Abstract

LUNA MONRROY, Selma et al. PREVALENCIA DE PARASITISMO INTESTINAL EN NIÑOS Y MUJERES DE COMUNIDADES INDÍGENAS DEL RÍO BENI. Vis cienti. [online]. 2009, vol.1, n.2, pp. 37-46. ISSN 2222-4361.

Objective: To determine parasitic prevalence in people from the Beni River and to study its relationship with the nutritional status of children and existence of anaemia in mothers. Population: A total of 173 mothers (15-70 years of age) and 305 children and adolescents (3 months to 15 yearsold) from 15 Amerindian communities of Amazonian Bolivia (Beni River), were examined. Methods: Stools were examined for parasites identification directly on the site and after preservation and enrichment (Ritchie method) in the parasitological laboratory of SELADIS. In children, nutritional status was evaluated with anthropometry and hemoglobin was measured in mothers to evaluate anaemia prevalence. Results: Among 305 stool specimens from children and adolescents, 81.9% (IC95% =77%-86%) displayed polyparasitism. There were no differences between sexes, except with age for some species. The most frequent parasites were: Trichuris trichiura (59%), Asacaris lumbricoides (49.8%), Blastocystis hominis (40.3%), Uncinarias sp. (39.7%), Entamoeba coli (35.1%) y Giardia lamblia (18.7%). A total of 37.6% (IC95% =32%-43%) of children were stunted and 6.3% (IC95% = 3.8%-9.6%) were underweight. In mothers, 78 stool specimens were examined and 73.1% (IC95% = 62%-82%) displayed polyparasitism. The most frequent parasites were: Uncinarias sp (48.7%), Entamoeba coli (48.7%), Ascaris Lumbricoides (26%) Trichuris trichura (39.7%) and Blastocystis hominis (32%). About 33.3% (IC95% = 22%44%) of mothers were anemic. There existed a nom signicant trend in mothers housing Uncinarias sp. to have a lower hemoglobin value. Conclusions: The high prevalence of parasitism along the not very good nutritional status in children and adolescents and the frequency of anaemia in mothers, urge us to carry out an intervention to control parasitism in order to improve the health condition.

Keywords : Intestinal parasites; helminthes; protozoarians; nutritional status; anaemia; Amerindians; Beni River.