[Environmental conditions and prevalence of parasitic infection in Xukuru-Kariri indigenous people, Caldas, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the environmental conditions and the parasitic infection status of Xukuru-Kariri individuals living in the municipality of Caldas, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in March 2009. Sociodemographic and environmental data were collected through interviews. Water and fecal samples were collected for determination of environmental contamination and parasitic infection status.


RESULTS
The Xukuru-Kariri population living in Caldas included 86 people divided into 22 families. Of 22 heads of household, 81.8% had low schooling (not higher than elementary education). Of 26 water samples collected for microbiological analysis, 77.0% were positive for total coliforms and 4.0% for Escherichia coli. Residents of 27.3% of households defecated in the open. Trash was scattered in the yard of 54.5% of households. Fecal samples were collected from 60 individuals, with parasitic infection in 66.6%. The following prevalence rates were recorded: Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, 6.7%; Entamoeba coli, 60.0%; Endolimax nana, 1.8%; and Giardia duodenalis, 6.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The people included in this study faced environmental characteristics that contributed to their health vulnerability. Health actions as well as the implementation of public policies to provide sanitation, with quality water and adequate collection and treatment of human and household waste, are essential to prevent environmental degradation and improve the quality of life of these individuals.
Programa de Doutorado em Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, barbarassimoes@gmail.com.
Bárbara dos Santos
Bdos S
Simões
Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brasil.
George Luiz Lins
GL
Machado-Coelho
Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
João Luiz
JL
Pena
Departamento de Nutrição Clínica e Social, Escola de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brasil.
Silvia Nascimento
SN
de Freitas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004709:Endolimax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology; D014876:Water Pollution; D055815:Young Adult
D014867:Water