Perfil epidemiológico e prevalência de Cryptosporidium sp., Entamoeba histolytica e Giardia lamblia em crianças com e sem diarreia no semiárido brasileiro

Abstract

Intestinal parasites still constitute a major public health problem, as an endemic form in several areas of Brazil. They may have close relationship with sociodemographic and hygienic and sanitary factors, such as poor socioeconomic conditions, consumption of contaminated water, lack of sanitation and others, often being the child the most affected population. The objective of this study was to investigate through the use of the xMAP technology the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp, Giardia lamblia e Entamoeba histolytica in children in the cities of Crato-CE, Picos-PI and Ouricuri-PE, from the Brazilian semiarid, and the main factors involved in intestinal parasites epidemiology. We analyzed 600 stool samples from children with or without diarrhea, of both sexes and aged from two to 36 months for the presence of protozoa E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium sp, and G. lamblia. The molecular diagnostic tests were done by xMAP technology. Then socioeconomic and health parameters were analyzed. It was observed the presence of a parasite at least 26% of the samples. Giardia lamblia was most prevalent (85.3%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp (15.4%) and Entamoeba histolytica (6.4%). These infections were characterized by the predominance of monoparasites (93.5%) in the infected children. Given the observed data, it became apparent the direct relationship between the family wage income, type of sewage present in the residence and treatment of water before using it for drinking and the prevalence of protozoa in the population studied.