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ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to identify biological and social risk factors for the occurrence of microfilaraemia in a population of 1464 children of both sexes aged 5-14 years, living in two highly endemic areas of Recife a city in the northeast of Brazil. A survey was performed from December 1990 to July 1991 and the microfilaraemia was examined by the thick-drop technique using 45 microliters of peripheral blood. Information was obtained about use of bednet, length of time living in area and number of occupants per household. Risk was quantified by the crude and adjusted Odds Ratio. The 95 per cent confidence interval, Likelihood Ratio Statistics, and P value were used to test the statistical significance. An association was established between microfilaraemia in children and adolescents, and age, number of individuals per household, the presence of microfilaraemic adults in the household, length of time living in the area, and bednet use. Maternal microfilaraemia was not found to be a risk factor for the occurrence of microfilaraemia in offspring. These results allow the identification of children with a greater risk of microfilaraemia. In addition, these findings highlight the role of the household environment in the transmission process.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 05/1998; 44(2):87-91. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bancroftian filariasis is a major public health problem in the city of Recife in north-eastern Brazil. In some of its urban areas microfilaraemia prevalence reaches 14%. This study describes epidemiological characteristics, infection and disease, in 2 urban areas, Coque and Mustardinha, before control measures were applied. The parasitological survey was performed by a 'door-to-door' census covering 5563 subjects, aged between 5 and 65 years. Microfilaraemia was detected by the thick drop technique, using 45 microL of peripheral blood collected between 20:00 and 24:00. In both areas the prevalence of microfilaraemia was 10%, and males had higher prevalences of infection and disease than females. The prevalence of microfilaraemia was higher in the 15-24 and 25-34 years age groups in both sexes. Most microfilaria (mf) carriers (72.1% in Coque and 79.7% in Mustadrinha) had mf densities < 100/60 microL of blood. Females of reproductive age had significantly lower mf densities than males. The overall disease prevalence in both areas was 6.3%. Amongst the subjects who presented with chronic disease 15.7% were microfilaraemic. Chronic disease prevalence increased from 1.4% in the 5-14 years age group to 11.3% in the oldest age group. The most frequent clinical manifestation was hydrocele (5.4%), followed by lymphoedema (1.8%). The epidemiological pattern of filariasis in the populations studied was marked by high prevalence of microfilaraemia, low mf density, and relatively low prevalence of filarial disease considering the level of endemicity.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 89(4):373-7. · 2.16 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We determined the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections between 1993 and 1998 in the populations of a poor quarter of Recife (Pernambuco), in two townships in the sugar cane belt and in three villages of the semi-arid area far from the coast. Intestinal schistosomiasis was present in the sugar-growing area but was not observed in the populations inland that use dams to provide irrigation and fishing. Ascaris was very common in the city and the sugar cane belt and large numbers of hookworms were observed, especially in the sugar-growing area. These nematodes were very rare in the semi-arid area. This distribution probably results from both climatic conditions and human behavior. The high frequency of Amoeba cysts demonstrates that the peasants, farmers and fisherman living in these areas have poor hygiene practices. There are probably many, complex relationships between education, income, lifestyle and intestinal parasite infections.
Sante (Montrouge, France) 10(2):127-9.
