Acta Tropica
Volume 117, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 196-201

Intestinal parasites in immigrants in the city of Naples (southern Italy) (Article)

Gualdieri L. , Rinaldi L. , Petrullo L. , Morgoglione M.E. , Maurelli M.P. , Musella V. , Piemonte M. , Caravano L. , Coppola M.G. , Cringoli G.*
  • a Center for Immigrants' Health Protection, Ascalesi Hospital, Naples, Italy
  • b Section of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
  • c Regional Center for Monitoring Parasites of Immigrants, Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy
  • d Section of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
  • e Section of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
  • f Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
  • g Regional Center for Monitoring Parasites of Immigrants, Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy
  • h Regional Center for Monitoring Parasites of Immigrants, Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy
  • i Regional Center for Monitoring Parasites of Immigrants, Cotugno Hospital, Naples, Italy
  • j Section of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Naples, Italy

Abstract

The present study was aimed at carrying out a cross-sectional copromicroscopic survey of helminths and intestinal protozoa in immigrants in Naples (southern Italy). Between October 2008 and November 2009, a total of 514 immigrants were tested comparing the FLOTAC dual technique and the ethyl acetate concentration technique. Combined results of the two techniques served as a diagnostic 'gold' standard and revealed an overall prevalence of parasitic infections of 61.9% (318/514). The ethyl acetate concentration technique detected a low number of positive results (49.0%) and this was confirmed for each helminth/protozoa species detected. Among helminths, Trichuris trichiura (3.9%), hookworms (3.7%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (1.4%) were the most prevalent. Strongyloides stercoralis (0.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.4%), Schistosoma mansoni (1.0%), Hymenolepis nana (1.6%) and Taenia spp. (0.2%) were also found, as well as zoonotic helminths, as Trichostrongylus spp. (0.8%) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.8%). As regard to pathogenic protozoa, Blastocystis hominis was the most commonly detected (52.7%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar/Entamoeba moshkovskii (11.9%) and Giardia duodenalis (4.5%). Several issues concerning diagnosis, epidemiology and public health impact of parasitic infections in immigrants are offered for discussion. In conclusion, the present paper pointed out the need of better diagnosis and cure of the immigrants population in order to improve access to health care of this neglected and marginalised population group, for its own protection and care. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Author Keywords

immigrants Italy Helminths Protozoa FLOTAC Naples

Index Keywords

Giardia intestinalis Strongyloides stercoralis Trichuris trichiura immigrant Enterobius vermicularis Blastocystis hominis Entamoeba dispar Campania [Italy] disease treatment parasite identification Entamoeba histolytica epidemiology middle aged feces analysis controlled study Entamoeba Aged Animals nonhuman Cross-Sectional Studies parasite Young Adult Ascaris lumbricoides cross-sectional study Humans health impact Napoli [Campania] Adolescent giardia lamblia male Emigrants and Immigrants Dicrocoelium Schistosoma mansoni female Infant Child, Preschool Dicrocoelium dendriticum Naples protozoan Trichostrongylus detection method diagnostic test acetic acid ethyl ester Giardia duodenalis Ancylostomatoidea prevalence Hymenolepis nana Protozoa Article Vermes disease prevalence Acetates adult Taenia Feces entamoeba moshkovskii Trichuris Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Italy intestine parasite gold standard pathogenicity Child public health immigrant population
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79851510618&doi=10.1016%2fj.actatropica.2010.12.003&partnerID=40&md5=f0f928af1a677a9f9d7e43144165c7af
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.12.003
ISSN: 0001706X
Cited by: 34
Original Language: English