Pediculosis y otras ectoparasitosis en una población infantil urbana del nordeste argentino

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate infant pediculosis and other ectoparasitosis in susceptible hosts, presents in the domestic environment of Santa Ana de los Guacaras town, in Corrientes, Argentina. Forty four houses were polled. One hundred and forty eight children between 1 and 14 years-old and eighty domestic animals were parasitological evaluated (54 dogs, 21 cats, three rabbits and two pigs). A range degree of contact between children and animals was established. Direct observation of the environment and the application of semi structured polls were performed to collect the data. The global frequency of infant ectoparasitosis was 58.8% (87/148). Pediculus capitis was the most frequent ectoparasite, present in 56.8% of the population, Tunga penetrans in 12.2% and Pulex irritans in 4.3%. Two children infested with Ctenocephalides felis and two with Rhipicephalus sanguineus were observed. The animals presented infestation with R. sanguineus, C. felis, Amblyomma tigrinum, T. penetrans and P. irritans. All the children with lice presented confirmed active pediculosis. Same fleas and ticks species infested human and domestics animals to prove the antropozoonotic character of these arthropods. The infestation was verified in scholar an in less than five years-old, it's necessary to develop control strategies in a short term. © 2007 Sociedad Chilena de Parasitología. Organo Oficial de la Federación Latinoamericana de Parasitólogos.