Abstract Pediculosis mainly affects school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the knowledge of the parents and guardians of children in elementary schools in Niterói, Brazil, regarding pediculosis. Questionnaires were applied to 237 guardians of children at five 1-5 grade municipal schools. The responses were analyzed and correlated with positivity to louse infestation, detected by scalp aspiration. 73.8% of the respondents reported that their child had already been infested with lice. 32.9% presented correct responses about transmission. Incorrect responses were attributed to the air/wind, blood type and the fact that lice jump and fly. 40.1% of the respondents erroneously correlated control over the parasitosis with hygiene. A majority of the participants (58.6%) responded that pediculosis is harmful to health, while a small proportion (20.7%) considered it to be a disease. The prevalence of pediculosis was 19.8% among schoolchildren. Female sex, pruritus on the head and indifference regarding infestation were shown to be risk factors for pediculosis. The lack of perception of pediculosis as a disease may lead to naturalization of this parasitosis. Incorrect responses may add difficulty to implementation of preventive and curative approaches, which highlights the importance of dissemination of correct information about pediculosis.

Resumo: De 2012 a 2013 foram pesquisados parasitos gastrintestinais de suínos de granjas localizadas em diferentes municípios do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Amostras fecais de 790 suínos foram coletadas da ampola retal, sendo 88 de propriedades familiares e 702 de granjas com produção industrial. As amostras foram submetidas às técnicas de Faust et al., Sheather, Ritchie, Lutz e exame direto. A prevalência estimada foi de 93,1% nas granjas familiares e 59,1% nas granjas industriais. Balantidium coli, coccídios e Entamoeba sp. foram os parasitos que apresentaram as maiores frequências, sendo as categorias machos e fêmeas reprodutoras e leitões de terminação as mais infectadas (p<0,05). Trofozoítas de B. coli foram mais evidenciados nas amostras fecais de consistências semi-sólida, seguida pelas fezes com consistências sólida e diarreica. Ovos de estrongilídeos e Trichuris suis foram detectados exclusivamente em criações familiares. Ovos de Ascaris suum e de Strongyloides ransomi apresentaram baixa frequência. O alto grau de parasitismo, principalmente de protozoários, indica a necessidade de reavaliação do manejo dos suínos em ambos os tipos de produção.

Abstract: From 2012 to 2013 were surveyed gastrointestinal parasites from pig farms located in different municpaliyies in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Fecal samples from 790 pigs were collected from the rectum on 88 family farms and 702 farms with industrial production. The samples were subjected to Faust et al., Sheather, Ritchie, Lutz and direct examination faecal techniques. The estimated parasite prevalence was 93.1% in family farms and 59.1% in industrial farms. Balantidium coli, coccidia and Entamoeba sp. were the parasites with the highest frequencies, and the male and female reproductive categories and fatteners pigs the most infected (p<0.05). Trophozoites of B. coli were most evident in stool samples from semi-solid followed by solid and diarrheal consistencies. Strongyles eggs and Trichuris suis have been detected exclusively in family farms. Ascaris suum eggs and Strongyloides ransomi showed low frequency. The high degree of parasitism, especially protozoa, indicates the need to reassess the management of pigs in both types of production.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a contaminação por enteroparasitas em hortaliças consumidas cruas comercializadas nas cidades de Niterói e Rio de Janeiro. Foram estudadas 128 amostras de hortaliças3/4alface (Lactuca sativa) e agrião (Nasturtium officinale)3/4provenientes do comércio (supermercados, feiras-livre e quitandas) e de restaurantes tipo self-services. Apenas 6,2% das amostras apresentaram presença de estruturas parasitárias com morfologia semelhante as de espécies parasitas de animais. Foi encontrado presença de contaminantes como ácaros, ovos de ácaros, insetos, larvas de nematóides e protozoários ciliados em quase todas as amostras (96,1%), inclusive nas de restaurantes. Este alto percentual sugere a presença de risco de infecção, pois associado a esses agentes poderiam existir estruturas parasitárias infectantes para o homem.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the parasitological contamination of vegetables to be consumed raw and commercialized in Niteroi and Rio de Janeiro cities. We studied 128 samples of vegetables3/4lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale)3/4from supermarkets, greengrocer shops and self-service restaurants. Only 6.2% of the samples were positive for parasitic structures with morphological aspects similar to those of animal parasites. We detected acharids, acharid eggs, insects, nematode larvae and ciliated protozoa in most of the samples (96.1%), including those from restaurants. This high percentage suggests a risk of human infection since parasite structures capable of infecting man may exist in association with these agents.