RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Parasitic infections, particularly those caused by protozoa, represent a considerable public health problem in developing countries. Blastocystis, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and the Entamoeba complex (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii) are the most common etiological causes of intestinal parasitic infections. METHODS: We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study in school-age children attending a daycare institution in commune eight of Popayán, Cauca (Southwest Colombia). A total of 266 fecal samples were collected (258 from children and eight from pets). Blastocystis, G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and the Entamoeba complex were identified by microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and conventional PCR. The concordance of qPCR and microscopy was assessed using the Kappa index. Molecular characterization was conducted to identify Blastocystis subtypes (18S), G. duodenalis assemblages (tpi and gdh) and Cryptosporidium species/subtypes (18S and GP60). Potential associations between intestinal parasitism and sociodemographic factors were examined using bivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 258 fecal samples from children were analyzed by microscopy and 255 samples were analyzed by qPCR. The prevalence of Blastocystis was between 25.19% (microscopy) and 39.22% (qPCR), that of G. duodenalis was between 8.14% (microscopy) and 10.59% (qPCR), that of Cryptosporidium spp. was estimated at 9.8% (qPCR), and that of the Entamoeba complex was between 0.39% (conventional PCR) and 0.78% (microscopy). The concordance between microscopy and qPCR was very low. Blastocystis ST1 (alleles 4, 8, and 80), ST2 (alleles 11, 12, and 15), ST3 (alleles 31, 34, 36, 38,57, and 151), and ST4 (alleles 42 and 91), G. duodenalis assemblages AII, BIII, BIV and D, C. parvum subtype IIa and C. hominis subtype IbA9G3R2 were identified. The only identified member of the Entamoeba complex corresponded to E. histolytica. No statistically significant association was identified between parasitic infection and any sociodemographic variable. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the usefulness of molecular methods to depict the transmission dynamics of parasitic protozoa in southwest Colombia. The presence of some of these protozoa in domestic animals may be involved in their transmission.
Assuntos
Giardíase/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Animais de Estimação/parasitologia , Animais , Infecções por Blastocystis/epidemiologia , Infecções por Blastocystis/parasitologia , Infecções por Blastocystis/veterinária , Pré-Escolar , Colômbia/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Criptosporidiose/epidemiologia , Criptosporidiose/parasitologia , Cães/parasitologia , Entamebíase/epidemiologia , Entamebíase/parasitologia , Entamebíase/veterinária , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Giardíase/parasitologia , Giardíase/veterinária , Humanos , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Masculino , Microscopia/métodos , Epidemiologia Molecular/métodos , Prevalência , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is a systemic opportunistic mycosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, which affects mainly the central nervous system of immunocompromised patients; no reports have been made on the isolation of the fungus from the environment of Popayán, Colombia. AIMS: The main objective of this investigation was to determinate the incidence of C. neoformans in the urban perimeter in the City of Popayán, Colombia. METHODS: A total of 303 samples from droppings of Columba livia and Bubulcus ibis were collected between September 2012 and June 2013. The samples were processed by conventional techniques; identification of colonies was performed by biochemical tests, and molecular patterns were determined by PCR fingerprinting with the primer (GTG)5 and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the gene URA5. RESULTS: A total of 118 (38.94%) samples were positive for Cryptococcus in excreta of C. livia, and 361 strains belonging to Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii were isolated. From the latter, 99.2% corresponded to the molecular pattern VNI and 0.8% to VNII, with an increased occurrence (24.4%) at a temperature of 22.5°C and a humidity of 60.8%. The excreta of B. ibis did not show the presence of the fungus. CONCLUSIONS: C. livia excreta is a key environmental niche for C. neoformans var. grubii, type VNI, supporting growth and reproduction, and serving as a major source of infection for susceptible populations in Popayán. This represents the first report on the isolation of the agent of cryptococcosis from the environment in this region, with a significant prevalence in bird excreta.