SummaryA cross-sectional study was performed between school term dates 2014 and 2015 to diagnose intestinal parasites in dogs and children living with them. The socioenvironmental characteristics and hygiene practices of the children were also evaluated in terms of risk factors for parasitic infection of periurban neighbourhoods of La Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Serial coproparasitological samples of 78 dogs and 211 children were analysed by means of concentration and flotation techniques.Socio-environmental variables and hygiene practices of children were evaluated through semi-structured questionnaires which were answered by every family. The study showed that 82.1% of dogs were parasitized. The specific richness was of 11 species; Ancylostoma caninum (69.2%), Uncinaria stenocephala (41.0%), Trichuris vulpis (28.2%) and Toxocara canis (21.8%) were the most prevalent. The study also revealed that 67.8% of children were positive. Also, 11 species were identified and the most prevalent were Blastocystis sp. (36.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (27.5%) and Giardia lamblia (21.3%). The risk for parasitosis was higher in 6-year-old children and older (OR = 1.9, 95% IC: 1.0-3.7) and in those who did not wash their hands or did it occasionally after playing with their pets (OR = 2.8, 95% IC: 1.4-5.5). Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba coli infection risks were greater in children whose parents had a basic level of education (OR = 3.4, 95% IC: 1.3-8.7 and OR = 3.6, 95% IC: 0.8-15.9, respectively).In addition, the risk of infection for E. coli was higher in children who lived in floodable houses (OR = 4.4, 95% IC: 0.9-16.6). Likewise, the risk of infection for E. vermicularis was greater in children with onychophagia (OR = 1.6, 95% IC: 0.7-3.7) and in 6 year olds and older whose parents completed only primary studies (OR = 3.6, 95% IC: 1.4-9.1). The results obtained show the existence of a worrying epidemiological scenario that stresses the importance of zoonotic parasitosis as a serious problem of public health. K E Y W O R D SArgentina, children, dogs, intestinal parasites, risk factors, zoonosis

RESUMEN Objetivo. Determinar la distribución de las enteroparasitosis en niños de nueve provincias representativas del mosaico de ambientes contrastantes de Argentina . Métodos. Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal en niños preescolares (de 5 años o menos) y escolares (de 6 a 14 años) de las provincias de Buenos Aires (muestra tomada entre 2005 y 2013), Chubut (2010-2013), Corrientes (2012), Entre Ríos (2010-2012), Formosa (2014), La Pampa (2006), Mendoza (2008-2011), Misiones (2005-2008 y 2013) y Salta (2012-2013). Se procesaron muestras seriadas, fecales y de escobillado anal, mediante técnicas de concentración. Los resultados se analizaron por sexo, intervalo de edad y provincia. Se calcularon la frecuencia de parasitosis (monoparasitosis y parasitosis múltiple), la riqueza de especies y el coeficiente de similitud de Sørensen . Resultados. Misiones presentó la mayor frecuencia de niños parasitados y Chubut la menor (82,0% vs. 38,4%; p < 0,01). El número de especies fue mayor en Misiones y Buenos Aires y menor en Chubut y La Pampa. Los varones estuvieron más parasitados que las mujeres solo en Buenos Aires. Las mayores frecuencias se encontraron en los preescolares de Buenos Aires y los escolares de Mendoza y Misiones (p < 0,05). La monoparasitosis fue más frecuente en Chubut (67,9%) y las parasitosis múltiples en Formosa (69,2%). Las especies más frecuentes en la mayoría de las provincias fueron Blastocystis sp. y Enterobius vermicularis. De los geohelmintos, Misiones presentó la mayor frecuencia (23,3%) y Mendoza la menor (0,6%); no se hallaron en Chubut, La Pampa y Salta. Buenos Aires, Formosa y Misiones presentaron una composición de especies similar, al igual que Chubut y La Pampa . Conclusiones. Las frecuencias de parasitosis en Argentina responden al complejo mosaico de variabilidad climática y socioeconómica del país y revelan una tendencia descendente de norte a sur y de este a oeste .

Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato affecting livestock, particularly sheep and goats. However, often this parasitosis is underestimated. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features and spatial distribution of CE in sheep and goats slaughtered in a hyperendemic Mediterranean area. Methods A survey was conducted in the Basilicata region (southern Italy) from 2014 to 2019. A total of 1454 animals (1265 sheep and 189 goats) from 824 farms were examined for hydatid cyst detection by visual inspection, palpation and incision of target organs. All the CE cysts were counted and classified into five morphostructural types (unilocular, multiseptate, calcified, caseous and hyperlaminated). Molecular analysis was performed on 353 cysts. For spatial analysis, a kriging interpolation method was used to create risk maps, while clustering was assessed by Moran’s I test. Results CE prevalence of 72.2% (595/824) and 58.4% (849/1454) was observed at the farm and animal levels, respectively, with higher values in sheep (62.9%) than goats (28.0%). The liver and lungs were the most frequently infected organs in both sheep and goats. Most of recovered cysts were of the calcified and multiseptate morphotypes. All the isolates were identified as E. granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1–G3). Spatial distribution showed a moderate clustering of positive animals. Conclusion The findings of this study can be used to better understand the eco-epidemiology of echinococcosis and to improve CE surveillance and prevention programs in regions highly endemic for CE. Graphical abstract