Hugo Leonardo Pereira Matsuchita - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Amanda de Faveri Pitz - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Francine Nesello Melanda - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Regina Bregano - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Francisco Jose de Oliveira - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Fabiana Maria Lopes Mori - Philadelphia University Center, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Maria Claudia de Menezes - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Idessania Costa - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Wander Pavanelli - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Monica Gomes - Basic Health Sciences Dept., State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil
Cristiane Colli - Basic Health Sciences Dept., State University of Maringa, Maringa, PR, Brazil
Emerson Venancio - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Ivete Conchon-Costa - Center of Biological Sciences, Pathological Sciences Dept., State University of Londrina, Rod, Londrina, PR, Brazil

Background and aims: We investigated the children of Parana State, Brazil the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and the associated factors involved in the transmission of intestinal parasites, and we genotyped the Giardia duodenalis isolates obtained. Methods: Fecal samples were analyzed by established microscopic methods. G. duodenalis positive samples were subjected to genotypic characterization by PCR amplification of sequences of the glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh) and by enzymatic digestion with the restriction enzyme NlaIV for classification of genotypes. Results: Of the ۸۷۷ samples tested, ۴۱% were positive for some intestinal parasitosis, the most common being the presence of protozoa (۸۷.۸%). Lack of basic sanitation and poor health education were associated for the intestinal parasite cases found, and the only associated factor for giardiasis was low family income. The G. duodenalis assemblages of gdh amplified samples were ۶۸.۶% B and ۳۱.۴% AII. Conclusion: These data demonstrate the importance of epidemiological studies for the development of effective strategies with the aim of decreasing the incidence of intestinal parasites in children. Moreover, these results contribute to our knowledge of G. duodenalis assemblages circulating in the world and also offer support for future work on the molecular and clinical aspects of giardiasis.

Giardiasis, Intestinal parasitosis, Epidemiology