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BACKGROUND: Surveys for intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) often involve samples from three sampling dates analysed by various microscopy techniques. However, analysis of three samples per individual is a huge burden on time and resources. We compared the value from analysing three or fewer samples. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, three faecal samples were collected every other day from 332 children from two locations in Guantanamo province, Cuba. Samples were analysed by wet mount with Lugol stain, Willis flotation method and Kato-Katz thick smear. RESULTS: Most parasites were detected by wet mount, although helminth eggs not found by wet smear were detected by the Willis flotation method (in particular) and Kato-Katz smear. Blastocystis spp. was the most commonly detected parasite (about 65%), then Giardia duodenalis and then Entamoeba spp. Although analysis of two stool samples significantly increased occurrence data for Blastocystis, this was not so for the other parasites. For none of the protozoan parasites were results from analysing three samples significantly higher than results from analysing just two samples. CONCLUSIONS: Analysing two faecal samples by wet mount and the Willis flotation method provides useful data for estimating the prevalence of IPIs in relatively high prevalence settings. Analysing further samples provides limited additional information and adds an extra burden in terms of time and resources.

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Introducción: La angiostrongiliasis humana presenta un amplio espectro clínico: desde una infección asintomática a meningitis eosinofílica, meningoencefalitis eosinofílica y angiostrongiliasis ocular. Objetivo: Determinar los conocimientos, percepciones y prácticas en relación con la infección por Angiostrongylus cantonensis que poseen médicos de atención primaria de la República del Ecuador. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo. Se diseñó, validó y aplicó una encuesta sobre conocimientos, percepciones y prácticas a 163 médicos de atención primaria de las provincias Napo y Guayas, entre los meses de noviembre y diciembre de 2017. La información obtenida se almacenó en una base de datos Microsoft Access y se realizó un análisis de frecuencias a las respuestas dadas a cada una de las preguntas. Resultados: Se encontraron conocimientos insuficientes, percepciones inadecuadas y prácticas incorrectas en relación con la angiostrongiliasis. Conclusiones: Estos resultados orientan hacia la implementación de un programa de intervención educativa en médicos de atención primaria con el fin de atenuar las deficiencias encontradas, para incidir de forma positiva en comunidades donde existe la presencia de hospederos intermediarios y definitivos infectados y un riesgo potencial de infección.

Introduction: Human angiostrongyliasis presents a broad clinical spectrum, which ranges from asymptomatic infection to eosinophilic meningitis, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, and ocular angiostrongyliasis. Objective: To determine the knowledge, perceptions, and practice of primary healthcare doctors in the Republic of Ecuador regarding Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. Methods: It was conducted a descriptive observational study. A survey on knowledge, perceptions, and practice was designed, validated, and applied to 163 primary healthcare doctors from Napo and Guayas provinces between November and December 2017. The information obtained was stored in a Microsoft Access 2016 database, and a frequency analysis was performed to the answers provided to every question. Results: Insufficient knowledge, inadequate perceptions, and incorrect practice regarding angiostrongyliasis were found. Conclusions: The results evidenced the need to implement an educational intervention program to primary healthcare doctors aimed at reducing the deficiencies found to have a positive impact on the communities where the intermediate and definitive hosts and a potential infection risk exist.

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Introdución: Los cestodos son helmintos parásitos del humano y de animales, con complejos ciclos de vida. En las infecciones por los cestodos no existen programas de desparasitación masiva implementados para disminuir la carga parasitaria de estos a nivel mundial, dada la baja prevalencia que se informa en estudios epidemiológicos. Existen pocos trabajos sobre la epidemiología y la detección de estas infecciones en la literatura internacional. Objetivo: Describir la frecuencia de infección de cestodos y sus características epidemiológicas. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo, realizado entre el 3 de enero de 2010 y 28 de diciembre de 2018. Se analizaron todas las muestras de heces, parásitos adultos y metacestodos enviadas de la red de Salud al Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Parasitismo Intestinal-IPK. El universo de estudio estuvo constituido por 9833 muestras, que fueron enviadas mayoritariamente de la provincia La Habana. Resultados: La infección por Inermicapsifer madagascariensis predominó en niños menores de 5 años (69,6 por ciento; IC 95 por ciento: 47,1-86,8). La infección intestinal por Taenia spp. se diagnosticó prinipalmente en pacientes entre 15 y 65 años de edad (88,2 por ciento; IC95 por ciento: 63,6-98,5). De los 47 casos positivos a la infección por cestodos, 24 pertenecieron al sexo femenino (51,1 por ciento; IC95 por ciento: 35,7-66,4) y 23 al sexo masculino (48,9 por ciento; IC95 por ciento: 33,6-64,3). No hubo diferencias significativas entre la infección por Inermicapsifer madagascariensis y Taenia spp. y el sexo de los pacientes (p˃ 0,05). Conclusiones: Aunque la frecuencia de infección de las cestodiosis detectadas es baja, estos resultados pudieran ser útiles para un control integrado de las principales cestodioisis en los diferentes grupos etarios(AU)

Introduction: Cestodes are helminths of complex life cycles which may infect animals and humans. No mass deworming programs are in place to reduce the worldwide parasite load of cestodes, given the low prevalence reported by epidemiological research. Few studies are available in the international literature about the epidemiology and detection of these infections. Objective: Describe the frequency of cestode infection and its epidemiological characteristics. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted from 3 January 2010 to 28 December 2018. Evaluation was performed of all the samples of fecal matter, adult parasites and metacestodes submitted by the health care network to the Intestinal Parasitic Disease National Reference Laboratory at Pedro Kourí Institute. The study universe was 9 833 samples, mostly received from the province of Havana. Results: Inermicapsifer madagascariensis infection prevailed among children aged under 5 years (69.6 percent; CI 95 percent: 47.1-86.8). Taenia sp. intestinal infection was mainly diagnosed in patients aged 15-65 years (88.2 percent; CI 95 percent: 63.6-98.5). Of the 47 cestode infection positive cases, 24 were female (51.1 percent; CI 95 percent: 35.7-66.4) and 23 were male (48.9 percent; CI 95 percent: 33.6-64.3). No significant differences were found between Inermicapsifer madagascariensis and Taenia sp. infection and the sex of patients (p˃ 0.05). Conclusions: Although the frequency of cestode infection detected is low, these results could be useful for an integrated control of the main cestode infections affecting the different age groups(AU)

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Giardia duodenalis is considered the most common protozoan infecting humans worldwide. Molecular characterization of G. duodenalis isolates has revealed the existence of eight groups (assemblages A to H) which differ in their host distribution. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 639 children from La Habana between January and December 2013. Two assemblage-specific PCRs were carried out for the molecular characterization. The overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 11.9%. DNA from 63 of 76 (82.9%) samples was successfully amplified by PCR-tpi, while 58 from 76 (76.3%) were detected by PCRE1-HF. Similar results by both PCRs were obtained in 54 from 76 samples (71%). According to these analyses, assemblage B and mixed assemblages A + B account for most of the Giardia infections in the cohort of children tested. Our current study identified assemblage B as predominant genotype in children infected with Giardia. Univariate analysis indicated that omission of washing hands before eating and keeping dogs at home were significant risk factors for a Giardia infection. In the future, novel molecular tools for a better discrimination of assemblages at the subassemblages level are needed to verify possible correlations between Giardia genotypes and symptomatology of giardiasis.

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