Prevalence of parasitosis and its influence on the intestinal microbiota of school children from rural communities in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: parasitosis is an infectious disease that puts the life of patients at risk, with higher prevalence in vulnerable groups, such as the infant population. Objective: For this reason, the present research aims to indicate the influence of parasites in the intestinal microbiota of Ecuadorian infants. Methods: the sample population consisted of 264 boys and girls, aged 5 to 10 years, belonging to rural communities of Chimborazo, Ecuador. Stool samples were collected for analysis by the coproparasitic examination technique, and for confirmation of results, 8 % of the total samples were analyzed by the Willis flotation concentration method. For the determination of microbiota, massively parallel NGS sequencing was performed, and statistical analysis was performed by chi-square to determine risk factors. Results: the prevalence of parasitosis in children was 44,32 %, the most prevalent species being: Entamoeba coli (58,86 %), Entamoeba histolytica (17,72 %), and Giardia lamblia (10,13 %). The presence of Trichuris trichiura eggs was identified by the Willis flotation method. The risk factors for intestinal parasitosis in the study population were: contact with pets, decay in the sanitary service infrastructure, lack of hygienic habits and garbage collection. The most prevalent bacterial population of the intestinal microbiota are: Prevotellaceae (55 %), Proteobacteria (47 %), Firmicutes (27 %), and Treponema (17 %). Conclusion: there is a significant relationship between predisposing factors and intestinal parasitosis, and it directly affects intestinal symbiosis.