DETERMINACIÓN DE PARÁSITOS EN PASAMANOS DE BUSES URBANOS DE PORTOVIEJO

Abstract

Intestinal parasites are among the most common diseases worldwide; intestinal helminths and protozoa are part of the parasites of interest in humans, their transmission mechanisms being diverse. Recently, various types of fomites have been investigated, which may participate in the transmission of intestinal parasites. To evaluate whether the frequent use of public transportation can contribute to the acquisition of parasites, it was decided to study the buses of public transportation routes in Portoviejo. 100 samples obtained from handrails and grab bars from 2 different cooperatives were evaluated. The procedure described by Traviezo et al. was used, where a swab soaked in sterile saline solution is dragged on the surfaces of the handrails and handles, to then be introduced again in said solution. Subsequently, this material is centrifuged and the pellet is checked microscopically with saline and Lugol. Three species of intestinal parasites were identified in the handrails of the buses studied, representing a 6% parasite prevalence. Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana cysts were detected; as well as vacuolar forms of Blastocystis spp. The same prevalence of enteroparasites was detected in cooperatives "A" and "B"; the highest number of positive samples was detected on the right handrails and at noon