An external quality assessment in coproparasitology was carried out in 77 laboratories from Havana City. A questionnaire and ten plastic vials with different intestinal parasites in a small nylon bag, duly sealed, were sent to each laboratory. Answers were collected during the 72 hours after delivery. Results were analyzed by means of a computer program. The majority of the laboratories (70%) passed the test; the municipalities with the worst scores in the province were Lisa, Marianao, and Habana del Este. Better results were obtained among technologists working only in parasitology than those who were also performing other laboratory work, and better averages were observed in hospitals than in polyclinics. The best identified intestinal protozoan was Giardia lamblia and the worst identified was Blastocystis hominis (with a 61% mistake rate), followed by Endolimax nana (24.6%), and Entamoeba histolytica (22%). Among helminths, the best identified was Trichuris trichiura (9.2% mistake rate) and the highest percentage of incorrect diagnoses was for Taenia sp. and Fasciola hepatica (both with 66.2%). Taking into account these results, we feel it is necessary to provide training in parasitology among these laboratories.

Se realizó un estudio sobre la calidad del diagnóstico coproparasitológico en 77 laboratorios de la red de salud pública de la provincia Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. El procedimiento se basó en la entrega a cada jefe de laboratorio de un modelo de encuesta, y una bolsa de nylon conteniendo 10 viales plásticos con distintos especímenes parasitarios, preservados en formaldehído al 7%. Recogidos los resultados en las primeras 72 horas después de su entrega, se realizó la evaluación mediante una escala de puntuación establecida. La mayoría de los laboratorios aprobaron (70%); sin embargo aún existen centros, sobre todo policlínicas, con calificaciones deficientes. Los municipios con resultados más desfavorables fueron, Lisa, Marianao y Habana del Este, alcanzándose mejores resultados en los hospitales que en las policlínicas. En el análisis de Protozooarios, el mejor diagnosticado fué Giardia lamblia, con solo un centro que erró al identificarlo. Las mayores dificultades se presentaron en Blastocystis hominis con 61% de fallas, Endolimax nana, con 24,6%, y Entamoeba histolytica, con 22%. Entre los helmintos, la mayor aprobación fué en Trichuris trichiura y los errores diagnósticos predominaron con Fasciola hepatica y Taenia sp., ambos con 66,2% de fallas. Dados los resultados obtenidos, hemos organizado una intervención educativa en la red de laboratorios de la provincia.

An external quality assessment in coproparasitology was carried out in 77 laboratories from Havana City. A questionnaire and ten plastic vials with different intestinal parasites in a small nylon bag, duly sealed, were sent to each laboratory. Answers were collected during the 72 hours after delivery. Results were analyzed by means of a computer program. The majority of the laboratories (70%) passed the test; the municipalities with the worst scores in the province were Lisa, Marianao, and Habana del Este. Better results were obtained among technologists working only in parasitology than those who were also performing other laboratory work, and better averages were observed in hospitals than in polyclinics. The best identified intestinal protozoan was Giardia lamblia and the worst identified was Blastocystis hominis (with a 61% mistake rate), followed by Endolimax nana (24.6%), and Entamoeba histolytica (22%). Among helminths, the best identified was Trichuris trichiura (9.2% mistake rate) and the highest percentage of incorrect diagnoses was for Taenia sp. and Fasciola hepatica (both with 66.2%). Taking into account these results, we feel it is necessary to provide training in parasitology among these laboratories.

Se realizó un estudio sobre la calidad del diagnóstico coproparasitológico en 77 laboratorios de la red de salud pública de la provincia Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. El procedimiento se basó en la entrega a cada jefe de laboratorio de un modelo de encuesta, y una bolsa de nylon conteniendo 10 viales plásticos con distintos especímenes parasitarios, preservados en formaldehído al 7%. Recogidos los resultados en las primeras 72 horas después de su entrega, se realizó la evaluación mediante una escala de puntuación establecida. La mayoría de los laboratorios aprobaron (70%); sin embargo aún existen centros, sobre todo policlínicas, con calificaciones deficientes. Los municipios con resultados más desfavorables fueron, Lisa, Marianao y Habana del Este, alcanzándose mejores resultados en los hospitales que en las policlínicas. En el análisis de Protozooarios, el mejor diagnosticado fué Giardia lamblia, con solo un centro que erró al identificarlo. Las mayores dificultades se presentaron en Blastocystis hominis con 61% de fallas, Endolimax nana, con 24,6%, y Entamoeba histolytica, con 22%. Entre los helmintos, la mayor aprobación fué en Trichuris trichiura y los errores diagnósticos predominaron con Fasciola hepatica y Taenia sp., ambos con 66,2% de fallas. Dados los resultados obtenidos, hemos organizado una intervención educativa en la red de laboratorios de la provincia.

Infecção por oxiuros foi estudada prospectivamente durante um ano em 469 crianças de três creches. Cada criança foi examinada com intervalos de 6 meses usando até 3 esfregaços perianais com fita adesiva. As que estavam infectadas foram tratadas com mebendazole. No início do estudo foi encontrada prevalência de 28% que caiu para 13% e 12% nos períodos de estudo posteriores. A freqüência de reinfecção foi 2 vezes a incidência em ambos os períodos de estudo. Foi encontrada, também, pequena porcentagem (10%) de crianças reinfectadas na maioria ou em todos os períodos de estudo. Existiu elevada correlação entre reinfecção e coceira perianal. Nossos resultados adicionam outros conhecimentos à epidemiología dos parásitos intestinais em creches.

Pinworm infection was prospectively studied during one year in 469 children attending three day care centers. Each child was examined at six months intervals using up to three perianal swabs with adhesive tape. Those found infected were treated with mebendazole. At the beginning of the study we found a prevalence of 28% that dropped to 13% and 12% in the following study periods. The reinfection rate was twice the incidence rate in both study periods. We also found a small percentage (10%) of the children reinfected in most or all study periods. There was a high correlation between reinfection and perianal itching. Our results add further knowledge to the epidemiology of intestinal parasites in day care centers.