Enteroparasitosis in schoolchildren from Huaricana and Viacha

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal parasitosis is one of the most common infections worldwide, with the highest prevalence in less developed countries. The objective is to compare the prevalence of enteroparasites in children from Huaricana and Viacha de La Paz, Bolivia. Methodology: Stool samples were collected from children aged 4-11 years from the schools of Huaricana (H) and Viacha (V). To determine the presence of enteroparasites, the modified Willis and Ritchie concentration technique was used. Results: The prevalence of enteroparasites was more than 80% for H and 44% for V. The helminth species that were found are: Hymenolepis nana (H: 20%, V: 0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (H: 4%, V: 4%), Enterobius vermicularis (H: 5%, V: 0%), Taenia spp. (H: 4%, V: 0%), Diphylidium spp. (H: 4%, V: 0%), and among the protozoa were Giardia lamblia (H: 18%, V: 4%), Blastocystis hominis (H: 22%, V: 6%), Entamoeba coli (H: 51%, V: 28%), Chilomastix mensnili (H: 12%, V: 2%), Endolimax nana (H: 0%, V: 6%) and Iodamoeba butschili (H: 14%, V: 2%). The predominant pathogenic enteroparasites in Huaricana were Hymenolepis nana 20% and Giardia lamblia 18%; and 4% of Viacha found Ascaris lumbricoides and Giardia lamblia. The Huaricana children were polyparasitized in 20%, and biparasitized in 25%, and the Viacha children were biparasitized in 19%. Conclusion: The children with the highest prevalence of enteroparasites belong to Huaricana. The pathogenic species of enteroparasites prevalent in children from Huaricana was Hymenolepis nana, Giardia lamblia and from Viacha it was Ascaris lumbricoides and Giardia lamblia. The children of Huaricana were polyparasitized and those of Viacha were biparasitized.