[Aetiology of intestinal parasites in a sample of students from Mozambique]

Infez Med. 2011 Sep;19(3):157-65.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The purpose of this survey is to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in a population of Mozambican students. Ninety five faecal samples were collected at the three schools in Marrere, Mozambique, for a period of about one week. Observations of fresh and Giemsa-stained samples were performed at the laboratory of the Geral de Marrere Hospital; observation after concentration (FEA) was performed later at the Microbiology Laboratory of the S. Maria Nuova Hospital (Reggio Emilia, Italy). The results show a high rate of intestinal parasites among the subjects examined, supported mainly by helminths (Strongyloides stercoralis and Ancylostoma/Necator americanus), and protozoa (Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia intestinalis). Analysis of data shows that the search for pathogenic parasites with the formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) stool concentration technique shows higher sensitivity than the observation of fresh samples (60% vs 30%) and in some cases allows the presence of a second or third parasite to be detected. The high rate of parasitosis in endemic areas underlines the importance of lending greater attention to immigrant patients in Italy, due also to the fact that parasitosis is often found in asymptomatic forms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Ancylostoma / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Dientamoeba / isolation & purification
  • Feces / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Giardia lamblia / isolation & purification
  • Health Surveys
  • Helminthiasis / diagnosis*
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Male
  • Mozambique / epidemiology
  • Necator americanus / isolation & purification
  • Parasitology / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Infections / diagnosis*
  • Protozoan Infections / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sampling Studies
  • Schools
  • Strongyloides stercoralis / isolation & purification
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*