title: Epidemiological survey of Giardia spp. and Blastocystis hominis in an Argentinian rural community.
abstract: The aim of this study was to relate personal data, socio-cultural and environmental characteristics, and the presence of symptoms/signs with the frequencies of Giardia spp. and Blastocystis hominis among a rural population in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Of the surveyed population (350), 3.7% were infected with only Giardia spp. or 22.9% with B. hominis, and 2.3% were infected with both protozoa. The frequency of infection according to sex; 6.1% of males were infected and 1.6% of females by Giardia spp., 26.7% and 19.5% by B. hominis, and 2.4% and 2.2% by both parasites, respectively. Giardia spp. was detected in only three adults (over 14 years), but B. hominis was more frequent in adults than in children. The prevalences of these protozoa in this community are lower than those reported by other Argentinean studies, which is probably associated with the low density of the studied population (5.95 inhab/km2). Statistical analysis revealed that a male sex, flooding of the home, the use of a latrine, and an abdominal pain were correlated with the presence of these parasites, which indicate the importance of these factors in rural communities.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marta Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Minvielle
authors.forename: Betina Cecilia
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Pezzani
authors.forename: María Alejandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cordoba
authors.forename: María Marta
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Apezteguia
authors.forename: Juan Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Basualdo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors