Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infections in the rural sector around Recife, Northeast Brazil

Gonçalves, José Felipe; Tanabe, Masanobu; Medeiros, Francisco de Paula de Melo; Gonçalves, Fernando José; Aca, Ivanize da Silva; Motta, Severa Regina Nunes da; Tateno, Seiki; Takeuchi, Tsutomu

doi:10.1590/S0036-46651990000600007

Abstracts

Parasitological examinations were carried out during July to December, 1989, on 485 inhabitants of four villages in São Lourenço da Mata, 25 km northwest of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Approximately 99.6% of the inhabitants were infected with at least one species of intestinal parasites. A high prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni (82.1%), hookworm (80.2%) Trichuris trichiura (69.9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61.9%) and Entamoeba coli (36.7%) infections were demonstrated. Test tube cultivation revealed that the most common species of hookworm in this region was Necator americanus (88.4%), and also that the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis was 5.8%. Three hundred and thirty-four sera were serologically examined for amoebiasis by the gel diffusion precipitation test (GDP) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No positive reaction was observed in all sera as examined by GDP, while 24 sera were positive by ELISA.

Parasitic helminths; Parasitic protozoa; Amoebiasis; Entamoeba histolytica; Schistosoma mansoni; Stool examination; Sero-epidemiology; Northeast Brazil

Foram realizados exames parasitológicos em 485 habitantes de quatro vilarejos da cidade de São Lourenço da Mata, distante 25 km à noroeste de Recife-PE, Brasil, no período de julho à dezembro de 1989. Aproximadamente 99,6% dos examinados mostraram-se infectados com pelo menos uma espécie de parasita intestinal. Observou-se ainda uma alta prevalência de Schistosoma mansoni (82,1%), ancilostomídeos (80,2%), Trichuris trichiura (69,9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61,9%) e Entamoeba coli (36,7%). A cultura de larvas de ancilostomídeos nas fezes - método de Harada - revelou que Necator americanus (84,4%) é a espécie mais comum nesta região seguida pelo Strongyloides stercoralis (5,8%). Foram ainda realizados testes sorológicos - imunodifusão em gel (GDP) e enzima imunoensaio (ELISA) - em 334 soros, para o diagnóstico de amebíase, todavia apenas 24 (7,2%) dos soros apresentaram positividade no teste de ELISA e nenhuma positividade foi encontrada nos mesmos soros testados pelo GDP.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infections in the rural sector around Recife, Northeast Brazil

Estudos sorológicos e parasitológicos na amebíase e em outras infecções parasito-intestinais no setor rural dos arredores de Recife, nordeste do Brasil

José Felipe Gonçalves^I; Masanobu Tanabe^II,III; Francisco de Paula de Melo Medeiros^III; Fernando José Gonçalves^I; Ivanize da Silva Aca^II,III,IV; Severa Regina Nunes da Motta^II,III,V; Seiki Tateno^II,III; Tsutomu Takeuchi^II

^ICentro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

^IIDepartment of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

^IIILaboratório de Imunopatologia Prof. Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

^IVDepartamento de Medicina Tropical, UFPE. Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

^VDepartamento de Biofísica e Radiobiología, UFPE. Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

^{Address for correspondence} Address for correspondence: Masanobu Tanabe, Ph. D. Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine Keio University Shinano-machi 35 Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan

SUMMARY

Parasitological examinations were carried out during July to December, 1989, on 485 inhabitants of four villages in São Lourenço da Mata, 25 km northwest of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Approximately 99.6% of the inhabitants were infected with at least one species of intestinal parasites. A high prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni (82.1%), hookworm (80.2%) Trichuris trichiura (69.9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61.9%) and Entamoeba coli (36.7%) infections were demonstrated. Test tube cultivation revealed that the most common species of hookworm in this region was Necator americanus (88.4%), and also that the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis was 5.8%.

Three hundred and thirty-four sera were serologically examined for amoebiasis by the gel diffusion precipitation test (GDP) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No positive reaction was observed in all sera as examined by GDP, while 24 sera were positive by ELISA.

Key words: Parasitic helminths; Parasitic protozoa; Amoebiasis; Entamoeba histolytica; Schistosoma mansoni; Stool examination; Sero-epidemiology; Northeast Brazil.

RESUMO

Foram realizados exames parasitológicos em 485 habitantes de quatro vilarejos da cidade de São Lourenço da Mata, distante 25 km à noroeste de Recife-PE, Brasil, no período de julho à dezembro de 1989. Aproximadamente 99,6% dos examinados mostraram-se infectados com pelo menos uma espécie de parasita intestinal. Observou-se ainda uma alta prevalência de Schistosoma mansoni (82,1%), ancilostomídeos (80,2%), Trichuris trichiura (69,9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61,9%) e Entamoeba coli (36,7%).

A cultura de larvas de ancilostomídeos nas fezes método de Harada revelou que Necator americanus (84,4%) é a espécie mais comum nesta região seguida pelo Strongyloides stercoralis (5,8%).

Foram ainda realizados testes sorológicos imunodifusão em gel (GDP) e enzima imunoensaio (ELISA) em 334 soros, para o diagnóstico de amebíase, todavia apenas 24 (7,2%) dos soros apresentaram positividade no teste de ELISA e nenhuma positividade foi encontrada nos mesmos soros testados pelo GDP.

Full text available only in PDF format.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was supported in part by research grants from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ooyama Health Foundation, Keio University and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (No. 01570221), Tokyo, Japan.

Recebido para publicação em 20/3/1990.

1. ASAMI, K.; ENOMOTO, Y. & MIURA, S. - Infestaçőes por ancilostomídeos e Strongyloides em Pernambuco. Inquérito baseado na identificaçăo das larvas. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 12: 31-35, 1970.
2. ASAMI, K.; MIURA, S.; YOKOGAWA, M.; OYA, H.; AOKI, T. & KOJIMA, S. Prevalence of parasites in school children of Săo Lourenço Village, Pernambuco, Brazil in 1975 and 1979. In:. REPORT OF OVERSEAS SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. Clinico-pathological and immunological investigations on schistosomiasis mansoni in north-east Brazil. Tokyo, Keio University, 1980. p. 17-28.
3. BARBOSA, F.S. Cross-sectional studies on Schistosoma mansoni infection in northeastern Brazil. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit., 69: 207-216, 1975.
4. DIAMOND, L.S.; HARLOW, D.R. & CUNNICK, C.C. A new medium for the axenic cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica and other Entamoeba. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 72: 431-432, 1978.
5. HARADA, Y. & MORI, O. A simple culture method of Ancylostoma duodenale. Med. Biol., 20: 65-67, 1951.
6. KNIGHT, W.B.; HIATT, R.A.; CLINE, B.L. & RITCHIE, L.S. A modification of the formol-ether concentration technique for increased sensitivity in detecting Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg., 25: 818-823, 1976.
7. MADDISON, S.E. Characterization of Entamoeba histolytica antigen-antibody reaction by gel diffusion. Exp. Parasit., 16: 224-235, 1965.
8. MARKELL, E.K. & GOLDSMITH, R. Trematode infections exclusive of schistosomiasis. In: STRICKLAND, G.T. Hunter's Tropical Medicine. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1984. p. 740-757.
9. NOZAKI, T.; ACA, I.S.; OKUZAWA, E.; MAGALHĂES, M.; TATENO, S. & TAKEUCHI, T. Zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica isolated in the Amazon and the Northeast regions of Brazil. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., (in press).
10. OKAZAKI, M.; OKAZAKI, M.; MIRANDA, P.; NETO, J.; DIEGUES, V.; ALVES, J.; CAUAS, M.; TANABE, M.; KOBAYASHI, S.; KANEKO, N.; NAGAKURA, K.; KOBAYASHI, M.; MOTTA, S.; TATENO, S. & TAKEUCHI, T. Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infection in Recife and its suburban area, northeast Brazil. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 30: 313-321, 1988.
11. PATTERSON, M.; HEALY, G.R. & SHABOT, J.M. Serologic testing for amoebiasis. Gastroenterology, 78: 136-141, 1980.
12. PESSÔA, S.B. Trematódeos parasitas do fígado, do pulmăo e do intestino. In: PESSÔA, S.B. Parasitologia médica. Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Koogan, 1972. p. 511-520.
13. REY, L. Trematódeos digenéticos do homem. In: REY, L. Parasitologia. Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Koogan, 1972. p. 349-355.
14. SARGEAUNT, P.G. The reliability of Entamoeba histolytica zymodemes in clinical diagnosis. Parasit. today, 3: 40-43, 1987.
15. SARGEAUNT, P.G.; BAVEJA, U.K.; NADDA, R. & ANAND, B.S. Influence of geographical factors in the distribution of pathogenic zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica: identification of zymodeme XIV in India. Trans. roy Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 78: 96-101, 1984.
16. SARGEAUNT, P.G.; WILLIAMS, J.E. & GRENE, J.D. The differentiation of invasive and non-invasive Entamoeba histolytica by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 72: 519-521, 1978.
17. SCHANTZ, P.M. & GLICKMAN, L.T. Current concepts in parasitology: toxocaral visceral larva migrans. New Engl. J. Med., 298: 436-439, 1978.
18. SHIELDS, J.A. Ocular toxocariasis. A review. Survey Ophthal., 28: 361-381, 1984.
19. TAKEUCHI, T. & KOBAYASHI, S. Serological tests for amoebiasis with special reference to gel diffusion precipitin test. Igaknno-ayumi, 115: 53-58, 1980.
20. TAKEUCHI, T.; KOBAYASHI, S. & TATENO, S. Evaluation of serologic testings of amoebiasis. Jap. J. Parasit., 34 (suppl.): 75, 1985.
21. TAKEUCHI, T.; MATSUDA, H.; OKUZAWA, E.; NOZAKI, T.; KOBAYASHI, S. & TANAKA, H. Application of a micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detection of anti-amebic antibody in various forms of amebic infection. Jap. J. exp. Med., 58: 229-232, 1988.
22. YAMAGUCHI, S.; KANO, K. & SHIROISHI, Y. Community health problems in Latin America: a statistical analysis and an appraisal of health indices in northeast Brazil. Latin Amer. Stud., 4: 105-129, 1982.

Address for correspondence:

Masanobu Tanabe, Ph. D.

Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine Keio University

Shinano-machi 35

Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
11 Sept 2006
Date of issue
Dec 1990

History

Received
20 Mar 1990

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. ASAMI, K.; ENOMOTO, Y. & MIURA, S. - Infestaçőes por ancilostomídeos e Strongyloides em Pernambuco. Inquérito baseado na identificaçăo das larvas. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 12: 31-35, 1970.

[2] 2. ASAMI, K.; MIURA, S.; YOKOGAWA, M.; OYA, H.; AOKI, T. & KOJIMA, S. Prevalence of parasites in school children of Săo Lourenço Village, Pernambuco, Brazil in 1975 and 1979. In:. REPORT OF OVERSEAS SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. Clinico-pathological and immunological investigations on schistosomiasis mansoni in north-east Brazil. Tokyo, Keio University, 1980. p. 17-28.

[3] 3. BARBOSA, F.S. Cross-sectional studies on Schistosoma mansoni infection in northeastern Brazil. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit., 69: 207-216, 1975.

[4] 4. DIAMOND, L.S.; HARLOW, D.R. & CUNNICK, C.C. A new medium for the axenic cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica and other Entamoeba. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 72: 431-432, 1978.

[5] 5. HARADA, Y. & MORI, O. A simple culture method of Ancylostoma duodenale. Med. Biol., 20: 65-67, 1951.

[6] 6. KNIGHT, W.B.; HIATT, R.A.; CLINE, B.L. & RITCHIE, L.S. A modification of the formol-ether concentration technique for increased sensitivity in detecting Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg., 25: 818-823, 1976.

[7] 7. MADDISON, S.E. Characterization of Entamoeba histolytica antigen-antibody reaction by gel diffusion. Exp. Parasit., 16: 224-235, 1965.

[8] 8. MARKELL, E.K. & GOLDSMITH, R. Trematode infections exclusive of schistosomiasis. In: STRICKLAND, G.T. Hunter's Tropical Medicine. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1984. p. 740-757.

[9] 9. NOZAKI, T.; ACA, I.S.; OKUZAWA, E.; MAGALHĂES, M.; TATENO, S. & TAKEUCHI, T. Zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica isolated in the Amazon and the Northeast regions of Brazil. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., (in press).

[10] 10. OKAZAKI, M.; OKAZAKI, M.; MIRANDA, P.; NETO, J.; DIEGUES, V.; ALVES, J.; CAUAS, M.; TANABE, M.; KOBAYASHI, S.; KANEKO, N.; NAGAKURA, K.; KOBAYASHI, M.; MOTTA, S.; TATENO, S. & TAKEUCHI, T. Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infection in Recife and its suburban area, northeast Brazil. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 30: 313-321, 1988.

[11] 11. PATTERSON, M.; HEALY, G.R. & SHABOT, J.M. Serologic testing for amoebiasis. Gastroenterology, 78: 136-141, 1980.

[12] 12. PESSÔA, S.B. Trematódeos parasitas do fígado, do pulmăo e do intestino. In: PESSÔA, S.B. Parasitologia médica. Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Koogan, 1972. p. 511-520.

[13] 13. REY, L. Trematódeos digenéticos do homem. In: REY, L. Parasitologia. Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Koogan, 1972. p. 349-355.

[14] 14. SARGEAUNT, P.G. The reliability of Entamoeba histolytica zymodemes in clinical diagnosis. Parasit. today, 3: 40-43, 1987.

[15] 15. SARGEAUNT, P.G.; BAVEJA, U.K.; NADDA, R. & ANAND, B.S. Influence of geographical factors in the distribution of pathogenic zymodemes of Entamoeba histolytica: identification of zymodeme XIV in India. Trans. roy Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 78: 96-101, 1984.

[16] 16. SARGEAUNT, P.G.; WILLIAMS, J.E. & GRENE, J.D. The differentiation of invasive and non-invasive Entamoeba histolytica by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg., 72: 519-521, 1978.

[17] 17. SCHANTZ, P.M. & GLICKMAN, L.T. Current concepts in parasitology: toxocaral visceral larva migrans. New Engl. J. Med., 298: 436-439, 1978.

[18] 18. SHIELDS, J.A. Ocular toxocariasis. A review. Survey Ophthal., 28: 361-381, 1984.

[19] 19. TAKEUCHI, T. & KOBAYASHI, S. Serological tests for amoebiasis with special reference to gel diffusion precipitin test. Igaknno-ayumi, 115: 53-58, 1980.

[20] 20. TAKEUCHI, T.; KOBAYASHI, S. & TATENO, S. Evaluation of serologic testings of amoebiasis. Jap. J. Parasit., 34 (suppl.): 75, 1985.

[21] 21. TAKEUCHI, T.; MATSUDA, H.; OKUZAWA, E.; NOZAKI, T.; KOBAYASHI, S. & TANAKA, H. Application of a micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detection of anti-amebic antibody in various forms of amebic infection. Jap. J. exp. Med., 58: 229-232, 1988.

[22] 22. YAMAGUCHI, S.; KANO, K. & SHIROISHI, Y. Community health problems in Latin America: a statistical analysis and an appraisal of health indices in northeast Brazil. Latin Amer. Stud., 4: 105-129, 1982.