Giardiasis in children and dogs from the same household and from the suburbs of Lages, southern Brazil Giardíase em crian as e c es do mesmo domicílio e de bairros periféricos de Lages, Santa Catarina

Objective: To determine the giardiasis prevalence and the association between infection in children and dogs sharing the same household in six neighborhoods located in the suburbs of Lages, southern Brazil. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 105 children and 105 dogs living in the same household. The children, aged between zero and 12 years, were attended in health centers accredited with the Family Health Team Program in six neighborhoods from July to November 2005. Stool samples were processed using the zinc sulfate flotation centrifugation method. The data were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-square test ( 2) with a 5% significance level. Results: The giardiasis prevalence was 20% (21) for the children and 18% (19) for the dogs. The concordance of positive test results between children and dogs amounted to 18% (19) (χ2 = 10.86 and p=0.00098). Regarding the children’s ages (χ2 =2.64 and p=0.7552) and according to the logistic regression (p=0.684), the percentage of positive/negative children remained unchanged. The odds ratio shows that a child living in a household with Giardia-positive dogs is 5.5 times more likely to be infected than a child who lives under the same roof with Giardia-negative dogs. Conclusion: A high prevalence of Giardia was found among the investigated children and dogs. Dogs must be submitted to parasitological tests on a routine basis and treated so that they do not infect other dogs, or family members. Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a prevalência de giardíase e a rela o entre a infec o em crian as e c es do mesmo domicílio, de seis bairros da periferia de Lages, Santa Catarina. Materiais e Métodos: O estudo foi transversal, com amostragem de 105 crian as e 105 c es do mesmo domicílio. As crian as que participaram da pesquisa, com idade entre zero e doze anos, foram atendidas em postos de saúde do Programa de Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF) de seis bairros periféricos, no período de julho a novembro de 2005. As amostras fecais foram processadas através da técnica de centrífugo-flutua o com sulfato de zinco. Os dados foram analisados através do teste Qui-Quadrado de Pearson (χ2) com o nível de significancia de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de giardíase foi de 20% (21) para as crian as e de 18% (19) para os c es. A concordancia de exames positivos entre crian as e c es foi de 18% (χ2 = 10,86 e p=0,00098). Na rela o entre idades das crian as (χ2 = 2,64 e p=0,7552) e por regress o logística (p=0,684) n o se altera a propor o de crian as positivas/negativas com a idade. Conforme o