María Laura Ciarmela

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4%. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2%) and Giardia lamblia (6.9%), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8%). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3% of the soil samples and in 84.2% of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.

Presencia de parásitos intestinales en paseos públicos urbanos en La Plata, Argentina

With the aim of recovering and identifying parasitic elements we studied soil samples from allpublic place of La Plata, Argentina (urban area). We surveyed 23 places during March and April,2000 and at the time of study we measured both the pH and moisture content of each sample taken.We detected 552 parasitic elements, with 98 corresponding to protozoon cysts, 106 to helmintheggs and 348 to nematode larvae. We conclude that the soils in surveyed public places arecontaminated with parasites of animal as well as human origin.

Biological activity of Paecilomyces genus against Toxocara canis eggs.

Abstract Saprophytic soil fungi can exert ovicidal and ovistatic effects on helminths with differing degrees of efficiency. The representatives of such fungi from temperate regions, Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson and P. marquandii (Masse) Hughes, exhibit recognized ovicidal activity on some nematodes. We evaluated the action in vitro of P. lilacinus and P. marquandii on the zoonotic canine roundworm eggs of Toxocara canis. Eggs exposed and unexposed to fungal samples were observed by both light and scanning electron microscopy on days 4, 7 and 14 post-inoculation. Ovicidal activity of P. lilacinus on T. canis eggs was considered to be high and that of P. marquandii to be intermediate.

Participación comunitaria en el control de las parasitosis intestinales en una localidad rural de Argentina

OBJECTIVES To design, implement, and evaluate a complex plan of actions aimed at reducing parasitoses in a rural town in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the involvement of the community. METHODS The project took place in General Mansilla, Buenos Aires province, in three stages. First, the initial epidemiological situation of intestinal parasitoses in the community was assessed by analyzing for parasites a series of stool samples and anal swabs taken from a sample of 522 individuals. Second, interventions were implemented: the pharmacological treatment of the infected individuals, and health education for the public involving local promoters. Third, the pharmacological treatment was evaluated with followup stool testing for those treated; the health education effort was evaluated through a survey and stool testing for parasites of those who had participated solely in the education. RESULTS The frequency of intestinal parasitoses was 58.2%; of the total, 43.9% were protozoa and 35.2%, helminths. The most common pathogens were Enterobius vermicularis, Blastocystis hominis, and Giardia lamblia. The deworming treatment reduced intestinal parasitoses to 15.1% (P < 0.001), and was more effective in helminths than in protozoa. Intestinal parasitoses declined following the health education intervention, in general (from 58.2% to 47.9%; P = 0.019), as well as for helminths (from 35.2% to 20.3%; P < 0.001), and hygiene habits improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of parasitosis and the educational intervention provided by local promoters made it possible to reduce parasitic diseases-particularly those caused by helminths-in the community under study. We recommend extending this experience to other rural communities and broadening the interventions to cutoff additional modes of transmission, such as water and food.

Biological interaction between soil fungi and Toxocara canis eggs.

Fungi from the soil of public areas in La Plata, Argentina were isolated and evaluated for their biological interaction with Toxocara canis eggs in vitro. We isolated and identified two fungal species: Fusarium pallidoroseum and Mucor hiemalis. Each species was co-cultured with T. canis eggs in sterile distilled water. The samples were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at days 4, 7 and 14 post-inoculation. Under the conditions of our experiments, F. pallidoroseum exhibited a high ovicidal activity on T. canis eggs, whereas M. hiemalis exhibited no such effects.

Comparison of preparation techniques of mixed samples (fungi–helminth eggs) for scanning electron microscopy by critical point drying

We compared three preparation techniques for critical point drying of fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson with Toxocara canis (Werner) Johnston and Taenia hydatigena Linneo eggs by scanning electron microscopy. We evaluated filtration (first), centrifugation (second), and phytoplankton network (third) in critical point drying methods. The first and third methods were advantageous for T. canis eggs because they preserved the quantity and quality of samples to obtain better images definition. The best technique for T. hydatigena eggs was the addition of phytoplankton network in critical point drying which preserved these helminth eggs.

Nutritional status in parasitized and nonparasitized children from two districts of buenos aires, Argentina

The Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasites and Nutrition was designed to intervene in small communities to prevent and control the effects of parasitic infections on childrens health. Objectives: To analyze the association between nutritional status and parasitic infection in suburban and rural children from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric (weight, height, BMI, skinfolds, upper arm circumference, muscle, and fat upper arm areas) and biochemical (Hb, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu) indicators. Parasitological analysis were made on both serial stool and perianal swab samples. A total of 708 children aged 3–11 were measured. The biochemical analysis included 217 blood samples and the parasitological study included 284 samples. Results: Anthropometric status was similar in both settings with low rates of underweight and stunting (<6%), and high rates of overweight (∼17%) and obesity (∼12%). Ca deficiency was significantly higher in suburban children where 80% of them were hypocalcemic. Around 70% of fecal samples contained parasites. Among infected children, the most prevalent species were Blastocystis hominis and Enterobius vermicularis (∼43%) followed by Giardia lamblia (∼17%). Differences in parasitological status between districts were not significant. In the suburban district parasitized children were lighter, shorter, and had a lower upper arm circumference than their non‐infected peers. No differences in anthropometric status were seen among infected and uninfected rural children. Conclusions: The results suggest an association between intestinal parasites and physical growth in suburban children. Rural children seem to be protected against the effects of parasitic infection. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:73–79, 2014.

Aspectos epidemiológicos asociados a toxocarosis en Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos: Argentina

MARTA C. MINVIELLE*, MARIA R. TAUS**, MARIA L.CIARMELA*, MARIELA FRANCISCONI**,MARIANA BARLASINA**, BETINA C. PEZZANI*, ALEJANDRA GASPAROVIC**,ARGELIA RAFFO** y CARLOS GOLDARACENA**.* Catedra de Microbiologia y Parasitologia. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.** Laboratorio de asesoramiento y control de Zoonosis Emergentes de esta region. Facultad de Bromatologia. UniversidadNacional de Entre Rios, Argentina.Correspondencia a: Rosalba Taus. Catedra de Quimica Biologica. Facultad de Bromatologia, Universidad Nacionalde Entre Rios. 25 de Mayo 701 (2820) Gualeguaychu, Entre Rios, Argentina