 percent of the samples. Among the parasites detected, eggs of Toxocara spp. and Ancylostomatidae were the most prevalent parasites in the studied area throughout the study period. The results demonstrated that there is significant environmental contamination, thereby representing a risk of zoonotic infection for humans frequenting the study area.

A contaminação ambiental por formas parasitárias foi estudada na área do campus universitário no município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Amostras de solo foram analisadas para identificação de formas parasitárias e a presença de ovos de nematóides foi verificada em 62 por cento das amostras. Entre os parasitos observados destacam-se a presença de ovos de Toxocara spp. e de ancilostomatídeos em todo período estudado. Os resultados demonstram que há contaminação ambiental significativa, o que representa risco de infecção zoonótica aos humanos que frequentam a região estudada.

Acondicionamento e coleta de resíduos sólidos domiciliares e impactos na saúde de crianças residentes em assentamentos periurbanos de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / Household solid waste bagging and collection and their health implications for children living in outlying urban settlements in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

O artigo apresenta estudo do acondicionamento e coleta de resíduos sólidos domiciliares e o impacto na saúde de crianças, por meio de pesquisa realizada em nove assentamentos humanos localizados em área periurbana da cidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Como indicadores epidemiológicos foram utilizados, em 1.893 crianças entre 5 e 14 anos, a infecção por nematóides intestinais, expressa pela prevalência de Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura e ancilostomídeos, e em 1.204 crianças menores de cinco anos, a incidência de diarréia e o estado nutricional, este expresso por indicadores antropométricos. Os resultados apresentam a maior prevalência dos três nematóides nas crianças dos domicílios que não dispõem de acondicionamento adequado e de coleta de resíduos sólidos que naquelas de domicílios com acondicionamento adequado e coleta regular, sendo a diferença encontrada estatisticamente significante, mesmo quando outros fatores de risco sócio-econômicos, culturais, demográficos e ambientais são considerados. Resultado semelhante é também observado com relação aos indicadores epidemiológicos, incidência de diarréia e estado nutricional.

This paper presents a study on the bagging and collection of household solid waste and the health implications for children. The research was conducted in nine human settlements on the outskirts of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. Intestinal nematode infection, predominantly involving Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, was used as an epidemiological indicator in 1,893 children from 5 to 14 years of age. The study also included diarrhea incidence and nutritional status as shown by anthropometric indicators in 1,204 children less than 5 years of age. There was a higher prevalence of the three nematodes in children living in households without proper bagging/isolation and collection of household solid waste as compared to those in areas with regular garbage collection and adequate isolation of solid waste. The differences were statistically significant when other socioeconomic, cultural, demographic, and environmental risks factors were considered in the analysis. Similar results were also observed for epidemiological indicators, diarrhea incidence, and nutritional status.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in the central region of Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: Survey the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in 14 primary schools of Central Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross sectional survey of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in 14 primary schools of Central Thailand that included Ang Thong, Ayudthaya, and Suphanburi provinces was conducted One thousand and thirty seven children with age ranging from 3-12 years (540 males and 497 females) were examined for intestinal parasites by the formalin-ether concentration technique. RESULT: The overall prevalence was 4.24%. The pathogenic parasites found were Giardia lamblia (1.25%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.19%), Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm (0.19% each), respectively. The common non-pathogenic protozoa found were Entamoeba coli (1.64%) and Endolimax nana (0.48%). The infection rate of Blastocystis hominis was 0.19%. CONCLUSION: Interestingly, the area studied which is low and flat and contains rice and water chestnut fields and small rivers, did not demonstrate Fasciolopsis buski as highly found in the past five decades. However, Parasittic infections are still public health problems in Thailand Close monitoring and control of parasitic infections is needed

Occurrence of soil-transmitted helminths in women at the Himalayan region of Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: To find the occurrence pattern and prevalence of the soil transmitted helminths in women of child bearing age group. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study was conducted in Jiri , an area of Dolakha district at the altitude of 2100 meter from sea level. The faecal sample of 478 women of childbearing age (15 to 45 years) were taken randomly and examined for the ova of soil transmitted helianthus. RESULT: The occurrence pattern was 53.0%, 20.0% and 2.7% for Hookworms, Ascaries lumbricoids and Trichuris Trichuria respectively. Both Ascaries and Hookworm prevalence rates noticeably increased with increasing age, with the highest infection rate between the age of 36-45 years while trichuris infection reached the highest in women of 15-25 years of age. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of hookworm and ascaries in women of childbearing age and necessary intervention is needed according to WHO guidelines.

Estudo comparativo de técnicas parasitológicas: Kato-Katz e coprotest® / A comparative study of the parasitological techniques: Kato-Katz and coprotest®

O diagnóstico parasitológico deve ser realizado de maneira apropriada, com maior sensibilidade e especificidade para a detecção dos parasitas intestinais, uma vez que dele dependerá o tratamento específico. Foi desenvolvido um estudo comparativo para avaliar a concordância entre os métodos Kato-Katz e coprotest® na detecção de helmintos em 332 indivíduos do município de Pedro de Toledo. Destacou-se uma diferença significativa para Trichuris trichiura, 16,2 por cento no Kato-Katz e 7,5 por cento no coprotest®. Devido a essa diferença compararam-se amostras positivas e negativas do método de coprotest® com número de ovos por grama de fezes (opg) obtido pelo método de Kato-Katz. Quando o método de coprotest® era negativo, contaram-se 65 opg de Trichuris trichiura pelo Kato-Katz e quando o coprotest® era positivo, esse número foi maior, 199 opg. O coprotest® mostrou-se inferior ao Kato-Katz nas infecções de baixa carga parasitária.

Comparison of the thick smear and Kato-Katz techniques for diagnosis of intestinal helminth infections

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a eficiência dos métodos de Kato-Katz e sedimentação espontânea para o diagnóstico das helmintíases intestinais. A sensibilidade da técnica de sedimentação espontânea foi superior aquela encontrada pelo método de Kato-Katz para o diagnóstico de todos os helmintos, exceto para Schistosoma mansoni.

Intestinal helminthiases and their control with albendazole among primary schoolchildren in riverine communities of Ondo State, Nigeria.

A study to establish the prevalence of intestinal helminthiases among schoolchildren of riverine communities in the Ilaje-Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria was conducted. Ninety-four percent of the children studied were infected with intestinal helminths. Trichuris trichiura infection was the commonest (84%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (75.3 %) and hookworm (7.6 %). Dual helminthic infections were recorded, with Ascaris-Trichuris having the highest prevalence among the children. Poor environmental sanitation and personal hygiene combined with the absence of potable water and a lack of awareness of the effects of nematode infection were identified as the possible reasons for the high rate of infection. Treatment with albendazole (200 mg) brought about reductions in the level of Trichuris trichiura (to 41.7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (to 4.2%) and Hookworm (to 0.7%). The estimated rates of reduction were 94.4%, 49.7%, and 90.2% for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm respectively. Post-treatment helminthic reduction, as found in this study, is expected to enhance the mental and physical development of the children. Community mobilization with health education messages aimed at improving personal and community hygiene was initiated with an emphasis on creating a sustained reduction in the burden of helminthic infection.