Risk Factors Of Parasitic Infections Research Articles

Intestinal parasites prevalence and related factors in hospitalized children age upto 12 years with diarrhea in Surat, India

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection is important public health problem in developing countries. Present study was conducted to identify the prevalence of intestinal parasites and risk factors among children upto age of 12 years hospitalized with diarrhea in tertiary care hospital. Methods: Total 298 children upto the age of 12 years except neonates, admitted in ward of pediatric department with complaints of diarrhea during one year period from May 2011 to April 2012 were included in this study. Various demographic and clinical characteristics were collected on a pretested proforma. Stool smears were examined under light microscope with direct saline smear and lugol`s iodine solution. Parasitic detection was confirmed by formalin ethyl acetate concentration method. Results: Prevalence of intestinal parasites was 8.7% reported among admitted children. Most common parasite isolated was Giardia Intestinalis (5.4%) followed by ascaris lumbricoids (1.3%). Half of study participants were male and belongs to lower socio-economic class. Toilet facility was not available for 26.8% children; 81.2% children received piped water supply of municipality. Duration of diarrhea for more than seven days (p=0.004, OR=4.50, CI=1.59-12.67), more than ten passage of stool per day (p=0.016, OR=2.76, CI=1.20-6.34), non availability of toilet facility (p=0.007, OR=3.05, CI=1.35-6.92) reported as risk factor for intestinal parasitic infection. Such children are more likely to present with vomiting (p=0.038, OR=2.89, CI=1.06-7.90) and abdominal pain (p=0.013, OR=0.35, CI=0.15-0.80). Conclusion: Low socio-economic status, longer duration and frequency of diarrhea, non availability of toilet facility and presence of dehydration were leading risk factors for parasitic infection in present study.

869 Role of Poverty in Isolated Rural Communities as a Risk Factor for Parasitic Infection in Schoolchildren From Constanta County, Romania

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health problem in Romania.Objective: To detect socio-economic factors associated with intestinal parasite infection in rural school children.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 rural communities with little access to medical examination. 158 children were examined. Mean age was 9.1 years. 474 stool samples were collected. All stool samples were examined with native lugol, formol-ether, Kinyoun acid-fast, methods. The tape test was used in every child. Socio-economic information was obtained using a questionnaire.Results: Intestinal parasites identified were: Giardia (13.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11.1%), Enterobius vermicularis (8.7%), Blastocystis hominis (4.9%). 39% of the school children showed polyparasitism. Lack of sanitation, lower income, and defecation in open areas, unemployment, were the significant factors related to these infections (P< 0.05 for each). In 95% of cases the construction of the latrines was undertaken by the community members themselves, using locally available material and local labor. Children from: less educated families (P = 0.000), low socio-economic status of the family (P < 0.05), family size and number of rooms in houses (P = 0.000) showed higher risk of intestinal parasitism. There was a significant difference between infection rate and source of water for human consumption (P = 0.05). Unproperly built toilets and lack of washing facilities in schools, including lack of soap were linked to a high prevalence of parasitic infections in this study-group.Conclusion: Efforts should be made to educate people from isolated rural areas regarding the danger of poor sanitation.

Prevalence of endoparasites in household cat ( Felis catus) populations from Transylvania (Romania) and association with risk factors

There is no current information regarding the prevalence of parasites in Romanian cats. Consequently, we conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of endoparasites in a sample of household cats in the Transylvania region, to point out the risk factors for parasite infection and to evaluate the knowledge of cat owners about the zoonotic potential of some parasites. Four hundred fourteen faecal samples were collected and examined by sodium chloride flotation followed by microscopy. Also, questionnaires were administered to cat owners (196). The overall prevalence of endoparasites in household cats was 34.3% (142/414; CI 29.8–39.1). Concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 17.6% cats. The detected parasites were Toxocara cati (20.3%), Ancylostoma spp. (10.1%), Isospora rivolta (8.9%), Isospora felis (5.3%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (5.6%), Strongyloides spp. (3.4%), Capillaria aerophila (3.1%), Taenia taeniaeformis (2.7%), T. gondii/ H. hammondi (1.2%), Sarcocystis spp. (1%), Giardia duodenalis (0.7%) and Dypillidium caninum (0.2%). Risk factors for infection with parasites in cats were identified to be age and medium (rural or urban area). Thus, I. felis, I. rivolta and T. cati were more common in cats less than/equal to 1-year old, and Ancylostoma spp. and A. abstrusus were more prevalent in cats older than 1-year of age. 72.4% of the owners applied anthelmintic treatments to their cats, more commonly in urban areas (87.3%) (4 treatments/year) than in rural areas (12.7%) (1 treatment/year). 66.3% of the owners knew about the zoonotic potential of some parasites from cats, and the main source of information was veterinarians (65.4%). In conclusion the prevalence of endoparasites in household cats from Transylvania is high. Consequently, consideration should be given to the use of anthelmintics and to pet owner education.

Breeding management in goat farms of Lombardy, northern Italy: Risk factors connected to gastrointestinal parasites

This study is the first parasitological survey dealing with goats at a regional scale in northern Italy. In particular, we characterized goat farms in Lombardy and investigated the risk factors of parasite infections there. Within our study area, both the breeding system and the size of the flocks varied. In fact, large flocks are mainly located down the valleys of Alpine areas and in the Prealps at low altitudes, such animals are reared under intensive husbandry. Medium-sized flocks are mostly found in mountainous areas where goats are reared under extensive or semi-extensive systems. Autochthonous races, then, are important in some marginal areas where a farm economy is supported by the promotion of traditional goat products, e.g. typical cheese and meat derivatives. Significant factors associated with the presence of parasites are (i) breeding system, extensive for Moniezia benedeni, semi-extensive for Strongyloides; (ii) size of the farm, over 100 goats for Strongyloides; (iii) altitude, above 500 m a.s.l. and up to 1000 m a.s.l. for M. benedeni and Strongylida; (iv) pasture, Strongylida; (v) season, autumn for M. benedeni; (vi) separation of goats into groups, ( Skrjabinema). Goats in first lactation were significantly more infected with Strongylida and Trichuris than multiparous ones (both p < 0.001). Eggs excretion of Strongyloides was higher in pregnant females ( p < 0.001). Differences emerged also for Nematodirus and Strongylida when eggs excretion was related to pregnancy ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), but epg values of these nematodes were significantly higher in not pregnant individuals. Heavier infection with S. was found in lactating goats rather than in dry goats ( p < 0.001), while the latter ones were more infected with Trichuris and Strongyloides ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, according to the results of our survey, as to extensive husbandry we highly recommend correct practices in pasture management associated with a targeted programme of anthelminthic treatments for Stronylida and Cestoda. As to the rearing of large flocks almost entirely indoor, we noted a higher presence of other parasites, i.e. Strongyloides, probably due to a high density of heads associated with a scarce sanitary management. Concerning, then, young goats in first lactation and lactating females our data confirmed that they both are more vulnerable to the infection with Strongylida, while pregnant females are more prone to the infection with Strongyloides spp. This can be partially due to the synchronization of the reproductive cycle, as performed in most farms, and to the occurrence of the period of pregnancy in winter, when the animals are stabled indoor.

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice (Kap) Of School Teachers On Malaria, Helminthiasis And Associated Risk Factors In Primary Schools In Onitsha, Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria

Structured questionnaires were administered to 160 teachers from different Nursery and Primary Schools in GRA Onitsha, Nigeria to assess their knowledge, atttude and practices (KAP) on malaria, helminthiass and associated risk factors in the schools’ premises. Educational attainments of the teachers were Masters Degree (0.8 %), Bachelors Degree (39.2 %), Diploma Certcate (50.8 %), and Secondary School Certificate (9.2 %). There were more female (99.2 %) than males (0.8 %). A high percentage o the teachers (754 %) attributed malaria to eating too much oily food, hereditary (0.7 %), intense sunlight (2.1 %), drinking of dirty water (0.7 %), butter (3.5 %), and fried foods (1.4 %). On malaria prevention, about 64.2 % of teachers heard about insecticide treated net (ITN) but have never used it. Other preventive measures mentioned were use of clean environment (31.9 %), mosquito nets (20.2 %), and antmalarial drugs (12.3 %). KAP on helminthiass indicated that some of teachers attributed worm infection to eating sugary foods (19.2 %), drinking dirty water (9.3 %), natural occurrence (1.3 %), eating with diry hands (13.9 %), unwashed fruits and vegetables (10.6 %), unripe fruits (3.3 %), and over ripped fruits (2.0 %). About 48.33 % had seen worms in pupil’s stool., while 375 % had de-wormed pupils; 533 % of them using Ketrax®. Teachers’ perceved methods o preventing worm infection were avoidanceof sugary foods (27.9 %), washing hands before eating (10.46%), washing fruits and vegetables before consumption (26.2 %), and drinking clean water (10.46 %), while 22.1-30 % dd not knowhow to prevent nor treat helminthiasis Risk factorsfor parasitic infections observed in most of theschools included indiscriminate defecation, unhygienic lavatories, blocked drainages, container breeding habitats and open dumping of wastes. Health education for teachers in nursery and primary schools on transmission, prevention and treatment of malaria and helminthiass is hghly advocated. Keywords: Malaria, Helminthiasis, Parasitic infections, Risk factors, Primary schools children, KAP,

Parasitic dermatoses as seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City In Nigeria

The epidemiology and associated risk factors for parasitic infections causing dermatologic lesions were studied retrospectively over a five – year period (1993-1998) in Benin City Nigeria. The study population comprised one hundred and fifty six patients (84 males and 72 females) out of a total of 1665 patients who attended the dermatology clinic at the (UBTH) during the period of study. Dermatological manifestations of diagnosed parasitic infections were recorded and related to the occurrence of parasite species in microscopically studied specimens collected form patients. 9.4% of patients seen presented with various skin diseases of parasitic origin. The most prevalent parasitic disease seen was scabies 115 (73.7%); others were onchodermatitis 16(10.3%), myasis 11(7.1%), wuchereriasis (elephantiasis) 9(5.8%), cutaneous larva migrans 3(1.9) and pediculosis pubis 2(1.3%). Infection was prevalent in all age groups. Overall prevalence revealed that patients aged 15 years and below had the highest infection rate of 60 (38.5%) while the lowest infection occurred among those who were aged 60 years and above. Dermatologic parasitoses presented as chronic persistent infections, which were sometimes severe especially in children. Infection rate was significantly higher among males (53.8%) than females (46.2%) (P