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Dirofilaria immitis infection is routinely detected in dogs during veterinary care in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Parasitological tests for the detection of this infection are routinely performed only in areas with a high prevalence. Baixada Fluminense, a region in Rio de Janeiro, was considered heartworm-free until local veterinarians began to receive blood exams results indicating the presence of microfilariae (MF). A laboratory database was hence used to collect data from 2017 to 2020 to understand the extent of spread of the parasite in this area. The results of complete blood count analysis and MF or heartworm antigen detection tests conducted on canine samples sent from veterinary clinics in Baixada Fluminense (Magé, Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Nova Iguaçu, and São João de Meriti municipalities) were included. In total, the results of 16,314 hematological tests were considered. The overall prevalence of D. immitis was 3.4% (554/16,314), considering that only one test result was obtained per animal on the same day. This study is highly relevant because it indicates the spreading geographic distribution of the worms, heightens awareness among local health professionals and the general population, and encourages compliance with prophylactic measures to prevent further spread of parasite.

RESUMEN

The study addresses the historical disparities in the distribution of the medium- and high-complexity health network and the limits to budget adjustments between the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and its neighboring municipalities of the Metropolitan region 1. An ecological study was conducted with data related to the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, chosen because it has a large assistance network, while located on the borders of vulnerable and underprivileged areas, characterizing a locus that is representative of the situations faced throughout the country. A decrease in the gross values of the programmed quotas in all municipalities of Rio de Janeiro was observed from 2016 onwards. The temporal trend of the programmed quotas remained stable for all municipalities in the Metropolitan Region 1, even with significant increases in the accomplished quotas for neighboring municipalities. The resulting overload in local expenditure prevents the increase of capacity to anticipate fluctuations in demand, both known and unexpected ones, compromising the responsiveness of the health system regarding its regular operation, as well as the ability to adjust to cope with extraordinary events, essential characteristics of resilience.

O estudo explora as históricas disparidades regionais na distribuição da rede de média e alta complexidade e os limites impostos para a o remanejamento dos tetos de financiamento entre o município do Rio de Janeiro e municípios limítrofes da Região Metropolitana 1. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico com dados referentes à cidade do Rio de Janeiro, escolhido por ter uma grande rede de assistência e limites com territórios vulneráveis e carentes de serviços de saúde, caracterizando um lócus representativo das situações enfrentadas em todo o país. Foi observado um decréscimo dos valores brutos das cotas programadas em todos os municípios do Rio de Janeiro a partir de 2016. A tendência temporal das cotas programadas se manteve estacionária para todos os municípios da Região Metropolitana 1, mesmo com aumentos significativos nas cotas para municípios limítrofes. A resultante sobrecarga no aporte local de recursos impede o aumento da capacidade para antecipar flutuações de demanda, tanto conhecidas quanto inesperadas, comprometendo a responsividade do sistema de saúde no que respeita seu funcionamento regular, bem como a capacidade de ajuste para lidar com eventos extraordinários, características essenciais da resiliência.

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Resumo O estudo explora as históricas disparidades regionais na distribuição da rede de média e alta complexidade e os limites impostos para a o remanejamento dos tetos de financiamento entre o município do Rio de Janeiro e municípios limítrofes da Região Metropolitana 1. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico com dados referentes à cidade do Rio de Janeiro, escolhido por ter uma grande rede de assistência e limites com territórios vulneráveis e carentes de serviços de saúde, caracterizando um lócus representativo das situações enfrentadas em todo o país. Foi observado um decréscimo dos valores brutos das cotas programadas em todos os municípios do Rio de Janeiro a partir de 2016. A tendência temporal das cotas programadas se manteve estacionária para todos os municípios da Região Metropolitana 1, mesmo com aumentos significativos nas cotas para municípios limítrofes. A resultante sobrecarga no aporte local de recursos impede o aumento da capacidade para antecipar flutuações de demanda, tanto conhecidas quanto inesperadas, comprometendo a responsividade do sistema de saúde no que respeita seu funcionamento regular, bem como a capacidade de ajuste para lidar com eventos extraordinários, características essenciais da resiliência.

Abstract The study addresses the historical disparities in the distribution of the medium- and high-complexity health network and the limits to budget adjustments between the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and its neighboring municipalities of the Metropolitan region 1. An ecological study was conducted with data related to the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, chosen because it has a large assistance network, while located on the borders of vulnerable and underprivileged areas, characterizing a locus that is representative of the situations faced throughout the country. A decrease in the gross values of the programmed quotas in all municipalities of Rio de Janeiro was observed from 2016 onwards. The temporal trend of the programmed quotas remained stable for all municipalities in the Metropolitan Region 1, even with significant increases in the accomplished quotas for neighboring municipalities. The resulting overload in local expenditure prevents the increase of capacity to anticipate fluctuations in demand, both known and unexpected ones, compromising the responsiveness of the health system regarding its regular operation, as well as the ability to adjust to cope with extraordinary events, essential characteristics of resilience.

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: to assess Popular Health Education practices on intestinal parasites, carried out by telephone contact with men living in urban communities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the COVID-19 syndemic. METHOD: a quasi-experimental, quantitative and descriptive study, carried out with men aged 20 to 59 years. Pre-test was applied, and participants were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Popular Education in Health practices were carried out with an experimental group, and post-test was applied for both. RESULTS: health education practices were significant in the experimental group, with a reduction in incorrect answers. There was an increase in incorrect answers in the control group's post-test. CONCLUSIONS: the Brazilian National Policy for Popular Education in Health contributed to qualify men's health literacy on intestinal parasites. Practice by telephone contact proved to be a powerful strategy for nursing and public policies to access this group and promote health in Primary Health Care.

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ABSTRACT Objectives: to assess Popular Health Education practices on intestinal parasites, carried out by telephone contact with men living in urban communities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the COVID-19 syndemic. Method: a quasi-experimental, quantitative and descriptive study, carried out with men aged 20 to 59 years. Pre-test was applied, and participants were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Popular Education in Health practices were carried out with an experimental group, and post-test was applied for both. Results: health education practices were significant in the experimental group, with a reduction in incorrect answers. There was an increase in incorrect answers in the control group's post-test. Conclusions: the Brazilian National Policy for Popular Education in Health contributed to qualify men's health literacy on intestinal parasites. Practice by telephone contact proved to be a powerful strategy for nursing and public policies to access this group and promote health in Primary Health Care.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar las prácticas de Educación Popular en Salud sobre parásitos intestinales, realizadas por contacto telefónico con hombres residentes en comunidades urbanas de Río de Janeiro, Brasil, durante la sindemia de la COVID-19. Métodos: estudio cuasiexperimental, cuantitativo y descriptivo, realizado con hombres de 20 a 59 años. Se aplicó la preprueba y se dividió a los participantes en dos grupos: control y experimental. Se realizaron prácticas de Educación Popular en Salud con un grupo experimental y a ambos se les aplicó la posprueba. Resultados: las prácticas de educación en salud fueron significativas en el grupo experimental, con reducción de respuestas incorrectas. Hubo un aumento de respuestas incorrectas en la posprueba del grupo control. Conclusiones: la Política Nacional de Educación Popular en Salud contribuyó a cualificar la alfabetización en salud de los hombres sobre parásitos intestinales. La práctica por contacto telefónico demostró ser una poderosa estrategia de enfermería y de políticas públicas para acceder a ese grupo y promover la salud en la Atención Primaria de Salud.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar práticas de Educação Popular em Saúde sobre parasitoses intestinais, realizadas por contato telefônico com homens residentes em comunidades urbanas do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, durante a sindemia de COVID-19. Métodos: estudo quase-experimental, quantitativo e descritivo, realizado com homens de 20 a 59 anos. Foi aplicado o pré-teste, e os participantes, distribuídos em dois grupos: controle e experimental. Foram realizadas práticas de Educação Popular em Saúde com grupo experimental e aplicado o pós-teste para ambos. Resultados: práticas de educação em saúde foram significativas no grupo experimental, com redução das respostas incorretas. Houve aumento de respostas incorretas no pós-teste do grupo controle. Conclusões: a Política Nacional de Educação Popular em Saúde contribuiu para qualificar a literacia em saúde de homens sobre parasitoses intestinais. A prática por contato telefônico mostrou-se uma potente estratégia para a enfermagem e as políticas públicas acessarem este grupo e promoverem saúde na Atenção Primária à Saúde.

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Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are neglected diseases caused by helminths and protozoa, with the relationships between parasite, host and environment having the potential to produce high morbidity and incapacity to work and mortality in vulnerable areas. This study assessed the prevalence of IPIs concerning socio-environmental conditions and analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to these diseases among men living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an agglomeration of urban slums between 2018 and 2019, with men aged between 20 and 59 years. A socioeconomic status questionnaire and an IPIs knowledge, attitudes and practices questionnaire (KAPQ) were applied. Coproparasitological diagnoses (n=454) were performed using four methods and samples of water for household consumption (n=392) were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analysis. A total of 624 participants were enrolled. About 40% of the households had "water unsuitable for consumption". Only one Major Area, MA 3 was not statistically significant for IPIs (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.30-1.88; p=0.55). The overall prevalence of IPIs was 23.8%. Endolimax nana (n=65, 14.3%) and hookworm (n=8, 1.7%) were the most frequently identified parasites. The analysis of the frequency of responses to the KAPQ has shown that men reported to seeking medical care if they were suspicious of IPIs, and around 35% would self-medicate. The results have shown the need to adopt integrated health education practices targeting male residents in urban slums to qualify the care with water for human consumption and promote self-care about IPIs. The household can be considered strategic for Primary Health Care activities for men.

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Schistosomiasis is a widely distributed parasitic disease and one of the most important neglected tropical diseases globally, for which Praziquantel® (PZQ) is the only available treatment. In this context, tests with new PZQ formulations become relevant for disease control. This study evaluated the effects of PZQ treatment in the prepatent phase of schistosomiasis using two formulations: nanoencapsulated (PZQ-NANO) and active pharmaceutical ingredient (PZQ-API). Five experimental groups were established, for which the following serological parameters were evaluated: ALT, AST, ALP, and TP. Animals treated with PZQ-API at 15 and 30 days post-infection showed decreased eggs per gram of feces (EPG) compared to untreated infected animals. The same animals showed reductions of 63.6 and 65.1%, respectively, at 60 days post-infection. Animals treated with PZQ-NANO experienced no significant changes in EPG at any time of observation. Animals treated with either PZQ-API or PZQ-NANO had higher ALT and AST levels in the patent period (60 and 90 days post-infection). Treatment with PZQ, either API or NANO, at 15 days post-infection reduced AST, ALT, and TP levels. It is concluded that prepatent treatment with PZQ-API can reduce the parasite load of infected animals and that treatment at 15 days post-infection can prevent increased serum levels of ALT, AST, and TP.

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Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of canine heartworm disease, a severe health problem in dogs, especially in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical regions of the world. We employed molecular methods to investigate the occurrence of canine infection by filarioids in five municipalities of Baixada Fluminense (Magé, Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Nova Iguaçu, and São João de Meriti), a non-endemic area of Rio de Janeiro State, Southeast Brazil. A total of 110 canine blood samples collected from 2017 to 2018 and positive for microfilariae at the modified Knott's test were screened by cPCR targeting DNA fragments of the 12S rDNA gene for filarial nematodes. Seventy-seven samples (70%) tested positive at the molecular analysis. Of these, 72 were identified as D. immitis and 5 (4.5%) as Acanthocheilonema reconditum. Dirofilaria repens was not detected in the studied municipalities of Baixada Fluminense. This is the first record of D. immitis and A. reconditum in the Baixada Fluminense region, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The prevalence of D. immitis cases in the five municipalities suggests the establishment and maintenance of its enzootic cycle in the studied region, which indicate vulnerability to the occurrence of epidemic cycles and, possibly, human cases.

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ABSTRACT Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are neglected diseases caused by helminths and protozoa, with the relationships between parasite, host and environment having the potential to produce high morbidity and incapacity to work and mortality in vulnerable areas. This study assessed the prevalence of IPIs concerning socio-environmental conditions and analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to these diseases among men living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an agglomeration of urban slums between 2018 and 2019, with men aged between 20 and 59 years. A socioeconomic status questionnaire and an IPIs knowledge, attitudes and practices questionnaire (KAPQ) were applied. Coproparasitological diagnoses (n=454) were performed using four methods and samples of water for household consumption (n=392) were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analysis. A total of 624 participants were enrolled. About 40% of the households had "water unsuitable for consumption". Only one Major Area, MA 3 was not statistically significant for IPIs (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.30-1.88; p=0.55). The overall prevalence of IPIs was 23.8%. Endolimax nana (n=65, 14.3%) and hookworm (n=8, 1.7%) were the most frequently identified parasites. The analysis of the frequency of responses to the KAPQ has shown that men reported to seeking medical care if they were suspicious of IPIs, and around 35% would self-medicate. The results have shown the need to adopt integrated health education practices targeting male residents in urban slums to qualify the care with water for human consumption and promote self-care about IPIs. The household can be considered strategic for Primary Health Care activities for men.