Occurrence of Intestinal Parasitosis among Schoolchildren in Lago Azul, municipality of Novo Gama, Goiás, Brazil

Intestinal parasites are a worldwide public health problem that affects all age groups being more frequent in children. In this study we assessed the occurrence of intestinal parasites among schoolchildren aged four to nine at the Municipal School Ulysses Guimarães, Novo Gama Township, GO, Brazil, and attempted to establish associated risk factors. Fecal samples collected from 60 schoolchildren were analysed employing the Hoffman-Pons-Janer and Ritchie parasitological methods. Enteroparasites or commensal species were detected in 33 samples revealing an overall prevalence rate of 55%. Giardia lamblia was present in 42% of the school children, while Entamoeba coli was identified in 69%, Endolimax nana in 9%, Enterobius vermicularis in 6%, Strongyloides stercoralis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar in 3%, each. In view of these results, educational measures for the students, parents and teachers were taken, as well as referral of positive children for free treatment.


Introduction
Enteroparasitic protozoans and helminths are an important worldwide public health problem. They are endemic in various regions of the globe, and more frequent in developing countries.
The problem affects all age groups, with higher prevalence among children. These infections may cause gastrointestinal disorders and, in cases of high burden, even detain physical and cognitive child development [1,2]. In tropical and subtropical regions, like Brazil, environmental factors such as high annual average temperatures combined with a lack of structure in sanitation in poor areas provide ideal conditions for the full development of the life cycle of many species of enteroparasites [3,4]. Giardia lamblia is the most common intestinal protozoa in in Brazil, and helminths like Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura are frequently present in low-income communities [5,6]. Yet, other parasitic diseases such as amebiasis, schistosomiasis, hymenolepiasis, taeniasis, ancylostomiasis, enterobiasis and strongyloidiasis contribute to aggravate the epidemiology of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the country [7,8,9,10].
Human intestinal parasite infections generally occur by the fecal-oral route, with the ingestion of cysts, oocysts, eggs or larvae present in contaminated food or water, or via active larvae penetration through the skin or mucous membranes [11,12].
Inadequate sanitation, low socio-economic and cultural levels, lack of health guidance and poor hygiene are directly related to the intensity of infections and spread of enteroparasites.
Though preventable and treatable, these NTDs often represent a burden to public health and the economy of low and middle-income countries (LMIC occurrence of chronic debilitating conditions that could be avoided with relatively simple public health measures [13].
Acute or chronic diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramps, epigastric pain, appetite loss or perversion, and anemia are the most common symptoms of intestinal parasitosis [14,15]. Clinical manifestations of enteroparasitic infections depend directly on the pathogenicity of the parasite, the host immune response, and the parasite load [16]. Among schoolchildren, parasitic infections sign to a lack of effective sanitation and educational policies, evidencing the necessity of public information about the habits and conditions contributing to the transmission of NTDs [17]. School-aged children are often the main targets for parasites due to the constant exposure to reinfection conditions [18].
The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of enteroparasites among 4-9 year old school children from the borough of Lago Azul, municipality of Novo Gama, Goiás, Brazil, in an attempt to contribute for the assessment of the epidemiological profile in the area, and for the implementation, by competent organs, of control and prevention measurements for promoting heath and a better life quality.

Material and Methods
The study was conducted between August and September of cysts, oocysts and helminthic eggs or larvae, routinely employed and widely described in the literature [22,23].
Six slides of each sample were prepared: three for the spontaneous sedimentation procedure, and three for the centrifugation method.
Each sample was analysed by two investigators (researcher/ collaborator) totalling 720 slides observed. Biosecurity standards were strictly followed in the diagnosis and slides preparation [22,23]. Enteroparasites and commensal species were identified according to the morphology and size of specimens as described in the literature [23]. Statistical analyses were performed by the Fisher method and Chi-square test (c2), using the GraphPad InStat 3. The results were significant when p ≤ 0.05. Once concluded the samples analysis, positive children's parents/guardians were referred to a medical facility at the Lago Azul municipality (Novo Gama, GO, Brazil), with an indication by the researcher, to be provided with free medication for the diagnosed parasitic diseases.

Results
Of the 60 stool samples examined, 35  year (41 samples), hence concentrating higher rates of positivity in this band. Thus, 60.6% of positive specimens (20/33) were from four to six old children, but, considering the absolute number of samples analysed in three tracks: four to six years; six to eight years and over eight years, there was no statistically significant difference in the age distribution (Table 2).        Our data highlight the need for more resources and governmental initiatives to enhance the quality of public services offered to poor communities exposed to the risk of infectious and parasitic diseases.

Discussion
As parasitic infections intensity is expected to vary based on the degree of exposure to risk factors, our questionnaire analysis of domestic habits (Table 4) subsidized the well-known correlation between the lack of some hygienic habits like washing hands before meals, nail gnaw custom, no shoes or drinking tap water where the public services are not satisfactory were shown to be present in infected children of the community.
In our survey, the use of two stool examination methods proved efficient for the detection of the distinct parasitic forms. As demonstrated by other authors, the use of techniques such as spontaneous sedimentation and sedimentation by centrifugation are easy to perform and inexpensive routine procedures that allow a complete "ova and parasite examination" for parasites [25,26]. The positivity rate of 55% observed in 60 stool specimens analysed includes parasites and commensal species. Protozoan cysts were the most frequent parasitic forms detected, evidencing Entamoeba coli, G. lamblia, Endolimax nana and E. histolytica/dispar infections among the schoolchildren analysed, as frequently observed in surveys carried out in areas of equivalent socioeconomic pattern [27]. Eggs and larvae of the nematodes E. vermicularis and S. stercoralis were also seen, as well as A. lumbricoides, E. coli, (end point only. Eliminate: ", and G. lamblia). Similar surveys carried out in different regions of Brazil, have detected school children's enteroparistes prevalences that vary from one region to another [28]. Progress towards the control of parasitic infections depends largely on measures that, besides respecting the peculiarities of each region, are sustainable and offer feasible solutions for reducing the exposure to well known risk factors.
Regarding differences by gender , Machado et al [29] observed a 2.7 times higher risk to acquire intestinal parasites in male children than in females. In our survey no such significant differences were detected.
Concerning the occurence of commensal species that colonize the human intestines, we found a positivity rate of 78%, being Entamoeba coli the most frequent organisms, present in 69% of the stool samples analysed. Endolimax nana cysts were observed in 9% of the examinated material. These species are considered non-pathogenic to the host, but it is important to describe them because they reflect the environmental problems of the target area [30]. The presence of such commensal species evidence water/soil contamination with fecal material from humans or other animals.
Protozoan cysts in the water used in households have important implications for the epidemiology of parasitic diseases [31]. In places where fecal contamination of water is present, species of pathogenic parasites most likely are present [32,33]. These wells are, in many cases, built in disagreement with the technical safety standards causing the water to be contaminated with sewage. Besides, the habit of drinking tap water is a risk factor in the region, since flaws in the water supply networks are not uncommon [32]. Based on these factors, we believe that the inhabitants of that community are constantly exposed to parasitic infections that can pose great impact on the local public health. Intestinal parasites are common in school age children due to sanitary problems, inadequate educational and socioeconomic conditions. Thus, it is of fundamental importance the implementation of basic sanitation and guidance on hygiene and health education campaigns, which must be carried out mainly among children, in order to make progress and sediment the general population to good hygiene and health at the household and family environment, preventing diseases that affect the quality of life at the individual and collective level.

Conclusion
The occurrence of enteroparasites and commensal species were high among the examined schoolchildren. Therefore, the results point to a need to implement preventive and educational measures urgent among school goers' public school in Novo Gama, GO, Brazil.
Our data can help to guide health infrastructure projects aiming to improve the quality of life and reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites prevalent in the region. Conduct educational campaigns that promote behavioural changes could be valuable in controlling these infections among children and other inhabitants of Lago Azul.