SUMMARY OF THESIS* * This book is available at the Library of the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
BASTOS, Sérgio Rúbio Pinto - Avaliação da frequência de parasitismo e da sobrevida de exemplares de Pediculus capitis (De Geer, 1778) (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) fora do hospedeiro. Nova Iguaçu, 2002. (Dissertação de Mestrado - Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde/Universidade Iguaçu).
Evaluation of the frequency of parasitism and the survivede period of Pediculus capitis (De Geer, 1778) (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) specimens away from the host
During the months of June and July of 2002 an evaluation was made to determine how widespreaded was the infestation by Pediculus capitis in the inmates, aged one to twenty one years, of the "Centro Sócio Cultural Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima", Itaperuna, RJ (Boarding school and Nursery). Also it was researched how long the lice survived away from the host. The evaluation was conducted in two stages, as follows: 1- Aspects related to the frequency of parasitic infestations. 2- Aspects related to the parasite itself. A physical examination was performed on the head hair of the subjects and the louse specimens were handpicked. For the second stage the specimens were kept in Petri slides with the proper level of oxygen and the ambient temperature and relative humidity of the air were monitored. The data obtained in both stages were statistically evaluated using the KHI² (c²) method. The results obtained were as follows: of the total population subject to the evaluation 37.13% had pediculosis. Of those who had pediculosis 64.44% were females. Of those with pediculosis 84.61% had white skin, long and straight hair 65.75% and 80.43%, respectively. The most evident clinical manifestation was itching (82.51%) followed by rash (10.14%) and blisters (7.25%). The area with the highest incidence was the occipital-cervical region with 50.00%. With six hours intervals observations were made to determine which variables affected the survival. A higher percentage was found for the period of 12 to 16 hours (57.54%) and a lower percentage for the period of 30 to 36 hours (2.79%), the average survival time away from the host being 16 hours. No sample survived beyond 32 hours.
Considering the conditions of the investigation we can come to the conclusion that pediculosis is highly prevalent in the "Centro Sócio Cultural Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima", as far as be susceptible to pediculosis the inmate of the boarding school and of the nursery are equally prone.
Sérgio Rúbio Pinto Bastos
Rua Lenira Tinoco Calheiros 370
28300-000 Itaperuna - RJ
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
17 Sept 2003 -
Date of issue
Aug 2003
