Search

Solid waste produced by modern society, together with lack of basic sanitation and poor hygiene practices result in risks to public health. 46 workers from the cities of Pelotas, Canguçu, Morro Redondo, Rio Grande and Capão do Leão were evaluated by parasitological examination of two fecal samples by Ritchie, Hoffman, Pons and Janer- HPJ techniques and Sheather method as well as a consented interview. 47.8% (22/46) of the examined individuals were parasitized, with no significant difference between both groups (garbage dump and recycling volunteers). Most of the samples evaluated presented forms of helminths (68.2%) while protozoa were found in 31.8% of the samples. Helminths found, and their respective prevalence were: Ascaris lumbricoides (31.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides/Trichuris trichiura (18.2%), Trichuris trichiura (9.1%), Taenia sp (4.6%) and Trichuris trichiura/Ancylostomids (4.6%). Protozoa were: Giardia intestinalis (13, 6%), Entamoeba spp. (9.1%) and Endolimax nana (9.1%). Monoparasitism was observed in 77.3% of the cases. Most of the population consisted of women, 21-40 years of age, low educational level and monthly income less than one minimum wage. The majority of the workers did not use protective equipment. Multivariate analysis revealed that infection from parasites in scavengers who lived near open sewers was 6.65 times higher (p = 0.0065) than in the other workers. In the localities studied, our results showed that the risk of acquiring parasitic infections was related to poor sanitation and the lack of sewerage systems; and not actually due to handling these types of waste. The parasitological indices found are similar to those described previously in other parts of the country.

Toxoplasma gondii is the agent of a protozoan zoonotic disease of public health importance,toxoplasmosis, which may have serious consequences on the infected species. Cats are definitivehosts of the protozoan, and once infected, shed oocysts that sporulate in the environment and maybecome a source of infection for humans. The results reported by different authors about contactwith pet cats as a risk factor for human infection are controversial. In this study, serum samples from108 individuals who own or owned cats, and from 110 individuals who do not like cats and neverowned one, were analyzed for the presence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii through IndirectImmunofluorescence (IFI). An epidemiological questionnaire was also applied. The seroprevalencewas 39.8% for the 108 individuals who owned cats and 26.4% for the 110 individuals who neverowned cats. The analysis of risk factors showed significant association between seropositivity andthe variables: aged over 31 years (p=0.0000), contact with cats (p=0.0143), and handling of rawmeat (p=0.0290). Our findings indicate that even in a population with a high education level, contactwith cats may double the chances of infection with T. gondii, when the animals are not kept indoorsand under adequate sanitary conditions.