INTRODUCTION

Giardia spp. may be acquired by consuming contaminated food. Mytilus edulis is a filtering organism, and the inhabitants of the Patagonian coasts frequently collect it. The aim of the research was to evaluate the association between mussel consumption and presence of Giardia spp. in humans in two coastal neighborhoods of Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut province, Argentina) during March-December 2018.

METHODS

An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in Caleta Cordova and Stella Maris neighborhoods. The selection of the population under study was non-probabilistic for collection by consecutive cases and met the inclusion criteria. A total of 100 human fecal samples (hfs) and 284 mussels (46 pools) were collected. The samples, processed by sedimentation and analyzed by light microscope, were later confirmed by direct immunofluorescence (DIF). Epidemiological and sociodemographic variables were analyzed.

RESULTS

Giardia spp. was detected in 15% of the hfs and 33% of the mussel pools, in both neighborhoods. Samples were confirmed by DIF. There was a statistically significant association between intake of mussels and presence of Giardia spp. in hfs: Chi2=12.734 (2gl), p=0.008 and OR: 4.50 (CI: 1.24-3.20; p=0.027).

DISCUSSION

This is the first report of Giardia spp. in mussels in Argentina, and it shows that there is a relation between the mussel intake and the presence of the parasite in the population under study.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )