Related Experiment Videos
Intestinal parasites in metropolitan Toronto day-care centres
Insights
Intestinal parasites like Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia lamblia are common in Toronto day-care centers. A 1981 survey found 19% of children and 14% of staff infected, highlighting the need for awareness.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Day-care centers are environments where intestinal parasites can spread easily among young children.
- Previous studies have indicated the presence of various intestinal protozoa in childcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children and staff at day-care centers in Toronto.
- To identify risk factors associated with parasitic infections in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1981 involving 900 children and 146 staff from 22 randomly selected day-care centers.
- Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites.
Main Results:
- Overall, 19% of children and 14% of staff were infected with intestinal parasites.
- Dientamoeba fragilis (8.6% children, 4.0% staff) and Giardia lamblia (7.8% children, 2.0% staff) were the most prevalent.
- Infection rates were not correlated with age, sex, duration in care, or gastrointestinal symptoms, but Dientamoeba fragilis was associated with cat ownership.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal protozoa, specifically Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia lamblia, are endemic in Toronto day-care centers.
- Immigrant children and those with parents from industrialized countries showed higher infection rates.
- Findings underscore the importance of surveillance and control measures for parasitic infections in childcare settings.
Abstract:
In 1981, 900 children (aged 3 months to 10 years) and 146 staff attending 22 day-care centres in metropolitan Toronto chosen at random provided a stool specimen in a survey for intestinal parasites. Of the children, 4% to 36% were infected in 20 of 22 centres. Overall, 19% of the children and 14% of the staff had intestinal parasites: 8.6% and 4.0% respectively had Dientamoeba fragilis, and 7.8% and 2.0% respectively had Giardia lamblia. The highest prevalence of dientamebiasis was in the 7- to 10-year-olds, whereas giardiasis was detected most frequently in the 6-year-olds. Infection with intestinal parasites was not correlated with age, sex, duration in the day-care centre, dog ownership, travel history, gastrointestinal symptoms or the proportion of children in the day-care centre who were born in less developed countries. Immigrant children and children of parents born in industrialized countries (including Canada) were more likely to be infected than were children born in Canada of parents from the developing world. Dientamebiasis was associated with cat ownership. Thus, intestinal protozoa--in particular, D. fragilis and G. lamblia--are endemic in Toronto day-care centres.