Prevalence and associated risk factors for Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections among children of northwest Mexico: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are responsible for gastrointestinal infections worldwide. Contaminated food, feces, drinking water and predictors such as poverty, cultural and behavioral aspects have been involved in their transmission. Published studies about these infections are limited in Mexico. Cananea, Sonora is located in northwest Mexico and is one of the regions with the lowest marginalization index in the Sonora state. However, its rate of gastrointestinal infections increased from 48.7/1000 in 2003 to 77.9/1000 in 2010 in the general population. It was estimated that the prevalence of giardiasis can range from 20 to 30% in the Sonoran childhood population. However, the prevalence of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are unknown in Cananea, Sonora and they are likely contributing to its gastrointestinal infections rates.MethodsA total of 173 children (average age 8.8 ± 2.8 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements and stool analysis were performed. Socioeconomic, cultural and symptomatology information were collected. The association between the risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was analyzed by multivariate analysis using the STATA/SE package at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.ResultsMore than half of the children (n = 103, 60%) had intestinal parasitic infections. Cryptosporidium spp. showed the highest prevalence (n = 47, 27%), which was followed by G. intestinalis (n = 40, 23%). Children with giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis had lower H/A and BMI/A Z scores than children who were free of these infections. Children with giardiasis were at higher risk (OR = 4.0; 95%CI = 1.11–13.02; p = 0.030) of reporting abdominal pain, and children who drank tap water were at higher risk (OR = 5.0; 95% CI = 1.41–17.20; p = 0.012) of cryptosporidiosis.ConclusionsThis was the first epidemiological study conducted in children in the region of Cananea, Sonora in northwest Mexico. The findings revealed a high prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, and their interactions with multiple risk factors were investigated. This study suggested that giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis may play an important role as causative factors of gastrointestinal diseases in the study region. Regional authorities must analyze water for human consumption to search for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis.

Risk Factors and Spatial Clusters of Cryptosporidium Infection among School-Age Children in a Rural Region of Eastern China

“…Two studies performed in Ethiopia reported that the prevalence was 7.3% and 4.6% among school children, respectively [ 23 , 24 ]. Quihui-Cota et al reported a high prevalence of 27% among children in Mexico [ 25 ]. The heterogeneity of the previously documented prevalence might to some extent be due to the socioeconomic level of the study site, the immune status of the targeted groups, and the sensitivity of the examining techniques.…”

“…In addition, we did not observe any association between “supplied with piped water” and Cryptosporidium infection. Previous studies revealed that tap water was a risk factor for Cryptosporidium infection in other regions [ 25 , 30 ]. In our study, supplied drinking water covered most of the households.…”

The epidemiology of intestinal parasites: evaluation of five years

“…Meksika'da yapılan bir araştırmada, çocuklarda %23 oranında G. intestinalis infeksiyonu görüldüğü bildirilmiştir (9) . Schmidlin ve ark.…”

Salvia connivens, a Source of Bioactive Flavones with Amoebicidal and Giardicidal Activity

“…Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are two protozoa that produce enteric infections with the common symptom of dysentery and acute diarrhea, which out constitute a serious public health problem in tropical regions around the globe, and are considered endemic in several countries of the African, American, and Asian continents (Marie and Petri 2014;Saidin et al 2019). Annually, each protozoan causes 50 and 280 million of cases respectively, and 100,000 deaths, being mainly affecting children younger than 10 years old (Rojas et al 2016;Quihui-Cota et al 2017;Ibañez-Cervantes et al 2018). The treatment of these kinds of infections is based on the use of synthetic antiprotozoal agents such as metronidazole, nitazoxanide, and tinidazole; however, these drugs have several adverse effects, as well as possible risks of carcinogenesis and mutagenesis with the use of metronidazole (Hayat et al 2016).…”