Luzivalda D Couto1, Sandra H C Tibiriça2, Izabella O Pinheiro3, Adalberto Mitterofhe3, Adilson C Lima3, Milton F Castro3, Murilo Gonçalves3, Marcio R Silva4, Ricardo J P S Guimarães5, Florence M Rosa6, Elaine S Coimbra7. 1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Brasileira, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. 2. Departamento de Clínica médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. 3. Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. 4. Embrapa Gado de Leite (CNPGL), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. 5. Laboratório de Geoprocessamento, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. 6. Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil. 7. Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil elaine.coimbra@ufjf.edu.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), schistosomiasis and the three main soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs), i.e., ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, represent the most common infections in developing countries. In Brazil, there is a lack of epidemiological data in many parts of the country, which favors the unawareness of the real situation concerning these diseases. Due to this, we investigated the occurrence of schistosomiasis and STHs in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS: One stool sample was collected from 503 individuals, whose ages ranged from 0.1 to 91.2 years, and screened using both the Kato-Katz and the Formol-Ether methods. In parallel, a malacological survey was carried out in the main water bodies of the district, and Biomphalaria susceptibility assays and kernel-based techniques were also performed. RESULTS: No individual was found infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or hookworm. Schistosoma mansoni was the most common parasite found (1.6%). The prevalence was higher in males and the chance of acquiring the disease increased by 43.35 times with contact with a body of water. None of the Biomphalaria tenagophila and B. glabrata specimens were found naturally infected, but B. glabrata was highly susceptible to infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Using kernel-based techniques, clusters of Biomphalaria were found near the households where the infected individuals lived. CONCLUSIONS: Schistosomiasis was the most prevalent parasitic infection found. Our findings show that the occurrence of this disease has been underestimated by the local health care service, and highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance in areas of low prevalence for schistosomiasis.
BACKGROUND: Among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), schistosomiasis and the three main soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs), i.e., ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, represent the most common infections in developing countries. In Brazil, there is a lack of epidemiological data in many parts of the country, which favors the unawareness of the real situation concerning these diseases. Due to this, we investigated the occurrence of schistosomiasis and STHs in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS: One stool sample was collected from 503 individuals, whose ages ranged from 0.1 to 91.2 years, and screened using both the Kato-Katz and the Formol-Ether methods. In parallel, a malacological survey was carried out in the main water bodies of the district, and Biomphalaria susceptibility assays and kernel-based techniques were also performed. RESULTS: No individual was found infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or hookworm. Schistosoma mansoni was the most common parasite found (1.6%). The prevalence was higher in males and the chance of acquiring the disease increased by 43.35 times with contact with a body of water. None of the Biomphalaria tenagophila and B. glabrata specimens were found naturally infected, but B. glabrata was highly susceptible to infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Using kernel-based techniques, clusters of Biomphalaria were found near the households where the infected individuals lived. CONCLUSIONS:Schistosomiasis was the most prevalent parasitic infection found. Our findings show that the occurrence of this disease has been underestimated by the local health care service, and highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance in areas of low prevalence for schistosomiasis.
Authors: Jessica K Fairley; Jose A Ferreira; Ana Laura Grossi de Oliveira; Thelma de Filippis; Maria Aparecida de Faria Grossi; Laura Pinheiro Chaves; Luiza Navarro Caldeira; Paola Souza Dos Santos; Rafaella Rodrigues Costa; Maria Cavallieri Diniz; Carolina Soares Duarte; Luiz Alberto Bomjardim Pôrto; Parminder S Suchdev; Deborah Aparecida Negrão-Corrêa; Fernanda do Carmo Magalhães; João Marcelo Peixoto Moreira; Adelino de Melo Freire Júnior; Mariana Costa Cerqueira; Uriel Kitron; Sandra Lyon Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2019-11 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: David Alexander Phillips; José Antonio Ferreira; Deidra Ansah; Herica Sa Teixeira; Uriel Kitron; Thelma de Filippis; Marcelo H de Alcântara; Jessica K Fairley Journal: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 2.743