Title
Socio-demographic determinants associated with blastocystis infection in arequipa, Peru
Date Issued
01 February 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Salazar-Sánchez R.S.
Vásquez-Huerta V.
Martínez-Barrios E.
Publisher(s)
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Abstract
Blastocystis is one of the most common protozoa in the human gut and a zoonotic organism related to unsanitary living conditions. This protozoon shows a broad distribution, unclear symptomatology, and undefined pathogenicity. In Peru, studies report the presence of Blastocystis in many regions, but the highest prevalence levels are reported in Arequipa. The aim of this study was to link Blastocystis infection with social determinants of health. We recruited and surveyed 232 infected and uninfected participants from houses with at least one Blastocystis-infected person. All samples were concentrated by spin concentration method in saline solution, examined by wet mount under light microscopy and confirmed with methylene-stained stool smear. We found a human Blastocystis prevalence of 51.3% in the study sample. We also found statistical associations between Blastocystis infection and peri-urban location in the city as well as the use of alternative non-domiciliary water supplies, suggesting these are risk factors for human Blastocystis infection.
Start page
700
End page
707
Volume
104
Issue
2
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Parasitología
Gastroenterología, Hepatología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85100904295
PubMed ID
Source
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
ISSN of the container
00029637
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus