Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 334-338

Seroprevalence of Histoplasmosis in Somali, Burmese, and Hmong Refugees Residing in Thailand and Kenya (Article)

Bahr N.C.* , Lee D. , Stauffer W.M. , Durkin M. , Cetron M.S. , Wheat L.J. , Boulware D.R.
  • a Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Kansas, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 1028, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • b Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d MiraVista Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • e Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • f MiraVista Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • g Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is known to be endemic to the Midwestern United States, but cases have been reported throughout much of the world. Somali, Hmong, and Burmese (ethnically Karen) persons make up some of the largest refugee populations coming the United States in recent years. Yet, information about risk of Histoplasma capsulatum infection amongst these populations is limited. This study used the CDC Migrant Serum Bank to test ~100 samples from each of Somali, Burmese, and Hmong U.S.-bound refugees. Samples were tested by enzyme immunoassay for Histoplasma capsulatum IgG. Overall 1% (2/299) of refugee serum samples were positive for H. capsulatum IgG. One of 99 samples obtained from Hmong refugees was positive, and the other positive sample came from among 100 Burmese refugee samples. H capsulatum IgG positivity was detected at low levels in Hmong and Burmese refugees. No IgG positivity was detected among 100 Somali refugees. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Refugee health Refugee Seroepidemiologic studies Histoplasma capsulatum

Index Keywords

refugee Laos Thailand histoplasmosis human epidemiology Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data Kenya ethnology Young Adult Humans male female Myanmar refugee camp Refugee Camps adult seroepidemiology Somalia Seroepidemiologic Studies
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018792943&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0595-3&partnerID=40&md5=a4ad2eb0a89253e8256722cfda1c757c
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0595-3
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English