ABSTRACT Background: We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Chagas disease among blood donors in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: The study was conducted from 2010 to 2019 based on data registered by the Hemocentro Regional de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Results: There were 106,320 blood donations, and the discard rate of blood bags, either due to positive reactions to anti-T. cruzi antibodies or inconclusive results was 0.27% (283 bags). Conclusions: The usage of methods that enable the safe identification of donors with positive serology for Chagas disease is fundamental to ensure transfusional safety.

ABSTRACT Chagas disease (CD) has been considered endemic in the South of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. This study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi vectors based on the main species captured in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State from 2008 to 2019. The study area comprised counties that belong to the 3rd Regional Health Coordination (RHC) and to the 7th RHC, whose headquarters are in Pelotas and Bage, respectively. The study was based on secondary data provided by the partnership between the Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State (UFPel-RS) and the State Health Surveillance Center in RS (SCHS-RS). One thousand and four hundred triatomines were captured in the area supervised by the 3rd RHC, mainly in Cangucu (37.7%), Piratini (22.4%) and Pinheiro Machado (15.1%), while, in the area supervised by the 7th RHC, the largest number of triatomines was captured in Lavras do Sul (64.15%). In both areas, Triatoma rubrovaria (90.6%) and Panstrongylus tupynambai (7.4%) were the most common species. Most were captured inside households but T. cruzi-positive insects were not found in the period under study. The results of this study show that, in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State, there is still a high rate of triatomine household invasion and dispersal, mainly by T. rubrovaria. Thus, the entomological surveillance should be maintained with the participation of the population and further studies should be deepened in the area.

Resumo Introdução A doença de Chagas (DC) é uma endemia relevante na América Latina, contudo poucas pesquisas são realizadas sobre os conhecimentos que a população possui sobre o tema. Objetivo Verificar o conhecimento que uma população de origem rural do sul do Rio Grande do Sul possui acerca da DC e seus vetores. Método O estudo foi realizado com a população atendida em um Hospital-Escola de Pelotas, a partir de questionário semiestruturado, no qual foi verificado se as pessoas conseguiam identificar os triatomíneos, se já encontraram “barbeiros” na residência, quais órgãos a DC acomete, entre outras questões. As associações entre as variáveis foram analisadas pelos testes do qui-quadrado e odds ratio (OR). Resultados Dos 132 participantes, 58,3% identificaram os vetores, e as variáveis que se mostraram significativas foram morar ou ter morado no município de Canguçu e possuir galinheiro ou chiqueiro no peridomicílio. Já as variáveis residir ou ter residido em casa de pau a pique/torrão/barro (p = 0,0038; OR = 3,18) e ser proveniente de Canguçu (p = 0,004; OR = 3,4) foram significativamente associadas ao ato de já ter encontrado vetores na residência. Sobre os órgãos que a DC acomete, somente 25 pessoas reportaram o coração (18,9%). Conclusão Esta investigação ressalta a necessidade de campanhas educativas, pois foi realizada em região com importantes índices de DC em estudos recentes.

Abstract Background Chagas disease (CD) is a relevant endemic in Latin America, however, few researches is carried out about the knowledge that the population has on the subject. Objective Verify the knowledge that the population of rural origin, in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul, has about the CD and its vectors. Method The study was carried out with individuals attended at the School Hospital of Pelotas, from a semi-structured questionnaire, through which it was verified if people could identify the vectors; if individuals found “kissing-bugs” in your residence; which organs the CD affects; among other issues. The associations between the variables were analyzed by the χ2 and odds ratio (OR) tests. Results Of the 132 individuals interviewed, 58.3% identified the significant vectors linked to the variables as to reside or had resided in the municipality of Canguçu and had a chicken coop or pigsty in the peridomicile. The variables residing or having resided in a stick house (p = 0.0038, OR = 3.18) and coming from Canguçu (p = 0.004, OR = 3.4) were significant to have already found vectors in the residence. Regarding the organs that CD affects, only 25 people reported heart issues (18.9%). Conclusion This research highlights the need for educational campaigns, being carried out in a region with important CD indexes in recent studies.

Resumo As infecções por nematódeos gastrintestinais (ING) constituem a maior limitação à produção de pequenos ruminantes. Na busca do controle desses parasitos, estudos com plantas medicinais têm sido uma importante alternativa. Visto isto, o estudo desenvolvido teve como objetivo avaliar a ação ovicida e larvicida in vitro do óleo essencial de Rosmarinus officinalis. O óleo foi extraído, analisado por cromatografia gasosa e testado sobre ovos e larvas de ING em seis concentrações, 227,5mg/mL; 113,7mg/mL; 56,8mg/mL; 28,4mg/mL; 14,2mg/mL; 7,1mg/mL. Para determinar a ação ovicida, ovos de ING foram recuperados de fezes de ovinos e incubados por 48h com as diferentes concentrações do óleo. Na avaliação da migração das larvas, as larvas de terceiro estágio (L3) foram obtidas por coprocultura, e associadas ao óleo essencial por 24h nas mesmas concentrações, permanecendo por mais 24h em microtamises, seguindo-se a contagem de larvas que migraram e que não migraram. Os testes in vitro com o óleo de R. officinalis mostraram o nível de significância (p<0.05) 97,4% a 100% na inibição da eclodibilidade e 20% a 74% na inibição da migração das larvas. Na análise por cromatografia gasosa o constituinte majoritário foi o eucaliptol. Os resultados apresentados mostram que o óleo essencial de R. officinalis possui ação ovicida e larvicida sobre ING de ovinos.

Abstract Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection (GIN) are the main constraint to the production of small ruminants. Studies of medicinal plants have been an important alternative in the effort to control these parasites. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. The oil was extracted, analyzed by gas chromatography and tested on GIN eggs and larvae in six concentrations, 227.5mg/mL, 113.7mg/mL, 56.8mg/mL, 28.4mg/mL, 14.2mg/mL and 7.1mg/mL. To determine the ovicidal activity, GIN eggs were recovered from sheep feces and incubated for 48h with different concentrations of the oil. For the evaluation of larval migration, third-stage larvae (L3) were obtained by fecal culture, and associated with the essential oil for 24h at the same concentrations, after which they were left for another 24 hours on microsieves, followed by the count of migrating and non-migrating larvae. The assays of R. officinalis oil showed a significant (p<0.05) 97.4% to 100% inhibition of egg hatching and a significant (p<0.05) 20% to 74% inhibition of larval migration. The main constituent revealed by gas chromatography was Eucalyptol. The results indicate that R. officinalis essential oil has ovicidal and larvicidal activity on sheep GINs.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and to identify risk factors associated therewith in hospitalized children. METHODS: Three fecal samples from each patient were evaluated using three different techniques. The patients’ nutritional and socioeconomic status and hematologic profiles were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 106 children, 32.1% tested positive for intestinal parasitosis. The associated risk factors were low parental education levels and children's nail-biting habit. Eosinophilia, observed in 15 cases, was not associated with parasitosis. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend routine fecal parasitologic examination for hospitalized children and implementation of educational campaigns on the prevention of these diseases.

SUMMARY Trichomonas vaginalis infections have been associated with other diseases so that epidemiological studies of the parasite are important and help to prevent the spread of the disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis in female patients of 19 counties in southwestern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For diagnosis, was used direct examination, followed by applying a socio-epidemiological questionnaire. We analyzed 300 women and 9% were infected by Trichomonas vaginalis. The highest frequency occurred in women between 18 and 39 years old, single/divorced/widowed, whose family income was at one minimum wage or less, and they had not completed the primary school. Statistically significant risk factors were: women reporting two or more sexual partners in the last year were 3.3 times more likely to acquire the parasite, and those in use of oral contraceptives were 2.7 times more likely to have T. vaginalis. Importantly, 33% of the asymptomatic women were infected, and most of the negative results were from women presenting symptoms consistent with the infection. The findings emphasize that it is necessary to expand the knowledge of individuals about the disease, especially among women with the above mentioned risk factors and also to include the regular screening of Trichomonas vaginalis infections in health centers.

A frequência de contaminação parasitária de áreas públicas de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, foi avaliada entre junho de 2010 e maio de 2011, com coletas mensais de amostras de solo de oito praças. Das 400 amostras submetidas à técnica de centrífugo-flutuação em solução de dicromato de sódio com densidade de 1,35, 176 (44%) apresentaram pelo menos uma forma parasitária e, das amostras positivas, 29 (16,5%) estavam poliparasitadas. Os resultados demonstraram relevante índice de contaminação do solo em todas as praças avaliadas, com maiores índices de positividade para ovos de ancilostomídeos (13,5%) e ovos deToxocara (8,8%), sendo também identificados ovos de Trichuris, Ascaris eCapillaria. O estudo demonstrou a contaminação ambiental de praças públicas e os riscos a que a população está exposta em relação a doenças causadas por geoparasitos zoonóticos e sugere que medidas de saneamento e educação em saúde devem ser implementadas no município.

The frequency of parasitic contamination of public areas in the municipality of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was studied between June 2010 and May 2011, when soil samples were collected from eight city squares. Out of 400 samples submitted to centrifugal floatation technique in solution of sodium dichromate with density of 1.35, 176 (44%) proved positive for at least one parasite; 29 (16.5%) samples were multi-infested. The results showed that there was a significant soil contamination rate in all the parks included in the study. The positivity rate was higher for hookworms eggs (13.5%) andToxocara eggs (8.8%);Trichuris, Ascaris andCapillaria eggs were also detected. This study shows the risks to which the population is exposed in relation to zoonotic geohelminths, and suggests that sanitation and health education measures should be implemented in the municipality.