Prevalência da esquistossomose mansônica em indivíduos com mais de 60 anos em Alagoas

Abstract

Schistosomiasis mansoni is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma mansoni. It is popularly known as “water belly”, “schistosomiasis” or “snail disease”. This parasitosis has its epidemiological profile established on the basis of a number of factors such as the biological, ecological, cultural and socio-economic factors of a society. In individuals over the age of 60, it attracts particular attention due to the immunological and physiological aspects characteristic of age. In this context, the aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni in this age group in three regions located in the endemic area of the state of Alagoas. These are the Vale do Reginaldo and Vergel do Lago neighborhoods in the municipality of Maceió and the village of Vila Nova in the municipality of Viçosa. This study used non-probabilistic convenience sampling, with a total of 319 fecal samples collected at the different points. Of these, 19.4% (62/319) samples were collected in the Vale do Reginaldo neighborhood, 27.2% (87/319) in the Vergel do Lago neighborhood, in Maceió - AL, and 53.2% (170/319) in the Vila Nova village, in Viçosa - AL. However, of the total samples collected, 22.2% (71/319) were from people over 60 years old, of which 29.5% (21/71) were from the Vale do Reginaldo neighborhood, 46.4% (33/71) from the Vergel do Lago neighborhood and 23.9% (17/71) from the Vila Nova community. The samples were processed using the Kato-Katz, HPJ and Helmintex methods. Of the 71 fecal samples analyzed from the study's target population, a frequency of S. mansoni infection of 19.7% (14/71) was identified. The results obtained in Vila Nova indicated a 58.8% (10/17) positivity rate in at least one of the techniques used, the Vergel do Lago neighborhood showed a positivity rate of 12.1% (4/33), and in the Vale do Reginaldo neighborhood there were no positive samples in any of the techniques. In addition, other enteroparasites were found during the parasitological tests, with a prevalence of 88.2% (15/17) in Vila Nova, 36.3% (12/33) in Vergel do Lago and 42.8% (9/21) in Vale do Reginaldo. In summary, this survey should contribute to expanding knowledge about the distribution of schistosomiasis mansoni among the elderly in these 3 endemic regions of Alagoas, and reinforce the importance of actions aimed at both prevention and treatment of the disease.