02566nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260004400042653005700086653001800143653002000161653003100181653002400212653003200236100001800268700001700286700001500303700001400318700001500332700001600347700001300363700001500376700001100391700002300402245010700425856007300532300000800605490000700613520160600620022001402226       2024                            d  bSpringer Science and Business Media LLC10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aHealth Policy10aSchistosomiasis10aSoil-transmitted helminths10aMaxakali indigenous10aNeglected Tropical Diseases1 aNacife MBPESL1 aSiqueira LMV1 aBarbosa KF1 aVianna VN1 aMasioli CZ1 ada Silva JC1 aZicker F1 aCoelho PMZ1 aKatz N1 aMachado-Coelho GLL00aPrevalence of helmintic infections in Brazilian Maxakali indigenous: a repeated cross-sectional design  uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12939-024-02105-7.pdf  a1-80 v233 a<p><strong>Background:&nbsp;</strong>The prevalence of intestinal parasites is known to be high among Amerindian populations; further, there are serious problems in the healthcare of these populations in Brazil. The Maxakali, located in the northeastern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is an indigenous group that still preserves many of its cultural aspects. This study aimed to compare the positivity rate of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in this ethnic group in epidemiological surveys conducted in 1972 and 2014.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong> Stool parasitological examinations were performed by the Kato-Katz technique during both periods in this population. In 2014, the parasitological diagnosis was also realized with the TF-Test® technique.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong> In 1972, 270 inhabitants were examined. The positivity rates were 67.4% for Schistosoma mansoni, 72.9% for hookworms, 43.7% for Ascaris lumbricoides, and 23.7% for Trichuris trichiura. In 2014, 545 individuals were examined, and the positivity rates obtained were 45.7% for S. mansoni, 22.8% for hookworms, 0.6% for A. lumbricoides, and 2.8% for T. trichiura.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The comparison of the parasitological surveys conducted in 1972 and 2014, indicates that the indigenous Maxakali remained neglected by the health and indigenous protection authorities during these four decades. The infection rate observed in 2014 for schistosomiasis and hookworm remains high, considering the current epidemiological view of these diseases in the Brazilian population.</p>
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