Prevalence of intestinal parasites in a rural community in north-central Puerto Rico. 1990

G V Hillyer, and M Soler de Galanes, and S Lawrence
Department of Pathology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan 00936-5067.

A hematology and parasitological survey was conducted in Bayaney, Hatillo, a rural community located in north-central Puerto Rico. A surprising finding was the comparatively high proportion of eosinophilia observed (43 of 83 individuals: 52%). Of these same 83 individuals 16 were found positive for intestinal helminth eggs using the modified Ritchie formol-ether concentration method, which uses 1 gram of feces. When eosinophilia was in the 5 to 10% range, 35% were also found to be infected with one helminth parasite. When eosinophilia was in the 10 + % range, 75% of the individuals were also found to be infected with one helminth parasite. The helminth eggs or larvae found were: hookworm (n = 8), Strongyloides stercoralis (2), Trichuris trichiura (5), and one individual with a combined infection of hookworm and Trichuris. Fifteen of the 16 (94%) individuals with intestinal helminth infections had eosinophilia ranging from 5 to 40%. Of a subgroup of 5th grade school children, 11 of 35 (31%) had eosinophilia ranging from 5 to 17%, but only two of these also had helminth eggs (Trichuris). No intestinal protozoan parasites were found. Although all infected individuals were apparently asymptomatic, they were informed of the results of the survey and contacted for additional medical examination and treatment, where applicable. An ELISA for anti-S. mansoni egg antibodies using a cationic antigen fraction denoted CEF-6 was done with the serum of 44 individuals of which 20 were a high risk group because of frequent water contact. Only one (2%) was found positive by serology and this one was negative for S. mansoni eggs by coprology. Additional studies are warranted to elucidate the etiology of eosinophilia in the absence of helminth infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007411 Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Infections of the INTESTINES with PARASITES, commonly involving PARASITIC WORMS. Infections with roundworms (NEMATODE INFECTIONS) and tapeworms (CESTODE INFECTIONS) are also known as HELMINTHIASIS. Parasitic Intestinal Diseases,Disease, Parasitic Intestinal,Diseases, Parasitic Intestinal,Intestinal Disease, Parasitic,Parasitic Intestinal Disease
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011647 Puerto Rico An island in the Greater Antilles in the West Indies. Its capital is San Juan. It is a self-governing commonwealth in union with the United States. It was discovered by Columbus in 1493 but no colonization was attempted until 1508. It belonged to Spain until ceded to the United States in 1898. It became a commonwealth with autonomy in internal affairs in 1952. Columbus named the island San Juan for St. John's Day, the Monday he arrived, and the bay Puerto Rico, rich harbor. The island became Puerto Rico officially in 1932. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p987 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p436)
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004802 Eosinophilia Abnormal increase of EOSINOPHILS in the blood, tissues or organs. Eosinophilia, Tropical,Hypereosinophilia,Tropical Eosinophilia,Hypereosinophilias,Tropical Eosinophilias
D005260 Female Females
D006373 Helminthiasis Infestation with parasitic worms of the helminth class. Nematomorpha Infections,Infections, Nematomorpha,Helminthiases,Infection, Nematomorpha,Nematomorpha Infection
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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