Cross-sectional study of intestinal parasitosis in child populations in Argentina/Estudio transversal de las parasitosis intestinales en poblaciones infantiles de Argentina

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública 2017-06, Vol.41 (3)
• Main Authors: Navone, Graciela Teresa, Zonta, Maria Lorena, Cociancic, Paola, Garraza, Mariela, Gamboa, Maria Ines, Giambelluca, Luis Alberto, Dahinten, Silvia, Oyhenart, Evelia Edith
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1020-4989

Objective. Determine the distribution of intestinal parasitosis in children in nine provinces representative of Argentina's mosaic of contrasting environments. Methods. Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study of preschool children (5 years old or under) and school-age children (6-14 years) in the provinces of Buenos Aires (sample taken between 2005 and 2013), Chubut (2010-2013), Corrientes (2012), Entre Rios (2010-2012), Formosa (2014), La Pampa (2006), Mendoza (2008-2011), Misiones (2005-2008 and 2013), and Salta (2012-2013). Serial samples, fecal samples, and anal swabs were processed using concentration techniques. The results were analyzed by sex, age interval, and province. Frequency of parasitosis (monoparasitosis and multiple parasitoses), wealth of species, and Sorensen similarity coefficient were calculated. Results. Misiones presented the highest frequency of parasitized children and Chubut the lowest (82.0% vs 38.4%; p < 0.01). The number of species was greatest in Misiones and Buenos Aires and lowest in Chubut and La Pampa. Men were parasitized more than women only in Buenos Aires. The highest frequencies were found in preschool children in Buenos Aires and schoolchildren in Mendoza and Misiones (p < 0.05). Monoparasitosis was most frequent in Chubut (67.9%) and multiple parasitosis in Formosa (69.2%). The most frequent species in the majority of provinces were Blastocystis sp. and Enterobius vermicularis. Misiones presented the highest frequency of soil-transmitted helminthes (23.3%) and Mendoza the lowest (0.6%); none were found in Chubut, La Pampa, or Salta. Buenos Aires, Formosa, and Misiones presented a similar species composition, as did Chubut and La Pampa. Conclusions. The frequency of parasitosis in Argentina corresponds to the country's complex mosaic of climatic and socioeconomic variability and shows a declining trend from north to south and from east to west. Keywords Intestinal Diseases, parasitic; child; Argentina. Objetivo. Determinar la distribucion de las enteroparasitosis en ninos de nueve provincias representativas del mosaico de ambientes contrastantes de Argentina. Metodos. Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal en ninos preescolares (de 5 anos o menos) y escolares (de 6 a 14 anos) de las provincias de Buenos Aires (muestra tomada entre 2005 y 2013), Chubut (2010-2013), Corrientes (2012), Entre Rios (2010-2012), Formosa (2014), La Pampa (2006), Mendoza (2008-2011), Misiones (2005-2008 y 2013) y Salta (2