Background: Infections by intestinal parasites are a major public health problem worldwide, especially among children in developing countries. As the prevalence of parasitic infection is different among and within countries, there is a need for periodical prevalence evaluation to appropriate control strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during October 2013 to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated factors among school children attending "Juan Lefont Alonso" primary school from Jagüey Grande municipality in Matanzas province, Cuba. Three fresh faecal samples were collected from each child in different days. Parasite detection was achieved using direct wet mount, formalin-ether concentration, Ziehl-Neelsen permanent staining and Kato-Katz techniques. One hundred and seven children of third grade (8 to 9 years old, 56 males and 51 females) were included in the study after an informed consent form was signed by their parents or legal guardians. Questionnaire and observation were used to identify sociodemographic and associated factors. Data were analysed using EpiInfo 6.0 software. Results: Fifty-five out of 107 screened schoolchildren (51.4%) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. The most common parasites were Giardia duodenalis (39.2%; 42/107), Bastocystis sp (28%; 30/107), Trichuris trichuria (23.4%; 25/107) and Ascaris lumbricoides (19.6%; 21/107). Parasitic infection was similar by gender or place of residence. The risk of intestinal parasitic infection was significantly associated with the use of unboiled drinking water, and with bad hand washing practices as well as with the presence of diarrhoea and abdominal pain (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The present study indicated that intestinal parasitic infections are common in this school and could negatively influence the quality of life of the community where the centre is located. In order to effectively reduce these infections, a multi-sectoral effort is needed.

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Background: Although IgA endomysial antibodies (EMA) and tissue transglutaminase (TG) are sensitive and specific serologic tests for the diagnosis of celiac disease, there is limited information on the association of the magnitude of antibody level with the severity of the histological abnormalities of the intestine. Purpose: To determine if EMA and TG titers correlate with the severity of histological changes in patients with celiac disease. Methods: We identified 148 children from our laboratory database that had EMA, TG and intestinal biopsies performed. IgA EMA was determined by indirect immunofluorescence with results expressed as a dilutional titer with positivity determined at 1:5. IgA TG was determined by an enzyme linked human immunosorbent ELISA assay with results expressed in standardized units. A modified Marsh histological grading system was used to describe the duodenal biopsies: Type 0 normal, I increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), II hyperplastic crypts, IIIa partial villus atrophy, IIIb subtotal villus atrophy, IIIc total villous atrophy. Results: Mean values for EMA (Table 1) and TG (Table 2) progressively increased with increasing Marsh score. Conclusion:There was considerable variability in EMA and TG levels for each Marsh grade, so that an individual level could not be utilized to predict histological severity. The data show that as a group, increasing severity of the histological lesion in celiac disease was associated with increased levels of both IgA EMA and TG antibodies.