Giardia duodenalis e Cryptosporidium spp. : prevalência e possíveis fatores associados à infecção em crianças procedentes de creches públicas de uma área de alta endemicidade no sudeste do Brasil

Abstract

Giardia duodenalis and Crytosporidium spp. are parasites associated with diarrhea and nutricionais clutters, especially in children, being transmitted by faecal/oral route. This study has been put into practice to determine the prevalence of these parasites identifying the possible factors of risk for the infection in children, originating from public day-care centers of the city of Araguari, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Stool samples of 245 children between zero to five years old had been collected and epidemiologists questionnaires had been applied to the ones responsible for the children, with the intention of knowing socio-demographic variables, of personal and alimentary hygiene, as well as mannering habits that can possibly favor the infection for the studied parasites. Three samples feces had been collected of each child, collected in alternates days to get greater trustworthiness of the results. The faecal samples had been divided and submitted to three techniques of diagnosis, fluctuation in zinc sulphate solution 33%, for the research of Giardia duodenalis cysts of concentration for formol-ether and coloration of Ziehl-Nelsen, for research of oocistos of Cryptosporidium spp. and spontaneous sedimentation for research of other possible enteroparasitos. The prevalence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. was 51,8% and 1,2% respectively. Children from the feminine sex and younger than three years old has been more common for infection for Giardia duodenalis, although it s not significant statistically. The related factors of risk to the presence of Giardia duodenalis had been to drink water without filtering and boiling (p = 0.0061) and only washing hands with water (p = 0,015). From the variables analyzed for infection for Giardia duodenalis, to drink filtered water (p=0,04), to wash hands with water and soap (p=0,0146) and to carry through faeces examination are protection factors that has been annually considered. For the Crytosporidium spp. was observed that, younger children of three years old (p = 0,04) and without sewer in the residences (p = 0,027) were more exposed to the infection. In the day-care centers where the children had been positive for Giardia duodenalis and or Cryptosporidium spp. the familiar ones of the children, their pets and the food s manipulators of the day-care center had been invited to take excrement examinations to investigate the possible focus of the infection for the parasites. Association between the positive children and their relatives and their pets did not occur. Although two food manipulators were positive to the presence of Giardia duodenalis cysts of, association between these manipulators did not occur and the positive children in the same day-care center. Social-demographic and hygienical factors constantly are associated to the Giardia duodenalis prevalence of and Cryptosporidium spp. however, there is the necessity of investigating other possible factors that are related to the transmission for water and food.