Estudio de la presencia de huevos de Toxocara sp. en suelos de áreas públicas de la ciudad de Chillán, Chile / Study of Toxocara sp. eggs in soils of public areas of the city of Chillán, Chile

Introduction: Squares and public areas are mentioned frequently as source of infections by Toxocara sp. for people. There is no study of the presence of Toxocara sp. eggs in soils of the city of Chillán, Chile. Aims: To assess the presence of toxocara eggs in the soils of public areas of Chillán. Material and Methods: 43 public areas were studied in January of 2014. Samples were processed by sedimentation-flotation method. In addition, two positive control assays were performed: one with feces contaminated with Toxocara eggs mixed with soil; and the other leaving the feces on the soil and then analyzing this soil. Results: No Toxocara eggs were detected in public areas, but they were found in both positive control assays. Discussion: Several factors, including seasonality (summer) and the frequency of the cleaning of the areas, may explain this result, which cannot be interpreted necessarily as a lack of risk, but instead as a low risk, if it exists, given the possibility that the load may be low enough as to be undetectable.

Introducción: Las áreas públicas se mencionan frecuentemente como fuente de infección por Toxocara sp. para la población. En la ciudad de Chillán no se han realizado estudios de la presencia de huevos de Toxocara sp. en suelos de áreas públicas. Objetivos: Evaluar la presencia de huevos de Toxocara en suelos de áreas públicas de la ciudad de Chillán. Material y Método: Se evaluaron 43 áreas públicas en enero de 2014, analizándose sus suelos mediante el método de sedimentación-flotación. Además se realizaron dos ensayos como controles positivos, uno con una mezcla de heces positivas a huevos de Toxocara y suelo, luego se analizó la mezcla, y el otro dejando heces positivas sobre el suelo, y luego analizando sólo el suelo. Resultados: No se detectaron huevos de Toxocara en las muestras de áreas públicas, pero sí se encontraron en ambos controles positivos. Discusión: Diversos factores, incluyendo la estacionalidad (verano) y la frecuencia de la limpieza en las áreas, pueden explicar este resultado, el que no debe ser interpretado necesariamente como una carencia de riesgo, sino más bien como un riesgo que de existir es escaso, dada la posibilidad que la carga sea lo suficientemente baja para no ser detectada.

Parasites in stool samples in the environment of Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: an approach in public health / Parasitos em amostras fecais de ambiente da Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: uma abordagem em saúde pública

This research aimed to describe the frequency of parasites in stool samples in the environment of Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One hundred and five stool samples were collected and processed by the coproparasitological techniques ethyl acetate sedimentation and centrifuge-flotation using saturated sugar solution. Parasites were detected in 81.9% of the samples, hookworm being the most prevalent, followed by Trichuris vulpis. Ascaris sp. eggs were also found. A high level of evolutive forms of parasites with public health risk was found in stool samples of the environment studied. We propose that health education programs, allied to an improvement of human and animal health care, must be employed to reduce the environmental contamination.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a frequência de parasitos em amostras fecais coletadas no ambiente da Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Cento e cinco amostras foram coletadas e processadas pelas técnicas coproparasitológicas de sedimentação em acetato de etila e centrifugo-flutuação em solução saturada de sacarose. Foi observada positividade em 81.9% das amostras, sendo ancilostomídeo o parasito mais frequente, seguido de Trichuris vulpis. Ovos de Ascaris sp. também foram detectados. Observou-se elevada frequência de parasitos com importância em saúde pública nas fezes recolhidas no ambiente. Programas de educação em saúde, aliados a atenção dos serviços das saúdes humana e animal, devem ser empregados para redução dos níveis de contaminação ambiental.

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4 percent. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2 percent) and Giardia lamblia (6.9 percent), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8 percent). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3 percent of the soil samples and in 84.2 percent of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.

Hemos evaluado la prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en 504 personas y el grado de asociación entre las variables ambientales y los parásitos intestinales hallados en la población, el suelo y el agua de una zona rural de Argentina durante 2002-2003. Se utilizó una encuesta estructurada para relevar las variables ambientales y se examinaron muestras fecales humanas, de agua y de suelo. La prevalencia parasitaria fue de 45,4 por ciento. Los protozoos prevalentes fueron Blastocystis hominis (27,2 por ciento) y Giardia lamblia (6,9 por ciento), mientras que el helminto mas prevalente fue Ascaris lumbricoides (3,8 por ciento). Las variables ambientales analizadas que mostraron asociación (p < 0,05) con la presencia de parásitos en la población fueron: casa de cartón-chapa o de madera con piso de tierra, bomba de agua domiciliaria o comunitaria, canilla fuera de la casa o pública y pozo ciego o letrina. Elementos parasitarios fueron hallados en el 82,3 por ciento de las muestras de suelo y en el 84,2 por ciento de las muestras de agua. En ambas muestras fueron hallados parásitos que también se encontraron en las personas. En este trabajo hemos hallado deficientes condiciones sanitarias asociadas con la presencia de parásitos en las personas y hemos evidenciado que el suelo y el agua contaminada fueron la fuente de esos parasitos.

Enteroparasitosis infantil en un area urbana del nordeste argentino / Children enteroparasitosis in North East Argentine urban area

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar las enteroparasitosis en una población infantil urbana y establecer su relación con factores biológicos y condiciones ambientales. Se investigaron 113 niños entre 0 y 14 años de edad. En cada niño se realizaron exámenes coproparasitológicos y test de Graham y se valoró el estado nutricional. Para el registro de datos ambientales se aplicaron encuestas semiestructuradas. Se analizó la contaminación del suelo. Se identificó Blastocystis hominis, Enterobius vermicularis, coccidios, Giardia intestinalis, uncinarias, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana y Taenia sp. La prevalencia de parasitados fue 73.5%. Se verificó mayor frecuencia de enteroparasitosis en la franja etaria de 3 a 8 años. Las viviendas analizadas (n=44) eran de material con techo de chapa, contaban con red de agua potable; el 79.5% poseía baño instalado, las restantes poseían letrinas. En el 95.5% de las unidades domésticas había uno o más perros y gatos. El suelo de nueve viviendas estuvo contaminado con formas infectantes de Toxocara canis y ancilostomídeos. Se comprobó asociación entre parasitosis y uso de letrinas y hacinamiento. Se detectaron cinco casos de desnutrición grado I (4.4%). Se pone de manifiesto la trascendencia de los factores físicos y culturales como condicionantes de las parasitosis entéricas lo que sugiere que se debe insistir, simultáneamente al tratamiento farmacológico, en las medidas preventivas relacionadas con la higiene y la adecuada eliminación de las excretas humanas y de los animales domésticos.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the importance of enteroparasitosis in a young urban population. The relationship between enteroparasitosis in this population and biological and environmental conditions was established for 113 infants between 0 and 14 years. Serial stool samples were analyzed and Graham tests were performed in each infant. The degree of nutrition of each infant was also assessed. Environmental data were collected via semi-structured surveys. Soil samples were tested to determine the degree of soil contamination. The following species were identified: Blastocystis hominis, Enterobius vermicularis, coccidios, Giardia intestinalis, hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana and Taenia sp. Children infection prevalence was 73.5%. The frequency of enteroparasitosis was largest in the population from 3 to 8 years. The homes of the children analyzed were brick houses with tin roof and access to tap water. A 79.5% of these houses had bathrooms. The remaining used outdoors latrines. In 95.5% of these houses, theresidents lived with one or more dogs and cats. The soil collected from nine houses was contaminated with infectious forms of Toxocara canis and ancilostomideos. The relationship between parasitosis and latrines and overcrowding was verified. Five cases of malnutrition were detected (4.4%). The relevance of physical and cultural factors in relation to enteric parasitosis suggests that the pharmacological treatment should be accompanied with preventive measures regarding hygiene and proper elimination of human and pet faeces.