Skip to main content
Log in

Prevalence of enteroparasites in a residence for children in the Córdoba Province, Argentina

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study of the prevalence of enteroparasites in a population belonging to a substitute home that gives shelter to orphaned and homeless children was done using conventional methods of analysis. This home is located in Córdoba Province, Argentina, and has the following characteristics: It has nine houses located inside the main plot of ground, that shelter 139 individuals, and 25 houses outside this plot distributed randomly in Unquillo city and that shelter 257 individuals. The overall parasitic infection, pathogen and commensal organisms included, yielded 84.8% and the prevalence of the most important parasites was: Enterobius vermicularis (43.4%), Giardia lamblia (23.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), Entamoeba coli (45.5%), Blastocystis hominis (44.4%) and Endolimax nana (34.6%). We also analyzed the population dividing it according to the residence place (inside or outside the plot), age and sex of the individuals. In reference to the location of the patients, A. lumbricoides and E. coli showed significant prevalence in the individuals living inside the plot (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively) and of B. hominis in those living outside the main plot (p < 0.005). Results indicated a greater parasitism level in the outside residents (61.5%, p < 0.001). When the individuals were studied according to sex, no significant difference was observed, except for E. vermicularis that showed greater prevalence in the male sex (p < 0.04). When the individuals were grouped according to age ranges, a greater prevalence in individuals from 5 to 14 years was noticed (p < 0.01). In this study is also included an analysis of the multiparasitism level that comprises the whole population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zamar P, Meira W, Soler J, et al. Prevalencia de enteroparásitos en escolares de Córdoba con diferente nivel socio-económico. El día Médico (Bs. As.) Mayo 1971.

  2. Borda CE, Rea MJ, Rosa JR, Maidana C. Parasitismo intestinal en San Cayetano, Corrientes, Argentina. Bol Of Sanit Panam 1996; 120: 110–116.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Botero D. Persistencia de parasitosis intestinales endémicas en América Latina. Bol Of Sanit Panam 1981; 90: 39–47.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gamboa MI, Basualdo JA, Kozubsky L, et al. Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis within three population groups in La Plata, Argentina. Eur J Epidemiol 1998; 14: 55–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Magaró HM, Echenique CG, Furno, et al. Prevalencia de enteroparasitosis en la ciudad de Rosario, Argentina. Infect & Microbiol Clín 1995; 7: 6–12.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Schenone H, Villarroel F. Algunos aspectos epidemiológicos de las enteroparasitosis en niños de hogares de menores de Santiago, Chile. Bol Chile Parasitol 1978; 33: 78–82.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tellez A, Morales W, Rivera T, et al. Prevalence of intestinal parasites en the human population of Leon, Nicaragua. Acta Tropica 1997; 66: 119–125.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Torres P, Figueroa L, Puga S, et al. Protozoos y helmintos intestinales en la población escolar de la ciudad de Valdivia, Chile. Bol Chile Parasitol 1974; 29: 112–114.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Vergara M, Quiroga M, Grenon S, et al. Prospective study of enteropathogens in two communities of Misiones, Argentina. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1996; 38: 337–347.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Atías A, Neghme A. Parasitología Clínica (3a ed.). Santiago Chile: Publicaciones Técnicas Mediterránea, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Melvin DM, Brooke MM. Laboratory procedures for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (3rd ed.). Atlanta: US Department of Health, Education and Welfare publication. Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Boch J, Supperer R. en español. Parasitología en Medicina Veterinaria (1a ed.). Argentina Ed. Hemisferio Sur., 1982.

  13. Abramovich BL, Lura de Calafell MC, Haye MA, Nepote A, Argaraña MF. Detección de Cryptosporidium en agua de consumo de origen subterráneo. Rev Arg Microbiol 1996; 28: 73–77.

    Google Scholar 

  14. García LS, Bruckner DA. Diagnostic Medical Parasitology (3rd ed.). Washington DC: American Society for Microbiology, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  15. García LS, Brewer TC, Bruckner DA. Fluorescence detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in human fecal specimens by using monoclonal antibodies. J Clin Microbiol 1987; 25: 119–121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Alvarez-Chacón R, García-Rosales JJ, de la Cruz-Otero MC, et al. Fasciolosis en los niños. Estudio de 10 casos. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex (México) 1992; 49(6): 365–371.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cervi LA, Rubinstein HR, Masih, DT. Serological, electrophoretic and biological properties of Fasciola hepatica antigens. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1992; 34: 517–525.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chan L, Bundy DA, Kan SP. Aggregation and pre-disposition to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura at the familial level. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1994; 88: 46–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guignard, S., Arienti, H., Freyre, L. et al. Prevalence of enteroparasites in a residence for children in the Córdoba Province, Argentina. Eur J Epidemiol 16, 287–293 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007651714790

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007651714790

Navigation