title: Epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in San Carlos Island, Venezuela: strong association between socio-economic status and infection.
abstract: The epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis is not well understood. Few community-based studies have addressed this issue. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for cyclosporiasis in San Carlos Island, Venezuela. A sample of 515 subjects (mean+/-SD: 21.4+/-17.8 years) was surveyed. For identification of the parasite, stools were examined with modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin staining of formalin-ether concentrates. Infections with Cyclospora (43 of 515, 8.3%) were common. There were differences in prevalence of the parasite among sectors of the community: 30 out of 43 (69.8%) cases of cyclosporiasis clustered in two sectors with extreme poverty. Living in these sectors versus the remainder, living in a hut or small residence versus a concrete or larger house, using an area of backyard rather than a toilet or latrine for defecation, and having contact with soil contaminated with human feces were factors strongly associated with the infection (P<0.01). Contact with soil contaminated with human feces might be an important mode of transmission, and poverty a predisposing factor, for the infection.
authors.affiliation: Postgrado de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Apartado Postal 15165, Maracaibo, Venezuela. leonorbonilla42@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chacín-Bonilla
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Yulaicy
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D021744:Cyclospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021866:Cyclosporiasis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology