Environmental and socio-demographic individual, family and neighborhood factors associated with children intestinal parasitoses at Iguazú, in the subtropical northern border of Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitoses are a major concern for public health, especially in children from middle and low-income populations of tropical and subtropical areas. We examined the presence and co-infection of parasites in humans as well as parasitic environmental contamination in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. We explored the environmental and socio-demographic characteristics of the persistence of parasites in children and their environment. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This cross-section survey was conducted among children population comprised into the area of the public health care centers of Iguazú during June 2013 to May 2016. Copro-parasitological status of 483 asymptomatic children was assessed. Simultaneously, a design-based sampling of 744 soil samples and 530 dog feces was used for characterize the environmental contamination. The 71.5% of these sites were contaminated. Sixteen genera were detected in the environment being hookworms (62.0%) the main pathogens group detected followed by Toxocara spp (16.3%), Trichuris spp (15.2%) and Giardia (6.5%). Total children prevalence raised 58.8%, detecting twelve genera of parasite with Giardia intestinalis as the most prevalent pathogen (29.0%) followed by Enterobius vermicularis (23.0%), Hymenolepis nana (12.4%) and hookworms (4.4%). Through questionnaires and census data, we characterized the socio-demographics conditions at an individual, family and neighborhood levels. A multi-level analysis including environmental contamination data showed that the ´presence of parasites´ was mostly determined by individual (e.g. age, playing habits, previous treatment) and household level (e.g. UBN, WASH, mother's literacy) determinants. Remarkably, to define the level of 'parasite co-infection', besides individual and household characteristics, environmental factors at a neighborhood level were important. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our work represents the major survey of intestinal parasites in human and environmental samples developed in the region. High prevalence was detected in the children population as well as in their environment. This work shows the importance of considering and promoting multi-level actions over the identified determinants to face this public health problem from integrative approaches.

Diphyllobothrium sp. en Canis familiares de la región del subtrópico argentino (Puerto Iguazú, Misiones) / Diphyllobothrium sp. in Canis familiaris from the subtropical area of Argentina (Puerto Iguazú, Misiones)

En este trabajo se informa el hallazgo de huevos de Diphyllobothrium sp. en ejemplares de Canis familiaris (perro doméstico) de Puerto Iguazú, una ciudad subtropical de la provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Durante 2013, en el marco de un relevamiento de la fauna parasitológica de los perros de Puerto Iguazú, se detectaron dos casos positivos en la búsqueda de huevos de Diphyllobothrium sp. La materia fecal de los perros fue recolectada en frascos con formol al 10% y procesada mediante las técnicas de sedimentación de Telemann y de flotación de Sheather. Dado que Misiones no forma parte de la zona endémica de difilobotriasis y considerando, además, su ubicación fronteriza, este hallazgo reviste gran importancia para la salud pública. Se señala la necesidad de actualizar el estado de conocimiento sobre el ciclo de vida de estos parásitos identificando el rango de hospederos intermediarios y definitivos, su potencial zoonótico y la situación epidemiológica en áreas no endémicas

This paper reports the first finding of Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs in Canis familiaris (domestic dog) from Puerto Iguazú, a subtropical city of Misiones province, Argentina. In 2013, two positive cases of Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs were detected during an annual parasitological survey of dogs. Dog feces were collected in vials containing 10% formalin and processed using Telemann's sedimentation and Sheather's flotation techniques. The two cases were detected in rural areas of the municipality. Since Misiones is not a part of the endemic area of diphyllobothriasis and given the fact that it is located in the three-border area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, we consider this finding of great importance to public health. We stress the need for updating the current knowledge about the life cycle of these parasites considering the range of intermediate and definitive hosts, their zoonotic potential, and the epidemiological situation in non-endemic areas

Diphyllobothrium sp. in Canis familiaris from the subtropical area of Argentina (Puerto Iguazú, Misiones).

This paper reports the first finding of Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs in Canis familiaris (domestic dog) from Puerto Iguazú, a subtropical city of Misiones province, Argentina. In 2013, two positive cases of Diphyllobothrium sp. eggs were detected during an annual parasitological survey of dogs. Dog feces were collected in vials containing 10% formalin and processed using Telemann's sedimentation and Sheather's flotation techniques. The two cases were detected in rural areas of the municipality. Since Misiones is not a part of the endemic area of diphyllobothriasis and given the fact that it is located in the three-border area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, we consider this finding of great importance to public health. We stress the need for updating the current knowledge about the life cycle of these parasites considering the range of intermediate and definitive hosts, their zoonotic potential, and the epidemiological situation in non-endemic areas.

Estudio seroepidemiológico de la toxoplasmosis en niños de áreas de riesgo de la ciudad de Río Cuarto. Córdoba. Argentina / Seroepidemiological study of the toxoplasmosis in children of an area of risk of rio cuarto city. Córdoba. Argentina

El presente estudio se realizó en el marco de un programa interinstitucional entre la Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto y la Municipalidad de dicha ciudad, donde se trabajó conjuntamente con Efectores de Salud, ubicados en la zona de estudio. El área analizada se encuentra situada dentro del radio urbano de la ciudad, y se extiende en ambas márgenes del río Cuarto. El objetivo principal del trabajo fue determinar la seroprevalencia a T. gondii, en la población infantil de 0 - 15 años, presente en Áreas de Riesgo de la ciudad de Río Cuarto, y analizar e interpretar aquellas variables que interactuan en la presentación de esta zoonosis; ya que en nuestra región no existen datos que revelen la magnitud de la situación actual. El estudio realizado durante los años 1999-2001, fue de corte transversal, estimando el muestreo en 257 niños, realizándose un screening de 1/16 mediante la técnica de Inmunofluorescencia Indirecta. Se confeccionaron encuestas epidemiológicas que permitieron establecer el grado de riesgo de algunos factores geo-bio-ambientales involucrados en la infección. Se encontró una eroprevalencia del 51,75 por ciento; no se observaron diferencias significativas de acuerdo al sexo; sí se observó un aumento de la prevalencia con respecto a la edad. Se determinaron como factores de riesgo, asociados a la ocurrencia de la infección toxoplásmica, la convivencia con gatos y/o perros, especialmente en aquellas viviendas cuyos peridomicilios contaban con la presencia de tierra (jardines, corrales, huertas, gallineros). A través del presente trabajo se ha determinado, como principal fuente de transmisión, para los niños provenientes de la zona estudiada, el contacto con el medio ambiente contaminado con ooquistes de T. gondii. Esta información le permitirá a la Municipalidad el abordaje de la problemática existente, formulando programas específicos para el control de dicha zoonosis.