Intestinal parasitism, malnutrition and, associated risk factors in indigenous mbyá-guaraní children from the Argentinian Atlantic Forest.

RIVERO, MARÍA ROMINA; DE ANGELO, CARLOS; SALAS, MARTÍN; SALOMON, OSCAR D.; LIANG, SONG

Santiago de Chile

Congreso; XXIV CONGRESO LATINOAMERICANO DE PARASITOLOGÍA (FLAP XXIV); 2017

Federación Latinoamericana de Parasitología (FLAP)

Intestinal parasitoses, especially in the less favored populations of tropical and subtropical areas, are a scourge of high impact in public health. These infections are included into the neglected tropical diseases and when their analysis is performed over neglected communities such as aboriginal villages of Latin America, deeper and dangerous effects are observed. This cross-sectional survey describes the prevalence of intestinal parasites, nutritional status, and risk associated factors in children less than 15 years from Mbyá-Guaraní communities located in the Atlantic forest of Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. A total of 204 children were surveyed by copro-parasitological analysis. Stool samples were collected through a serial method preserved in sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin and examined for helminth eggs and protozoa cysts by Lugol smear, sugar flotation, and Telemann modified techniques as well as Tricromic and Kinyoun permanent stains. Children nutritional condition was assessed using the WHO Anthro software. Through a household questionnaire, socioeconomic, sanitary, environmental, and demographic conditions were evaluated. Multivariate analyses were carried out with R packages. Parasite presence, multiparasitism, hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis and Giardia intestinalis were the main outcome variables which were faced with a set of household sanitation and socio-demographic aspects. The overall prevalence of positive cases was 86.3%. Multiparasitism rises the 79.5% and children with up six different parasites were detected. Eleven genera were detected of which eight were pathogenic. The nutritional pattern defined a children population affecting by growth retardation (31.9%) and overweight (25%) being age, sex and parasitoses important variables ligated to malnutrition. Multivariate analysis indicated mainly individual risk factors as significant predictors for all outcome variables tested. Household level determinants shown less clear effects probably due to indigenous population are in a similar condition of vulnerability. The prevalence of intestinal parasitism is high and the double burden of malnutrition is affecting these indigenous communities. Both situations, framed in the complex scenery of poverty, environmental degradation, and limited access to health care, describe a very disadvantaged position to face this issues. Urgent and holistic efforts must be performed to substantially improve indigenous children infancy, growth, and development.