ABSTRACT Introduction: Intestinal parasitosis by helminths and protozoa is still today a global public health problem mainly affecting people living in conditions of social vulnerability, including rural communities. Objective: Describe human intestinal parasitosis and environmental contamination with helminths and protozoa in the Quilombola community of Quartel do Indaiá (of African descent) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of stool and soil samples by spontaneous sedimentation, and of plant samples by centrifugation sedimentation, to detect intestinal helminths and protozoa. Water samples were analyzed for total and fecal coliforms. Results: Helminths and protozoa were found in 45.5% of the people (n = 66). The species detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (18.2 %), Entamoeba coli (18.2%), Endolimax nana (18.2 %), ancylostoma (6.1 %), Iodamoeba butschlii (4.6 %), Giardia duodenalis (3%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.5 %). More than one species were present in 19.7 % of the samples. In 18 of the 39 sites sampled, the soil was contaminated with E. coli, E. nana, A. lumbricoides, I. butschlii and/or Enterobius vermicularis. Vegetables (n = 135) were contaminated in 75 samples with 7 of the 8 species analyzed. The contaminants were E. coli cysts, A. lumbricoides eggs and ancylostoma. All water samples were contaminated with total and fecal coliforms. Conclusions: The Quilombola community of Quartel do Indaiá had high levels of human infection and high environmental contamination with intestinal parasites or protozoa, probably due to lack of appropriate sanitary conditions. It is necessary to improve the access to treated water and sanitation.

RESUMEN Introducción: El parasitismo intestinal por helmintos y protozoarios todavía es un problema de salud pública mundial, que afecta sobre todo personas en condiciones de vulnerabilidad social, incluso las comunidades rurales. Objectivo: Describir la infección humana y la contaminación ambiental por parásitos/comensales intestinales en una comunidade ‘quilombola’ Quartel do Indaiá (descendentes de esclavos) del Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal con análisis de muestras fecales y de tierra por sedimentación espontánea, y de vegetales por sedimentación con centrifugación para detección de parásitos o comensales intestinales. Se analizaron muestras de agua para detección de coliformes totales y fecales. Resultados: Se observó la ocurrencia de parásitos o comensales en 45.5 % de las personas (n = 66). Las especies detectadas fueron Ascaris lumbricoides (18,2 %), Entamoeba coli (18,2 %), Endolimax nana (18,2 %), anquilostomas (6.1 %), Iodamoeba butschlii (4,6 %), Giardia duodenalis (3 %), and Trichuris trichiura (1,5 %). Para 19,7 % de las muestras se detectaron más de una especie. El suelo estuvo contaminado en 18 de los 39 sitios muestreados, con presencia de E. coli, E. nana, A. lumbricoides, I. butschlii y/o Enterobius vermicularis. Los vegetales (n = 135) presentaron contaminación en 75 muestras de 7, entre 8 especies analizadas. Sus contaminantes fueron quistos de E. coli y huevos de A. lumbricoides y anquilostoma. Todas las muestras de agua estaban contaminadas por coliformes totales y fecales. Conclusiones: La comunidad ‘quilombola’ Quartel do Indaiá presentó alta infección humana y alta contaminación ambiental por parásitos o comensales intestinales, lo que se debe probablemente a la falta de condiciones sanitarias. Se necesita mejorar el acceso para agua tratada y estructuras de saneamiento.

Resumo A participação comunitária é a principal estratégia para a manutenção da vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar conhecimentos sobre triatomíneos e a doença de Chagas entre moradores de oito localidades de Diamantina, Minas Gerais, atentando a uma eventual relação entre os conhecimentos e a infestação vetorial. Para avaliação dos conhecimentos foi aplicado questionário com questões fechadas e abertas a 583 moradores com idade igual ou superior a dez anos e, para avaliar a capacidade de reconhecimento de triatomíneos, foi apresentado mostruário com insetos. As respostas às questões fechadas foram analisadas quanto à frequência e associação com a infestação triatomínica. As respostas às questões abertas foram organizadas em eixos temáticos e analisadas descritivamente. Embora a capacidade de reconhecer os triatomíneos não tenha sido associada à infestação das localidades, os residentes em áreas com maior infestação demonstraram conhecer melhor os serviços de referência e a necessidade de encaminhar os insetos a estes. Não foi observada associação entre a infestação triatomínica e os conhecimentos sobre a doença de Chagas. Os resultados ora apresentados podem orientar ações de educação em saúde voltadas para a participação da comunidade na notificação de triatomíneos.

Abstract Community participation is the main strategy to sustainability of Chagas disease entomological surveillance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge on triatomine insects and Chagas disease among the residents from eight localities of Diamantina, in Minas Gerais, with a view to observing any associations between their knowledge and infestations by triatomines. In order to evaluate this knowledge, questionnaires were used containing both closed and open questions. They were applied to 583 residents who were ten years old or over. To establish if they could recognize the triatomine insect, they were given samples to look at. The responses to the closed questions were analyzed with reference to any frequencies of and associations with infestations involving this insect. The responses to the questions were organized into different thematic areas and were descriptively analyzed. Although the resident’s ability to recognize the triatomine insect was not associated with the infestation of the localities, the residents in the areas that had higher infestations showed that they had a good knowledge of the available support services and the need to send the insects to them. We did not observe any associations between triatomine infestations and knowledge of Chagas disease. The results of this study can provide guidance on education that can be given by the health services to the community in order to encourage them to provide notifications of the triatomine insects.

Resumo A participação comunitária é a principal estratégia para a manutenção da vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar conhecimentos sobre triatomíneos e a doença de Chagas entre moradores de oito localidades de Diamantina, Minas Gerais, atentando a uma eventual relação entre os conhecimentos e a infestação vetorial. Para avaliação dos conhecimentos foi aplicado questionário com questões fechadas e abertas a 583 moradores com idade igual ou superior a dez anos e, para avaliar a capacidade de reconhecimento de triatomíneos, foi apresentado mostruário com insetos. As respostas às questões fechadas foram analisadas quanto à frequência e associação com a infestação triatomínica. As respostas às questões abertas foram organizadas em eixos temáticos e analisadas descritivamente. Embora a capacidade de reconhecer os triatomíneos não tenha sido associada à infestação das localidades, os residentes em áreas com maior infestação demonstraram conhecer melhor os serviços de referência e a necessidade de encaminhar os insetos a estes. Não foi observada associação entre a infestação triatomínica e os conhecimentos sobre a doença de Chagas. Os resultados ora apresentados podem orientar ações de educação em saúde voltadas para a participação da comunidade na notificação de triatomíneos.

Abstract Community participation is the main strategy to sustainability of Chagas disease entomological surveillance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge on triatomine insects and Chagas disease among the residents from eight localities of Diamantina, in Minas Gerais, with a view to observing any associations between their knowledge and infestations by triatomines. In order to evaluate this knowledge, questionnaires were used containing both closed and open questions. They were applied to 583 residents who were ten years old or over. To establish if they could recognize the triatomine insect, they were given samples to look at. The responses to the closed questions were analyzed with reference to any frequencies of and associations with infestations involving this insect. The responses to the questions were organized into different thematic areas and were descriptively analyzed. Although the resident’s ability to recognize the triatomine insect was not associated with the infestation of the localities, the residents in the areas that had higher infestations showed that they had a good knowledge of the available support services and the need to send the insects to them. We did not observe any associations between triatomine infestations and knowledge of Chagas disease. The results of this study can provide guidance on education that can be given by the health services to the community in order to encourage them to provide notifications of the triatomine insects.

Reports of triatomine infestation in urban areas have increased. We analysed the spatial distribution of infestation by triatomines in the urban area of Diamantina, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Triatomines were obtained by community-based entomological surveillance. Spatial patterns of infestation were analysed by Ripley’s K function and Kernel density estimator. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land cover derived from satellite imagery were compared between infested and uninfested areas. A total of 140 adults of four species were captured (100 Triatoma vitticeps, 25Panstrongylus geniculatus, 8 Panstrongylus megistus, and 7 Triatoma arthurneivai specimens). In total, 87.9% were captured within domiciles. Infection by trypanosomes was observed in 19.6% of 107 examined insects. The spatial distributions ofT. vitticeps, P. geniculatus, T. arthurneivai, and trypanosome-positive triatomines were clustered, occurring mainly in peripheral areas. NDVI values were statistically higher in areas infested by T. vitticeps and P. geniculatus. Buildings infested by these species were located closer to open fields, whereas infestations of P. megistus andT. arthurneivai were closer to bare soil. Human occupation and modification of natural areas may be involved in triatomine invasion, exposing the population to these vectors.