Prevalence and spatial distribution of intestinal parasitic infections in a rural Amazonian settlement, Acre State, Brazil

A population-based survey of the prevalence and spatial distribution of intestinal parasitism was carried out in an agricultural settlement in the Amazon Basin of Brazil (Granada, Acre State). More than half (53.4%) of the 429 stool specimens from subjects in all age groups, living in 113 households...

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Published inCadernos de saúde pública Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 427 - 434
Main Authors de Souza, Estéfano Alves, da Silva-Nunes, Mônica, Malafronte, Rosely Dos Santos, Muniz, Pascoal Torres, Cardoso, Marly Augusto, Ferreira, Marcelo Urbano
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Brazil Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz 01.02.2007
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Brazil - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Epidemiologic Methods
Giardia - parasitology
Housing - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infant
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology
Middle Aged
Poverty
PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Residence Characteristics
Rural Population - statistics & numerical data
Brazil
Ecossistema Amazônico
Parasites
Parasitos
Amazonian Ecosystem
Helminths
Helmintos
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Summary:A population-based survey of the prevalence and spatial distribution of intestinal parasitism was carried out in an agricultural settlement in the Amazon Basin of Brazil (Granada, Acre State). More than half (53.4%) of the 429 stool specimens from subjects in all age groups, living in 113 households, had cysts, ova, or larvae of intestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasites were Giardia duodenalis (19.6%) and soil-transmitted helminths (12.7%); 105 (24.5%) subjects were infected with more than one species of parasite. Significant age-related differences in prevalence were only found for G. duodenalis (children < 1 year and adults > 30 years were less affected). Six households (5.3%), situated within a radius of 690m, comprised 48.1% of all subjects harboring soil-transmitted helminths in our study area. Households within this cluster were poorer and more crowded than those outside the cluster. The observed spatial clustering of infections with soil-transmitted helminths provides valuable information for the spatial targeting of sanitary interventions in this area.
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ISSN:0102-311X
1678-4464
0102-311X
DOI:10.1590/S0102-311X2007000200019