AVALIAÇÃO DA PREVALÊNCIA DE ENTEROPARASITOSES EM CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES ATENDIDOS POR UMA AÇÃO SOCIAL NA CIDADE DE SOROCABA – SP

Enteric parasitic diseases pose a major health issue in Brazil. Children living in poorer areas are particularly more likely to become infected with parasites, as inadequate living conditions favor dissemination of such parasites. This work aimed to determine prevalence of parasites in stool samples obtained from children and teenagers supported by social services in the city of Sorocaba – São Paulo. Three stool samples were collected from each child enrolled in the study; samples were subjected to spontaneous sedimentation and then analyzed under a microscope. Children (or any close relatives for them responsible) answered a form regarding education level, eating habits, having had previous enteric parasitic diseases and presence of symptoms associated with such diseases. Prevalence of enteric parasitic diseases was 30%, these being caused by Entamoeba coli (20%), Giardia lamblia (2.5%), Iodamoeba butschlii (2.5%) and Urbanorum spp. (5%); no helminths were identified. While there is a likely contamination of children and teenagers via drinking water and food, prevalence of enteric parasitic diseases was lower when compared to other studies found in scientific literature, most likely due to local families being supported by social services.

Vaccines for gastrointestinal parasites, a pillar of preventive medicine in veterinary practice: Systematic review

Contextualization: The antiparasitic resistance caused by the indiscriminate use of anthelmintic drugs for the control of gastrointestinal parasites in production animals and pets, has become one of the biggest problems in animal health. For this reason, the use of vaccines could benefit animal health and welfare by controlling emerging zoonotic diseases and foodborne pathogens of animal origin, thus improving public health. Knowledge gap: It is relevant for professionals in veterinary science to know the clinical trials of experimental vaccines for controlling certain gastrointestinal parasites. This way, they can be at the forefront of the next available technological products and so, be able to control this menace to the animal health and public health. Purpose: To do a systematic review of clinical trials for experimental vaccines in production animals and pets for diseases caused by gastrointestinal parasites of relevance in animal production and/or public health. Furthermore, it presents the current gastrointestinal antiparasitic vaccines commercialized in different countries and their prophylactic efficacy. Methodology: PRISMA protocols were followed for this systematic review. Articles were obtained from scientific databases with the following keywords: vaccines, clinical trials, commercial vaccines, parasites control, gastrointestinal nematodes, gastrointestinal cestodes, gastrointestinal protozoa, Ascaris suum, Ancylostoma caninum, Cooperia oncophora, Echinococcus granulosus, Eimeria spp., Giardia lamblia, Haemonchus contortus, Osteortagia osteortagi, Taenia solium and Teladorsagia circumcincta. Only clinical trials of gastrointestinal antiparasitic vaccines in birds, pets, pigs and ruminants were included in this analysis, as well as commercial vaccines currently available for these same parasites. Results and conclusions: Even though there are important clinical trial studies of vaccines in these animal species (n=101) reported between 1964 to 2020, only five parasites can be prevented/controlled with commercial vaccines used in veterinary medicine: Haemonchus contortus and Echinococcus granulosus in ruminants, Taenia solium in pigs, Eimeria spp. in birds and Giardia lamblia in dogs (e.g., Cysvax™, Barbervax®, Providean® Hidatil EG95, CocciVac® and GiardiaVax™). It is expected that, with the development of bioinformatics and methodologies such as reverse vaccinology, this immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic range will be extended as to control these parasitic agents of great importance in human and animal health.

Proximate Composition and Parasitic Contamination of Hibiscus sabdariffa Seed Cake (Roselle Seed Cake): A Soup Condiment Produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria

Background: Soup condiments are edible food items which are added to dishes, used as thickeners for soup and also as food supplements such as sauce that is added to food to impact specific flavours. They are abundantly produced in Nigeria especially in North-Western part of the country. Aims: The aim of this research was to determine the proximate composition and parasitic contamination of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake (Roselle seed cake): a soup condiment produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria. Study Design: Samples were purchased and collected at random from the markets of different places in the study areas, aseptically placed into polythene bags and labelled correctly. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Zuru and Sakaba Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: The proximate analysis carried out include: moisture determination, ash determination, determination of crude protein, lipid determination, fibre determination and carbohydrate estimation by difference. The protozoa present in the samples were identified by direct microscopy. Results: The proximate composition of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake in the study areas had a very high level of carbohydrate content (52.44±1.03%), followed by the moisture content (15.43±0.10%), lipid content (12.00±0.50%), fibre content (11.16±0.58%), ash content (7.80±0.05%) and crude protein content (1.16±0.13%) which was the lowest. The highest prevalence rate of the identified protozoa was recorded in Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia 1(25.0%) in Zuru Local Government Area. No protozoa was seen in Zuru sample 0(0.0%). In Dabai sample, Giardia lamblia was seen 1(25.0%). While in Bedi sample, Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) was seen which was the most prevalent. However, in Sakaba Local Government Area, a total of nine protozoa was seen and all were Entamoeba histolytica. Dirin-Daji sample showed 1(11.1%), Doka 2(22.2%), Dankolo 2(22.2%), Janbirni 1(11.1%), Laraba 1(11.1%) and Makuku 2(22.2%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the available carbohydrate and moisture contents were higher than other parameters and the local soup condiments were heavily contaminated with protozoa and Entamoeba histolytica had the highest prevalence which can cause serious food-borne diseases in humans in the study areas. Finally, the need to apply good manufacturing practices in processing the condiments in the study areas and North-Western Nigerian Community as a whole is highly recommended.

Anemia and The Level of IL-6 in Children Infected with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia

The relation between anemia and inflammatory immune response has lately had much attention. This research was conducted from October 2018 until April 2019, including (110) children below 12 years from both gender in some Hospitals, Primary Health care centers, Public Primary Schools and Kindergarten in Baghdad, Iraq. The objective of this study is to determine the possible correlation between iron deficiency anemia and inflammatory immune response among children infected with Entamoeba histolytica or Giardia lamblia. Blood samples were taken from all groups to measure hemoglobin level, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), while the inflammatory related immune response was evaluated by measuring IL-6 and ferritin. Student T-Test was used to compare between means. The results showed that both hemoglobin and iron concentrations were significantly (P) ˂ 0.01 lower in infected children compared with control, as well as both IL-6 and ferritin levels were significant where (P) ˂0.05 amplified among infected children compared to control. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was observed in the majority of infected children, while normocytic normochromic RBCs was recorded in the majority of control children.

Frequency of parasitic infections in Arachishypogaea L (groundnuts), Citrulluslanatus seeds (watermelon seeds), and Ziziphusspina-christi (nabag) sold by street vendors in Khartoum State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study

Background: Plant products, including seeds are an important source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and energy. This study aimed to assess parasitic contaminations in roasted groundnuts, nabag, and tasali (watermelon seeds) sold by street vendors in Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods: The frequency of parasitic contaminations among all crop products was detected by washing the plants with saline, and then conducting an examination using a formal ether concentration technique (FECT), followed by a saturated sugar floatation technique. Results: The detected parasites belonged to two species: Entamoeba histolytica (33.3%) and Giardia lamblia (15.6%). No helminthic parasites were detected. Mixed contamination of the mentioned parasites was also observed (11.1%). The most contaminated crop was nabag, followed by groundnut, and finally tasali. Conclusion: No relation was established between the positivity of samples for parasites and crop type, Khartoum State city, or seller sex. FECT was more sensitive than the saturated sugar floatation technique as a detection method.

Prevalência de enteroparasitas em crianças provenientes da área rural de Cáceres-MT

As enteroparasitas são comuns em indivíduos que se encontram sob condições precárias de moradia, água potável, saneamento básico e higiene. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a prevalência de enteroparasitas em crianças em fase escolar do assentamento/comunidade Paiol, no município de Cáceres-MT. Análises parasitológicas pelo método de Hoffman, além dos dados socioeconômicos e ambientais foram realizadas em 75 amostras de crianças com idade de 7 a 16 anos. A prevalência geral de enteroparasitas foi de 56% na população estudada. Protozoários foram identificados em 98% das amostras positivas sendo Blastocystis hominis o mais prevalente seguido de Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli e Giardia lamblia. Helmintos foram identificados em 5% do total de amostras analisadas, sendo Trichuris trichiura e Hymenolepis nana os únicos identificados. Conclui-se que há elevada prevalência de enteroparasitas nas crianças, principalmente de protozoários intestinais, sendo necessária melhorias e monitoramento das condições higiênico-sanitárias em comunidades rurais da região estudada.