@article{Gomes de Morais_Ferreira de Lima_Dantas Sampaio Leite_Mariotti de Santana_Tanan Torres_Wang da Silva_Souza Mendes_Santos Nunes_2021, place={Goiânia}, title={High prevalence of protozoan infections: a permanent cycle in a brazilian semi-arid peripheric area}, volume={50}, url={https://revistas.ufg.br/iptsp/article/view/68335}, DOI={10.5216/rpt.v50i3.68335}, abstractNote={<p>In regions where sanitary conditions are poor, prophylactic administration of antiparasitic drugs is common and affects the prevalence of intestinal parasites, in spite of the environmental maintenance of their life cycle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of parasitic infections, patient lifestyles, health conditions and environmental sources of contamination. One hundred seventy two children and adolescents, 5 to 15 years of age of both sexes were analyzed. Data were obtained through epidemiological questionnaires, parasitological examinations using Paratest®, IgG testing for <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em>, and analysis of sources of contamination in living areas. The study detected a prevalence of 45.9% (79/172) parasitic infections, of which 62.0% (49/79) <em>Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar </em>complex; 46.8% (37/79) <em>Entamoeba coli</em>; 27.8% (22/79) <em>Giardia intestinalis</em>; 12.7% (10/79) <em>Endolimax nana</em>; 10.1% (8/79) <em>Hymenolepis nana</em>; 8.9% (7/79) <em>Ascaris lumbricoides </em>and 2.5% (2/79) <em>Trichuris trichiura</em>. Out of the 49 samples positive for <em>Entamoeba histolytica </em>complex, there was only one case of antibodies to <em>E. histolytica</em>. The children’s life habits demonstrated inadequate food hygiene practices. These insufficient sanitary parameters revealed a general lack of information in face of an alarming situation regarding sewage and other sources of environmental contamination in 20% of the areas. The high prevalence of protozoan infections despite chemoprophylaxis, with environmental sources of contamination/risk, inadequate health conditions and the general apathy of the population suggest the ineffectiveness of current preventive practices. Thus, it is advisable that control actions include protozoa as therapeutic targets and, above all, health education as a routine practice to prevent the long-term continuance of this vicious cycle.</p> <p>KEY WORDS: Parasitic infections; chemoprophylaxis; environmental sources.</p>}, number={3}, journal={Revista de Patologia Tropical / Journal of Tropical Pathology}, author={Gomes de Morais, Natália and Ferreira de Lima, Luiz Felipe and Dantas Sampaio Leite, Ingrid and Mariotti de Santana, Marília and Tanan Torres, Rogerio and Wang da Silva, Jaqueline and Souza Mendes, Vanessa and Santos Nunes, Erika}, year={2021}, month={set.}, pages={233–245} }