title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites in young Quichua children in the highlands of rural Ecuador.
abstract: The prevalence of intestinal parasites in young Quichua children was assessed in 20 rural communities in the highlands of Ecuador in August 2005. The caregivers of 293 children aged 12-60 months were interviewed about the status of child health, household socioeconomic and environmental factors, and water-use practices and were requested to collect a faecal sample from the study child. Two hundred three (69.3%) of the 293 children provided faecal samples that were tested for parasites. The overall prevalences of infection for specific agents were Entamoeba histolytica or dispar 57.1%, Ascaris lumbricoides 35.5%, Entamoeba coli 34.0%, Giardia intestinalis (lamblia) 21.1%, Hymenolepis nana 11.3%, Cryptosporidium parvum 8.9%, Chilomastix mesnili 1.7%, Hymenolepis diminuta 1.0%, Strongyloides stercoralis 0.7%, and Trichuris trichiura 0.5%. The prevalence of parasites increased with age. Water storage, water treatment, consistent latrine-use, and participation in a community-based clean water project were not strongly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites, although having dirt floors was a risk factor for infection with E. histolytica or dispar and G. intestinalis.
authors.affiliation: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. kjacobse@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Priscila S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Bradley K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Quist
authors.forename: Bruce V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Rydbeck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D014867:Water