Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Feb;104(2):122-8. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.07.024. Epub 2009 Sep 22.
Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most widespread of human infections in developing countries, and children are the most vulnerable. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia, as well as prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminths in children attending pre-school or day-care centres in Kafue District, Zambia. Single stool samples were collected from 403 children from 10 pre-schools and were subjected to duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears to identify and quantify helminths. A commercial immunofluorescence kit was used to identify Cryptosporidium- and Giardia-positive samples. The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 17.9%. Ascarislumbricoides was found in 12.0%, hookworm in 8.3%, Taenia spp. in 0.9%, Hymenolepisnana in 0.6% and Schistosomamansoni in 0.3%. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia was 28.0 and 29.0%, respectively, with more girls infected with Giardia (33.8%) than boys (22.7%) (P=0.02). Significant differences in infections with A. lumbricoides and Cryptosporidium were observed between the various pre-schools (P < 0.001). These findings indicate that intestinal parasites are prevalent in children enrolled in pre-schools in Zambia. Future studies should explore local factors associated with transmission of these infections, and consequently provide the necessary health education to parents and teachers.
肠道寄生虫感染是发展中国家最广泛的人类感染之一，儿童是最易感染的人群。本研究旨在确定赞比亚卡富埃地区的学前或日托中心儿童中，原虫隐孢子虫和贾第虫的流行情况，以及肠道蠕虫的流行率和感染强度。从 10 所学前学校的 403 名儿童中采集了单份粪便样本，并进行了两次加藤厚涂片，以鉴定和定量检测蠕虫。使用商业免疫荧光试剂盒来鉴定隐孢子虫和贾第虫阳性样本。寄生虫感染的总流行率为 17.9%。发现蛔虫感染率为 12.0%，钩虫感染率为 8.3%，带绦虫感染率为 0.9%，曼氏血吸虫感染率为 0.3%，囊虫感染率为 0.6%。隐孢子虫和贾第虫的总流行率分别为 28.0%和 29.0%，感染贾第虫的女孩（33.8%）多于男孩（22.7%）（P=0.02）。不同学前学校之间在感染蛔虫和隐孢子虫方面存在显著差异（P < 0.001）。这些发现表明，肠道寄生虫在赞比亚的学前学校儿童中普遍存在。未来的研究应探讨与这些感染传播相关的当地因素，并为家长和教师提供必要的健康教育。
