Gastrointestinal parasites impose a great and often silent burden of morbidity and mortality on poor populations in developing countries. Veron, Dominican Republic (DR), is a rural city in the southeastern corner of the country where many Dominicans and Haitians migrate to for work in support and expansion of the tourist industry of Punta Cana. Few studies of the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections have been published in the DR. Presently, there is a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections throughout the poorest areas of the DR and Haiti. This study investigated the prevalence of GI protozoan and helminth parasites from children at the Rural Clinic of Veron during 2008. Participants provided a fecal sample that was examined microscopically for protozoan and helminth parasites using the fecal flotation technique to concentrate and isolate helminth ova and protozoan cysts. Of 108 fecal samples examined, 107 were positive for one or more parasites. Participant ages ranged from 2 to 15 years; 52 were males and 56 were females. Percent infection rates were 48.2% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 13.9% for Enterobius vermicularis, 24.1% for Entamoeba histolytica, and 22.2% for Giardia intestinalis. 9.3% had double infections. A survey of subject characteristics and risk factors was completed by each parent/guardian. Any plan to reduce GI parasites in children of this region will require a determined effort between international, national, and local health authorities combined with improved education of schools, child care providers, food handlers, and agricultural workers. A special effort must be made to reach out to immigrants and those not part of the public education system and to address microbial water quality. / Ph. D.

Access to sustainable sanitation systems is a determining factor in human health and economic development. However, more than a third of the world’s population lives without access to improved sanitation facilities. To meet the sanitation United Nations Millennium Development target, "halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation", a wide range of non conventional sanitation technologies have been implemented in developing countries, including waterless systems. These systems function by diverting urine away from feces and collecting, storing, and dehydrating the fecal material in watertight dehydration vaults. From a public health perspective, adequate inactivation of fecal pathogens in a sanitation system is essential before any use or disposal of fecal material. In rural areas of El Salvador, the solar toilet is capable of inactivating fecal pathogens and reducing the prevalence of parasitic infections in its users when compared to other waterless systems. Nevertheless, not all solar toilets are able to inactivate completely Ascaris spp. ova after the recommended storage period. Un-ionized ammonia (NH3) has the potential to inactivate pathogens in solutions and sludge, including Ascaris spp. ova. This study hypothesized that adding ammonia to the solar toilet will improve the technology since pathogen inactivation with ammonia could be potentiated by the alkaline medium and high temperatures achieved inside the toilet vaults. To evaluate this approach, a series of experiments in solution and biosolid were performed in a laboratory environment using physical and chemical parameters similar to those achieved by the solar toilet. Eggs of the swine Ascaris species, Ascaris suum, were used as model in all experiments. In ammonia solution, the parasite ova were stored for a period of three days and; in biosolid, the parasite ova were stored for two months. Urea was used as the source of ammonia in biosolid. In addition to the experiments with ammonia, normal viability and morphological changes within the parasite ova during incubation in vitro at 28 C° were investigated and described to complement current literature published. Results from the experiments in ammonia solution indicated that addition of ammonia (1% and 2%) could improve the system since the critical parameters that significantly reduced A. suum ova viability to zero in three days could be achieved by the solar toilet: temperature of 35°C or higher and pH value of 9.3. Results from the experiments in biosolid further showed that inactivation of A. suum ova was faster in samples exposed to urea and to temperatures higher than 28°C. All samples exposed to urea achieved 100% inactivation after 14 days (28°C), 3 days (35°C) and 24 hours (40°C and 45°C). Survival analysis of the data showed that there was a significant difference (p value <.0001) between the inactivation achieved in the samples exposed to urea (1% and 2%) and the samples not exposed to urea. A logistic regression analysis estimated the effect of Urea (Treatment, OR: 25.9), Temperature (OR: 1.8), and Storage (OR: 1.17) on inactivation. Results from the experiment with A. suum ova in normal incubation solution showed that the ova went through clearly identified morphological changes at different speed of development. Two new additional stages of development were identified (Pre-larva 1 and Pre-larva 2) and no significant statistical difference was observed among the viability reported early in incubation and the one reported after three weeks of in vitro incubation, indicating that early stages of development may be use as an alternative to reduce the time to report viability. The results of this study suggest that inactivation of Ascaris spp ova by ammonia is possible in fecal material stored in the solar toilet or any other dry toilet, if the following physical and chemical conditions are met: a closed vault with a minimum temperature of 28°C; an initial pH of 8.3, minimum moisture of 27.5%, and addition of 1% urea to the biosolid. At 28°C longer storage time would be required for 100% inactivation while at higher temperatures less time of storage would be necessary. A community intervention is recommended to include field conditions and human behavior as other predictors for Ascaris spp. inactivation by ammonia.

The aim of this thesis was to search for and identify human and/or animal intestinal parasite eggs in archeological material from medieval period in Brno and Prague. Concentration methods - sedimentation and flotation were used for parasite identification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of parasite DNA. The results were put into context with other data published in similar studies and research.

The advantages associated with the use of sewage sludge in agricultural land have motivated many countries to use sewage sludge for soil amendment purposes. South Africa’s deteriorated agricultural soil could benefit from this nutritional and cost effective product. However, the major shortcoming of sewage sludge is the presence of various pathogenic microorganisms. This raised concern amongst researchers with regard to public safety. The focus of this study, was to investigate the prevalence of pathogens in a crop grown in soil enriched with sewage sludge and to determine risk of infection thereof and to suggest appropriate management practice for sewage sludge use. Potato (Solanum tuberrosum), which is a high risk crop was used, to simulate a worst case scenario. Both the low metal sludge (LMS) and high metal sludge (HMS) were found to have associated diverse numbers of bacteria. Using culture-based technique, E.coli and Salmonella spp were found to persist in soil throughout the experimental period. One treatment option (LMS 16 tons/ha) showed a prevalence of these microorganisms in potatoes. Subsequent molecular studies based on amplification of 16S rRNA gene, yielded limited contamination of potatoes with enteric pathogens, however diverse types of opportunistic, pathogens (mostly environmental pathogens) were isolated from the potatoes. Enteric pathogens were isolated from the sewage treated soil in which these potatoes were grown. This study has indicated that growing even high risk crops, may lead to limited infestation of produce with primary pathogens. However, proper treatment of sewage sludge prior to use in agriculture is recommended to ensure public safety. The management requirements indicated in this study serve as recommended actions that can be implemented to ensure human safety with regard to sludge application to agricultural land. / Thesis (PhD (Water Utilisation))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-12T14:55:01Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE ANA LUCIA.pdf: 1458077 bytes, checksum: cbbeca0fd53136913a74cf4a72f10bf8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-12T14:55:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE ANA LUCIA.pdf: 1458077 bytes, checksum: cbbeca0fd53136913a74cf4a72f10bf8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-22 / CNPq / A resposta imune contra Giardia lamblia e as alergias, em área endêmica para infecções por helmintos e este protozoário. tem sido estudada. IgE e isotipos IgG anti-Ascaris lumbricoides (Asc) podem modular a atopia e a alergia. Neste estudo, avalia-se a presença de anticorpos IgE ,IgG1, IgG4 anti Asc e a produção de citocinas Th1 (IL-2/IFN-γ/TNF-α), Th2 (IL-4/IL-10), Th17 (IL-17/IL-6) em crianças infectadas por G.lamblia, sem infecção concomitante por helmintos, bem como a frequência de asma e/ou rinite. Para isso, um estudo caso-controle aninhado em um estudo transversal utilizando questionário padrão para a alergia de vias aéreas, análises coproparasitológicas. Realizou-se testes imunoenzimáticos para detecção de anticorpos anti-Asc e cultura de células de sangue para mensuração dos níveis de citocinas em sobrenadante e intracelular. A amostra foi composta por 211 crianças: 53 infectadas / asma/rinite (GA); 39 não infectadas/asma/rinite (A); 62 infectadas / não / asma / rinite (G); 57 não asma/rinite/não infectadas (NA+NG), com idades entre 2-10 anos. Infecção por G.lamblia foi acompanhado pelo aumento dos níveis de IgG1, mas não IgE ou IgG4.anti Asc. A produção de IL-6 foi semelhante entre os grupos, mas a produção de IL-2, IL-4 e IFN- foi maior em crianças infectadas. TNF-α foi produzido em níveis mais elevados em crianças alérgicas, enquanto que a IL-10 esteve em níveis elevados em crianças infectadas/asma/rinite. Em crianças infectadas com IgG1 anti-Asc positivo houve maior produção do TNF-α e IL-10 e menor frequência de alergia quando comparou com IgG1 anti-Asc negativo (OR = 0,392; IC = ,168-,914; p = 0,02). Para análise do coteúdo de citocinas intracelular, foi observada menor frequência de células CD4+/IFN-+ e CD4+/IL-17+ no grupo GA, quando comparado com o grupo NG+NA. Não houve diferença na frequência de células CD4+/IL-4+ entre os grupos. A frequência de células CD4+/IL-17+ foi inferior em crianças somente infectadas (G). Em conjunto, um perfil Th1/Th2 foi estimulado nos pacientes infectados, com IgG1 anti-Asc circulante e houve maior produção de IL-10 e TNF-α com frequência de alergia vias aéreas mais baixa. Além disso, estes achados apontam um perfil predominante de Th2 (IL-4 acompanhada de menor nível de IFN-) com baixo potencial inflamatório (menos IL-17) em crianças infectadas por G. lamblia com asma e/ou rinite. Estes resultados destacam a importância de uma melhor avaliação dos subtipos de IgG em A. lumbricoides e G. lamblia em áreas endêmicas, especialmente no que diz respeito à estratégia de prevenção ou dessensibilização para reações alérgicas. / Immunity to Giardia lamblia and allergies in endemic area for helminths/protozoa infections had been studied. Anti-Ascaris lumbirocides (Asc) IgE and IgG isotypes can modulate the atopic and allergy. In this study, we evaluate the presence of anti-Asc IgE, IgG4, IgG1 antibodies and Th1 (IL-2/IFN-γ/TNF-α), Th2 (IL-4/IL-10), Th17 (IL-17/IL-6) cytokine production in G. lamblia-infected children, without concomitant helminths infection, as well as asthma and/or rhinitis frequency. For this, a case-control nested in a cross-sectional study was conducted using standard questionnaire for airway allergy, parasitological analyses, immunoassay tests for anti-Asc antibodies and blood cell culture for cytokines measurement in supernatant and intracellular. The sample comprised 211 children (53 allergic/infected (GA); 39 allergic/uninfected (A); 62 non-allergic/infected (G); 57 non-allergic/non-infected (NA+NG) aged 2-10 years. Protozoan infection was accompanied by increased of anti-Asc IgG1 levels, but not IgE or IgG4. There were similar IL-6 production, but IL-2, IL-4 and IFN- were higher in infected children. TNF-α was produced in higher levels for allergic children, whereas the IL-10 was high levels in allergic/infected children. For positive anti-Asc IgG1 and allergic/infected children, higher TNF-α and IL-10 production and lower allergy frequency was observed when compared to negative anti-Asc IgG1 (OR=0.392; IC=0.168-0.914; p=0.02). For intracellur cytokine content, was observed lower frequency of IFN-+CD4+ and IL-17+CD4+ cells in the GA group when compared to the NG+NA group. There was no difference in IL-4+CD4+ cells frequency among the groups. The IL-17+CD4+ cells frequency was lower in infected children only (G). Take together, the a Th1/Th2 profile was stimulated in the infected patients, which with circulating anti-Asc IgG1 the production of IL-10 and TNF-α was strengthened and there was lower frequency airway allergy. Besides of this, the finding point out a predominant Th2 profile (IL-4 accompanied of less IFN-) with low inflammatory potential (less IL-17) in G. lamblia infected children with asthma and/or rhinitis. These findings highlight the importance of improved evaluation of IgG subtypes in A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia endemic areas, especially with regard to the prevention strategy or desensitization for allergic reactions.

1.Adult specimens of Ascaris lumbricoides of similar weights were incubated under nitrogen for 24 hours in a synthetic medium with 1 mM 2,2′-dipyridyl.2.Under these conditions, the viability of the parasites was not affected as evidenced by the amount of ATP in the whole sample and the mobility after mechanical stimulus.3.Incorporation of [14C]proline into non-collagenous proteins in the body wall and cuticle was reproducibly higher in 2,2′-dipyridyl-treated specimens than in untreated worms. Synthesis of collagenous hydroxyproline was inhibited in the cuticle and, to a greater extent, in the muscle layer.4.After transferring the specimens into a fresh medium enriched with 0·1 mM ferrous ions and incubated under 70% oxygen, the muscle collagen remained underhydroxylated. The synthesis of hydroxyproline, however, was almost completely normalized in the cuticle collagen.5.We interpret the data as further evidence of the existence of at least two different enzymes hydroxylating collagenous proline, one located in the subcuticle and the other in the muscle layer of Ascaris lumbricoides.

No description available.

No description available.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-07-28T12:35:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandra Santos Alencar.pdf: 4687289 bytes, checksum: 69f920d7a8dc062fcb65629d8888441f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-28T12:35:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandra Santos Alencar.pdf: 4687289 bytes, checksum: 69f920d7a8dc062fcb65629d8888441f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Researchers and veterinarians who work in swine production in Brazil have a good idea of existing health problems, especially in your own area of expertise. Due to the short production cycle and the clinical or subclinical character in many of the diseases that affect pigs, there was the possibility of using the slaughterhouse as an important source of epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of disease in flocks, making the monitoring of animals in slaughter houses one of the most important sources of information to obtain data to assess the health situation of production systems for pigs with the aim of obtaining statistics on incidence or prevalence of limiting diseases affecting pigs. Thus, this work was developed to analyze the association between the frequency of infection with helminths and coccidia and property characteristics, and evaluate lesions in organs of pigs in slaughterhouses of the metropolitan area of Recife and of the (“Zona da Mata”) of Pernambuco, Brazil. The work was done in three slaughterhouses of the inspection system state, located in the metropolitan area of Recife and in the (“Zona da Mata”) of Pernambuco state, from July 2008 to May 2009. A total of 715 pigs were analyzed, from eight industrial farms and three of subsistence. The count of eggs / oocysts in the feces was calculated and larval culture for diagnosis of infection by gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples was performed. Inspection of the viscera for examination of lesions and collection of material for histopathological examination were carried out. A questionnaire was used to ascertain the situation of the farms. The positivity for helminths was 2.7%(12/447), predominantly Strongyloidea type eggs. The presence ofoocysts was detected in 6.5% (29/447),including Eimeria spp and Isospora suis. The gross lesions predominated in lung with 43.8% (313/715), followed by 4.7% (35/715) for liver and kidneys with 2.6% (19/715), with higher frequencies respectively for pneumonia, milk spots and hydronephrosis. Histopathologically, granulomatous pneumonia predominated; in the livers with milk spots it was observed sinusoidal congestion, granulomatous inflammatory foci, peri-granulomatous hepatitis, and eosinophilic infiltration in the interlobular spaces, and in kidney, chronic interstitial nephritis. There was a significant association (p <0.05) with the variables related to management of facilities, particularly sanitary aspects, both the rates of parasitism by helminths and coccidia as to the frequency of milk spots and lung lesions. / Os pesquisadores e veterinários que atuam na suinocultura brasileira possuem uma boa idéia dos problemas sanitários existentes, especialmente na sua própria região de atuação. Em função do curto ciclo de produção e do caráter clínico ou subclínico de muitas das enfermidades que acometem os suínos, a utilização do matadouro surgiu como importante fonte de dados epidemiológicos sobre a incidência e prevalência de doenças nos rebanhos, tornando-se a monitoria de animais em abatedouros uma das mais importantes fontes de informações para a obtenção de dados para avaliação da situação da saúde de sistemas de produção de suínos, com a finalidade de obter estatística sobre incidências ou prevalências de doenças limitantes que afetam os suínos. Desta forma, desenvolveu-se este trabalho com o objetivo de analisar a associação entre a frequência de infecção por helmintos e coccídios e características das propriedades, e avaliar as lesões em órgãos de suínos em abatedouros da Região Metropolitana de Recife e Zona da Mata do estado de Pernambuco, Brazil. O trabalho foi realizado em três abatedouros inscritos no sistema de inspeção estadual, localizados na Região Metropolitana de Recife e Zona da Mata do estado Pernambuco, no período de julho de 2008 a maio de 2009. Analisaram-se 715 suínos, oriundos de oito granjas tecnificadas e três de subsistência. Realizou-se a contagem de ovos/oocistos nas fezes e coprocultura para diagnóstico da infecção por parasitos gastrintestinais em amostras fecais coletadas na linha de inspeção, além da inspeção das vísceras para verificação de lesões e coleta de material para exame histopatológico. Um questionário investigativo foi utilizado para conhecer a situaçãodas granjas. A positividade para helmintos foi de 2,7% (12/447), predominando ovos tipo Strongyloidea. A presença de coccídios foi detectada em 6,5% (29/447), incluindo Eimeria spp e Isospora suis. Dentre os achados macroscópicos predominaram as de pulmão com 43,8% (313/715), seguidas de 4,7% (35/715) para fígado e rins com 2,6% (19/715), com frequências respectivamente maiores para pneumonia, manchas leitosas e hidronefrose. Histologicamente, predominaram as pneumonias granulomatosas; nos fígados com manchas leitosas foram observados congestão sinusoidal, focos inflamatórios granulomatosos, perihepatite granulomatosa, e infiltração eosinofílica nos espaços interlobulares. Nos rins, nefrite intersticial crônica. Observou-se associação significativa (p < 0,05) com as variáveis relacionadas ao manejo das instalações, particularmente os aspectos higiênicos, tanto para as taxas de parasitismo por helmintos e coccídios quanto para a frequências de manchas leitosas e lesões pulmonares

Unsafe sanitation systems poses a risk for pathogen transmission, wherefore it is important to both inactivate pathogens present in human excreta and conduct safe sanitation systems from use to end-use. The Peepoo toilet, using ammonia sanitisation, have been suggested as a low-cost sanitation solution and is implemented in schools in Kibera, an urban slum in Kenya. This master thesis aim to study the inactivation efficiency of ammonia sanitisation when treating human excreta with urea, and to quantify the risks of exposure to microbial hazards from the Peepoo sanitation system using faecal indicator bacteria. Excreta was collected from four schools in Kibera. After adding urea to mimic the inactivation of the Peepoo in the laboratory, the inactivation rate was correlated to temperature and free ammonia concentration for Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.. Campylobacter spp. and E. coli both had a high inactivation rate even at low temperature and low addition of urea. Inactivation rate of Enterococcus spp. was lower and close to zero when 1.87 % urea was added for 15 °C. For Enterococcus spp. a lag-phase was observed, which was not affected by temperature but by concentration of free ammonia. For investigated bacteria, inactivation rate increased with increased temperature and free ammonia concentration. Along the Peepoo management chain, several hazardous events were identified such ascontamination during usage, handling and transportation. Sampling showed a higher contamination of Enterococcus spp. than of E. coli. Enterococcus spp. was used as a faecal indicator for Ascaris and E. coli was used as an indicator of E. coli O157:H7 in a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Through the QMRA, the risk of infection of Ascaris and E. coli O157:H7 for one exposure event was simulated based on a Exponential and a Beta-Poisson dose-response model respectively. The risk of infection of Ascaris was around 12 % regardless of where exposure occurs, if Ascaris eggs were present. For risk for infection with E. coli O157, the simulated risks were below 10 % at almost all exposure points, with most of the high risk exposure points located in the schools. There are risks of pathogen transmission in the Peepoo management chain that should be further investigated. Ammonia sanitisation permits a high degree of microbial inactivation but to secure a safe end-product it is recommended to be kept in room temperature (24.05±0.62 °C) or higher.