Geohelmintos

Abstract

Millions of people in in rural areas and deprived tropical and subtropical regions are infected by soil-transmitted helminths: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), and Strongyloides stercoralis. Large migratory flows have made their worldwide distribution easier. Besides being debilitating and producing a significant mortality, they cause high morbidity, leading to physical and intellectual impairment in millions of children who live in poverty. Along with the use of benzimidazoles (albendazole and mebendazole), large-scale international campaigns for treatment and prevention have decreased the number of affected individuals. However, re-infestations and benzimidazole-resistance are frequent, so there needs to be awareness about the importance and consequences of these neglected parasites.

Biological role of excretory–secretory proteins in endemic parasites of Latin America and the Caribbean

“…On the other hand, ascariasis is the most frequent intestinal parasitosis in humans; it affects about 800 million people, with children the most heavily affected group (Prieto-Perez et al ., 2016). Ascariasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world (Beyhan et al ., 2016; Melo et al ., 2016; Shalaby & Shalaby, 2016); it has been estimated that 514 million people in LAC live in a risk zone for ascariasis, and the disease shows a prevalence of 16% in the open population.…”

Perfil epidemiológico das parasitoses intestinais em moradores de uma comunidade da Ilha de Boipeba, Bahia, Brasil

“…A partir do modelo final ajustado para a infecção por Trichuris trichiura, o perfil sexo feminino, idade menor que 45 anos, não lavar frutas e verduras e não dispor de pia no sanitário, apresentou a maior risco para a infecção pelo helminto. Esse perfil corresponde ao relatado na literatura, sendo a trichuríase mais frequente em crianças e adultos jovens de populações pobres vulneráveis 9,36,44 ,. Estudos no Brasil 37,39,42,45,46 e na África 47,48 , ressaltam a importância do saneamento e controle da qualidade da água, em especial para ingestão, na prevenção de doenças, principalmente parasitoses intestinais.…”

Frequency of intestinal parasites in patients attended at a university hospital in Maceió, state of Alagoas, Brazil

“…This fact is associated with the geographical, climatic, social and economic conditions in the country. In the last 30 years, it has been observed in the country, a decrease in the prevalence of these parasites, however, in some regions infection rates are still close to 30.0%, mainly the occurrence of monoparasitism (PRIETO-PÉREZ et al, 2016).…”